Fishing Articles
Nautical Charts:
What they are & How to Use
Find Secret fising spots that cannot be seen with
the naked eye. This brief and easily understood article will show you
how to read a Nautical Chart to find the best holds anytime of the year.
Timothy Kusherets
Sample piece of a chart not meant for navigation
Look at the above nautical chart to find red circles that represent
shallow water. The blue circles, next to them, represent deep water.
The difference in depth between both colors represents a “drop-off”.
Drop-offs like this one provide some of the best fishing situations
a saltwater angler could hope for, but there are other elements to consider
before fishing in the area. The direction of the incoming and outgoing
tides churn tides back and forth, up and down and the depth of each
hold along with the configuration of the shoreline determine how and
when fish will hold.
When fishing the drop-off make sure to fish the shallow side first since
most predators hold along the seam formed by the sudden increase in
depth. With each pass of the reach fish a little deeper until fish begin
to bite and then take note of the depth and fish it as often as can
be done before fish go off the bite.
Note: this particular chart portion is only for illustrative
purposes only. Consult the most up-to-date versions of the water you
intend to fish before putting in at the launch.
To locate fish you need a reliable nautical chart to
show depth variances and the location of substructure. Charts can be
purchased at local marinas and boating dealerships. Substructure and
drop-offs are where many species of fish hold so it’s important
to know where those underwater features are to make optimal presentations
thus increasing hookups.
Elements of a typical Nautical Chart:
1) Fathoms indicate depth. One fathom equals six feet.
2) 120 fathoms equal 1 Cable.
3) 8.44 cables equal 1 Nautical mile.
4) 1 nautical mile equals 6076 feet and one minute of latitude.
5) 60 nautical miles equals 1 degree of Latitude.
6) 1 compass point equals 11.25 degrees.
7) 32 points equals 360 degrees.
8) Nautical miles x .87 equal statute miles.
9) Statute miles x 1.15 equal nautical miles
10) 1 knot equals Speed of 1 nautical mile per hour
11) 1 nautical mile = 1.85200 kilometers
12) 1 nautical mile = 1.150779 miles
The “legend” at the top or bottom of the map, which will
vary from chart to chart, will direct you to particular items of interest.
Almost all highlighted red areas are warning signs for both shore fishermen
and boaters. The legend will show you where to look for storm warnings,
cable areas, nautical miles, and the declination of the compass.
The meat of the nautical chart are the “soundings” that
are reflected in numbers that represent fathoms. Each fathom is a measurement
of six feet. Every number that you see on the map can be multiplied
by six and that gives you the true measurement of depth in feet. The
higher the number is, the lower the depth; conversely, the lower the
number is the higher the depth. If the number 6 appears on the map then
the depth is thirty-six feet. If the number on the map reads 42 then
the depth is two hundred fifty-two.
Fish will gravitate to areas that abruptly change from deep to shallow
and more than that, they will also, at the same time, hold in areas
that afford them time to rest and that means back-eddies.
A predictable thing about open water is there aren’t too many
places for fish to hold that can be seen by fishermen, but a nautical
chart shows these areas increasing the chance of hookups tremendously.
In some places out in a flat part of the sea floor depth increases sharply,
and because of the abrupt depth change, an oasis of sorts is created
by drop-offs. Fish along the edge of the drop and then fish the far
side where depth increases keeping offerings near the face of the drop.
Remember that the higher the number is the deeper the location.
Nautical Chart Links from respected authorities
of the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom:
National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) United States:
Accurate up-to-date nautical charts for United States inland and oceanic
fishing.
(Detailed nautical charts for All the Great Lakes Midwest Region).
Federal
Publications Inc. Canada:
Nationwide Nautical Charts for fresh and saltwater fishing in Canada.
Fisheries
and Oceans of Canada Canada:
Canadian charts, maps, and tide tables: (Paper and Electronic publications).
Canadian Hydrographic Sevice
Admiralty
Charts and Publications United Kingdom:
United Kingdom Nautical and Thematic publications: Paper and Electronic
Charts
© Timothy Kusherets 2008/09 Copyrighted
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