Article by Capt. Steve Katz
Fishing weather while offshore
While we reviewed the numerous marine weather offerings earlier this season, there is a new product that is worth a mention for offshore anglers.
Once you head offshore beyond 20 or so miles, you lose the ability to communicate via internet data from land-based transmitters. This is when an on-board satellite system can provide voice and data service while offshore.
Most offshore anglers know about SiriusXM weather (and music service) available from a satellite signal sent to your boat’s multifunction chartplotter. This service provides up-to-date weather information while away from land. Using this data, a Captain can make an educated decision where the fish may be by monitoring the water temperature, waves, wind, etc. There are other important marine scientific data such as altimetry, weed lines, plankton and sub surface sea temperatures that can also be beneficial to figuring out where the fish are or where they are headed. Up until now, that scientific data was not readily available while offshore unless your boat has a satellite internet connection to a specialized weather or fishing service.
For those of you with the newest Garmin Sirius XM weather antenna (GXM 54) and compatible display, Sirius XM has just announced a new “Fish Mapping “ service. This “Fish Mapping“ service includes everything currently offered in the marine offshore weather service plan PLUS “Fish Mapping” for $99.99/month. This service includes an option to seasonally suspend for up to 6 months per year, at no cost, great for boaters who do not use their boat in the mid-Atlantic during the off season. The “Fish Mapping “ service is scheduled to be available late summer 2019 and will contain information that has never been available from SiriusXM.
Here are some of the advertised “Fish Mapping” features:
Fishing Recommendations
View locations oceanographers recommend to find specific types of game fish, based on data-driven analysis. The locations are overlaid on your chart, can be viewed in combination with any of the other features and are updated twice per week.
Weed Lines
View concentrations of floating algae/plants, which provide nutrients and cover, creating habitats for baitfish, shrimp and other baits that attract larger, predatory game fish. Weed lines drift and shift over time, so they can be hard to locate. Use this feature to help find where weed lines have been sighted recently or are most likely to be forming to help you find gamefish. Updated every 24 hours.
Sea Surface Height Anomaly
View locations where the sea surface height is noticeably different than the surrounding area using real-time radar data and models of the sea surface. View “upwelling” hot spots that create favorable conditions including nutrient-rich water that attracts baitfish and game fish. Avoid “downwelling” areas that are nutrient-poor and don’t support favorable fishing conditions. Updated every 24 hours.
Sea Surface Temperature Contours
View contour lines where there is warming of sea surface temperatures. These contour lines show noticeable breaks where the water temperature is changing from cool to warm – attracting baitfish. Use these contours to help locate your target species based on their preferred temperature range. Updated every 6 hours.
Sea Surface Temperature Front Strength
View estimated strength of ocean “fronts”, which are significant temperature changes that create distinct boundaries between bodies of water. Fronts concentrate nutrients that attract baitfish and creates barriers to fish movement. The location of strong and very strong fronts are good places to find gamefish. Updated every 24 hours.
30 Meter Subsurface Sea Temperatures
View the water temperature 30 meters below the surface. Different species of fish prefer specific ranges of temperatures. This feature allows you to identify areas with the preferred temperature range of your target gamefish in the area below the surface where they are likely to be hunting. Updated every 24 hours.
Plankton Concentration Contours
View contour lines which show distribution of plankton concentrations in water. Plankton is the primary food source for most baitfish, which attract hungry game fish. Updated every 24 hours.
Plankton Front Strength
Locate where there are the areas of greatest plankton concentrations adjacent to areas where relatively little/no plankton. Plankton “fronts” show where murky, nutrient-rich water favorable for baitfish occurs next to clear, predator-preferred water (providing better visibility for hunting). Strong plankton fronts indicate areas for gamefish feeding activity. Updated every 24 hours.
The raw scientific data is reviewed by SiriusXM oceanographers and published on the following schedule:
Sea Surface Temperature Contours Every 6 Hours
Once a day at 5 AM: Sea Surface Height Anomaly, Sea Surface Temperature Front Strength, 30 meter Subsurface Temperatures, Plankton Concentration, Plankton Front Strength, Weed Lines.
Tuesday and Friday at 5 AM: Fishing Recommendations.
This new service provides another tool for the Captain and crew to help assure they head to a productive location where the fish are located and hopefully result in more catching than fishing.
Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service and holds NMEA, AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates along with ABYC Master Technician certification and factory training from many manufacturers. To reach Steve, call 410-231-3191.
