In the Weeds: Make Them Work to Your Advantage

(Originally published November/December 2023)

By Capt. Tony Gatto

It’s amazing how many reports were posted this summer saying the weeds were impossible to deal with. We tried to troll but had to give up, it was just too much work and unbearable.

Weeds are like birds: when they are clumped together in patches, or better yet long lines, they are usually an indication of very fishy water. Weed lines will form right on top of temperature breaks. These different currents form a barrier that literally traps weeds in large batches that develop into large clumps or lines. Weeds are flotsam that offer shelter for smaller fish in the open ocean. Crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans will seek refuge here too, all of them providing a food source for bait fish, which in turn become offerings for pelagics. The longer they soak and form, the better and more abundant the ecosystem.

There are many steps and tricks you can employ to take advantage of this situation without losing your mind, or having your crew declare mutiny.

1. Change up your trolling spread. Reduce the number of rods trolled to a maximum of eight. Get rid of all spreader bars. Spreader bars have a large horizontal surface area and dramatically increase the odds of getting covered in weeds. Most weeds that hit anywhere on the bar or wings will foul it and keep them from