InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

In the Night Bite

September 24, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

Photo courtesy Capt. Jack Sprengle

By Ric Burnley

Just when the sun started to glow in the eastern sky, I decided to go to sleep. After manning the swordfish baits all night, I was exhausted. As I cleared the rigged squid and crawled into my bunk, the dawn patrol crew set out the trolling spread. I had just dozed off when a commotion on the deck brought me straight out of my bunk. I rushed into the cockpit to find three 80s screaming, men running in every direction and someone barking orders: “Grab that rod!” I obeyed and soon was strapped into a monster big-eye tuna. So much for sleep.

Captains and crews in the know already understand the advantages of night fishing. Not only does it add hours to your trip but it adds species to the menu. And with the price of fuel always on the rise, staying through the night saves time and money too. But the best part of pulling an overnighter is taking advantage of those golden hours of darkness and twilight. Best of all, many times you’ll have the ocean all to yourself. But fishing far from shore in a small boat in the dead of night takes planning, preparation and precaution. We asked three veterans of the dark side to share their tips and tricks for an efficient and effective night at sea.

Fishing by Feel

Fishing overnight is completely different than on the day shift. Captain Kenny Koci in Hatteras, North Carolina recommends pulling baits through sundown and into the dark. “Not only is twilight one of the most productive times of day,” he says, “but tuna, wahoo and marlin will bite after dark, too.” When the water turns inky, Koci deploys a spreader bar in the middle of his spread. “We’ll put glow sticks in the Moldcraft squid bodies,” he says. “Not only does it bring in the fish but it also helps us see the baits.”

At some point, most crews turn to drifting through the night, which is more efficient in terms of saving fuel and also more effective for species like tuna and swordfish. Plus, there’s less chance of a catastrophic collision while drifting. Captain Bouncer Smith has spent many nights off Miami, Florida aboard his 30-foot Dusky. “We only set out three lines,” he says. “Two are on floats and one is under the boat deep.” Smith sets his farthest line 300 feet out without any weight. His next line is 200 feet down with 16 to 24 ounces of lead. The third line is 75 to 150 feet straight under the boat with up to two pounds of lead. The sinkers are attached with light rubber bands so they break away when a fish hits the bait.

“Take your time putting out the baits,” Captain Koci stresses. “Be sure to let each line drift out and set up before putting out the next bait.” Failure to do so might result in a mess that goes undetected for hours. At the north end of the coast, Capt. Jack Sprengle fishes off Rhode Island aboard his 40-foot Donzi center console. He also drifts three baits after dark but he keeps his anglers busy working vertical jigs at the same time. “If you’re not jigging after dark, you’re wasting an opportunity,” he says.

All three captains use a variety of lights to attract fish to their baits. Flush-mounted lights under the stern illuminate the water below the boat while a Hydro Glow light dangling in the water provides even more illumination. Smith uses both lights, but when the seas are choppy, he turns off the thru-hull lights. “The boat rocking back and forth changes the angle of the light and makes them flash,” he explains, “I’m still trying to determine if it affects the fish.” Up in Rhode Island, when Sprengle is in full stealth mode on wary tuna he’ll turn off everything but the anchor light on his rig.

To call the fish to the hook, the skippers attach battery-operated waterproof lights in front of each bait. Smith likes the Electrolume lamps that change colors above his baits. “Scientists tell us that purple and blue light travels the farthest underwater,” he says, “but greens and reds are most common in nature.”

Smith also likes a “Mardi Gras” light that changes colors to imitate a pulsating squid. He adds smaller, water-activated strobes just ahead of the hook. Lighting the baits is only half the story, as each pro has a different approach to lighting the boat. On his 50-foot sportfish, Koci uses LED spreader lights to illuminate the cockpit. Bouncer Smith lights up his 30-foot Dusky with spreader lights bow, stern and aft. “The spreader lights are mostly so other boats can see us,” he explains, “I point the lights at the water so they don’t blind the other captains.” He uses blue lights under the T-top for rigging. “Blue lights don’t ruin your night vision,” he explains, “and they look really cool too.”

