Here is an image of some popular areas from the three different maps so you can see their differences… Satellite Views of Cabbage Key, FLįor this location, Mapquest provides the clearest view of the bottom structure and contours. So I began utilizing satellite maps from Mapquest and Bing whenever needed over the years and have found them all to have unique pros and cons. Then I began exploring a lot of new areas around Florida and found that the bottom contour was sometimes tough to make out due to a variety of reasons… water clarity, glare on the water, etc. When I began using online satellite maps for fishing (about 15 years ago), I used Google exclusively. The most popular Free online satellite maps are provided by: This image shows an example of using the different shades of bottom to determine water depth… it shows a grass flat that has lots of current and has varying depths with many potholes. The bottom contour is the most difficult feature to distinguish using online maps, but you’ll get better over time… especially when you get comfortable using more than one map service. So it’s smart to analyze the clarity of the bottom compared to other spots in order to get a good idea of the water depth of a particular area as well as nearby spots so you can be ready to follow their migration. As you can see, clear evidence of current channels can easily be spotted from satellite images of inshore fishing grounds… represented by the dark trails that the current created over time by eroding the bottom.Īnother important reason bottom contours is important is due to the fact that snook, redfish, and big trout often gravitate towards different water depths depending on the time of the year as well as the time of day and even with the shift in tides.įor example, these fish typically move out towards the inlets/passes in the summer time, and they often start the day in feeding in the shallows, then move a bit deeper during the middle of the day before going back to the shallows in the evening…Īnd they’ll often move in and out with the shifting of the tides throughout the day. So most predatory fish often seek locations with the most current so their meals can be brought to them.įor this reason, it’s very important to be able to understand how to read bottom contours to be able to get a good idea of how much current flows through/across a particular area.įortunately, this is easy to do in many cases when looking for inshore fishing spots with satellite images because the areas with heavy current will almost always show clearly in the form of trenches on the bottom. Just like humans, fish prefer to meet their needs while expending as little effort as possible. Most importantly, it’s best to look for spots that contain more than just one of these items… the more the merrier! 2 – Underwater Contours Sunken boats or any other large item on bottom.So underwater structure is one of the most important things to look for when using online satellite maps… here’s a quick list of the types of structure I look for when using satellite maps: Knowing that all types of fish seek safety from bigger predators, it’s safe to say that underwater structure of any kind will often be a great hiding spot for small fish…Īnd the presence of small fish will, in turn, attract larger fish… In order to not get overwhelmed when analyzing online satellite maps, it’s best to focus on the two most important factors that snook, redfish, and big trout relate to throughout the entire year: 1 – Underwater Structure The Most Important Features In Satellite Images Knowing this, all we really need to do is keep these two simple factors in mind when looking at a satellite map for good fishing grounds. So before feeling overwhelmed when trying to use online maps, just keep in mind that fish most often have only two basic things on their mind: The benefit of knowing the underwater contours and bottom structure of a fishing ground is that you’ll be able to see which particular spots are most likely to hold the most fish…Īnd just as importantly, you’ll be able to see which areas do NOT offer much fish habitat so you don’t waste valuable time on the water fishing in unproductive areas. Overall, online satellite maps let you see what type of bottom contours exist in the areas you plan to fish, and they even allow you to see what type of structure (if any) is under the water in many cases. Register here now (before the webinar goes down)! What’s The Best Map For Inshore Fishing?įirst, let’s briefly discuss the overall benefits of using online maps for inshore fishing… particularly when targeting redfish, snook, and big trout. Then watch this FREE webinar training where you will discover how to find the best inshore spots in your area. Are you tired of fishing the same old spots over and over again?
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