Hooking and fighting fish in the dark presents a special challenge, too. When the fish first hits, Smith doesn’t rush to get the angler into the harness. “A lot of time, the fish takes the bait and keeps swimming toward the light and the boat,” he says, “If the fish shoots under the boat, you may have to stick the rod tip into the water and point it at the fish.” Fighting a big fish at night puts the angler and crew at a disadvantage. To make it easier to follow the line in the dark, Koci attaches a spreader light to an eight-foot pole and instructs one of the crew to hold it over the water and point it at the line. Sprengle has a different solution; he clips a glow stick to the line.

“The glow stick floats and we can see where the line is going,” he explains. In fact, Sprengle prefers to avoid all lights except his anchor light. “I keep the lights off to spare my night vision,” he says. “Instead, I use a headlamp or flashlight to work by.”

Photo courtesy Capt. Jack Sprengle

Sweet Dreams

Without planning and preparation, running a marathon all-nighter at sea can turn into a nightmare. After years of nights on the water, Koci, Smith and Sprengle have tips for a more pleasant experience.

“Everyone has to know his role,” Koci says, “I usually take two mates and extended trips require two captains.” All three skippers stress rigging up before leaving the dock and having all baits and tackle ready before the sun goes down. Even for experienced deckhands, rigging at night increases the chance of making an error that could cost the team a trophy fish.

Koci also makes sure his freshwater tank is topped off before leaving. “We’ll use a couple dozen outfits in the course of a trip,” he says, “and it’s better to rinse off each one before putting it away.” Rinsing and storing the rods at sea also saves on clean-up back at the dock, “which is the last thing you want to do after an epic all-nighter,” Koci laughs.

All three captains stress the importance of dressing for foul weather. “After sitting all night you’ll be wet and stiff and cold,” Smith says, “so warm clothes, rain gear and dry towels will save the day.” Sprengle adds, “There have been nights in the middle of summer when I was wearing my full Grundens and wished I had brought another layer.” Bean bag chairs get the nod from Sprengle and Smith, but Sprengle warns, “They are so comfortable you may lose half your crew in the middle of the night.” Koci encourages crew members to sleep. “I always put someone on watch and grab a couple hours of shuteye myself,” he says. “Otherwise, I end up tired and then I’m off my game.”

Comfort food also makes a night at sea more enjoyable. Koci breaks out the grill and makes burgers and hotdogs for the crew. “Then I put a movie on in the cabin and the anglers can relax while we get the gear ready and the baits set.” On their center consoles, Smith and Sprengle don’t have time or space for such luxuries, opting instead for hearty sandwiches and salads. Sprengle brings cold-cuts and loaves of bread along with plenty of fruits and vegetables to boost energy levels and morale. All three skippers emphasis the need to hydrate through the night. “Water and Gatorade are worth their weight in gold,” Sprengle says, “but save the booze for the victory party.” Koci packs watermelon and cantaloupe to provide a watery snack.

Each skipper also warns about the dangers of seasickness after dark. When the sun goes down and the lights come on, the horizon is erased and motion sensitive anglers may turn green. “Guys who have never been sick before will get seasick at night,” Smith says. He urges anglers to wear an anti-nausea patch or take medication before heading out for the night. If that doesn’t work, turn off the cockpit lights and let the patient’s eyes adjust to the dark and reclaim the horizon.

Photo courtesy Capt. Bouncer Smith

Play it Safe

All alone, bobbing in the middle of the ocean in a small boat in the pitch-black darkness, gremlins will fill a skipper’s imagination with all the things that could go wrong. To keep your mind at ease, make safety a primary concern. “Carry extras of everything,” Koci says, “Food, water, lights, fuel filters, belts—anything that could go wrong and probably will.” Koci and the other captains also leave a detailed float plan with their respective marinas and loved ones. “If we break down while drifting in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras, we could be off New England before anyone realizes we are gone,” Koci half-jokes.

In spite of modern electronics, fishing in the dark can be very disorienting. Smith maintains a careful watch on wind and swell direction to maintain his bearings while Koci keeps his eye on the North Star to monitor his position. “In the dark, it’s not enough to trust your electronics,” he says, “it’s comforting to have a back-up plan.” Radar is also key to safely fishing at night. “Set the alarm on one mile,” Koci says, “since boats and ships can sneak up on you in the dark.” He also keeps one crew member on watch for passing vessels, drifting flotsam and other hazards that might not appear on his radar screen.

All three captains also stress the importance of a high-quality VHF radio. “Not only can other boats hear you from a greater distance,” Sprengle says, “but the Coast Guard and tow services can use your radio to triangulate your position.” Serious anglers should also invest in a ship-to-shore radio and satphone, too.

“And have a good life raft for the crew,” Sprengle adds, “Don’t even look at the price tag.” Before leaving the dock, Bouncer Smith gives each crewmember a glow stick to carry in his pocket. “If someone falls overboard, the glow stick makes it a lot easier to recover them,” he explains.

Many accidents can be avoided by slowing down and being careful. All three captains are sticklers for keeping the cockpit and rigging stations clean and clear. “When the action starts, people will be running around and bumping into each other even more than usual,” Koci says. He also stresses running the boat slowly to avoid collisions. “I don’t go more that 15 or 16 knots at night,” Koci says, “so I have a better chance to see something before I hit it. If I do have a collision it won’t do as much damage to the boat.”

While night fishing may be more dangerous and less comfortable than fishing during the day, it can also be more productive and a hell of a lot more exciting. “If you’re not fishing at night,” Koci says, “you’re missing the best part of the day.”

https://assets.inthebite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/nitetrackedit.mp4
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories, News Tagged With: bouncer smith, fishing safety, foul weather fishing, night fishing, nighttime boating

    Recent News

    42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

    May 17, 2022, Loreto B.C.S —Sunday concluded the third Marina Puerto Escondido Fishing Tournament as 51 Teams competed for over a HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH PRIZES, the highest ever awarded for a fishing tournament in the Loreto area. According to S … [Read More...]

    Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

    By Zachary Granat Last year, on Sept. 6, 2021, Capt. Patrick Price passed away after a battle with COVID-19. This month, the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund honored him by sinking two artificial reefs off the coast of St. Lucie County. Two boats, the … [Read More...]

    O-Ring Stop

    Captain Dickie Dickinson Jupiter Fishing Charters Skill Level: Easy … [Read More...]

    Strange Creatures Come Out at Night

      By Captain Kevin Deerman It’s always been amazing to me to see what kind of creatures show up in the lights around the boat at night when tuna fishing off the Texas coast. Over the years we’ve encountered many different types of fis … [Read More...]

    Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

    By Zachary Granat On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2 … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Cover

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • 42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

      42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

      May 17, 2022, Loreto B.C.S —Sunday concluded the third Marina Puerto Escondido Fishing Tournament as 51 Teams competed for over a HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH PRIZES, the highest ever awarded for a fishing tournament in the Loreto area. According to Stenson Hamann, Marketing Manager of the event, "The attendance has grown 85% over its short three-year history, beginning in 2019." Team... [Read More...]

    • Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

      Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

      By Zachary Granat Last year, on Sept. 6, 2021, Capt. Patrick Price passed away after a battle with COVID-19. This month, the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund honored him by sinking two artificial reefs off the coast of St. Lucie County. Two boats, the 65-foot Spirit of Palm Beach—renamed the DayMaker—and the 98-foot Last One—renamed the Capt. Patrick Price Reef—are now... [Read More...]

    • Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      By Zachary Granat On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2019 ban on recreational hunting. Then, the Court held that recreational hunting was animal cruelty and a threat to the environment.... [Read More...]

    • Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      By Toine van Ierland, Tournament Director Cape Verde on fire! In both 2020 and 2021, we were forced to postpone the tournament thanks to COVID-19, but on the night of April 24, 2022, we finally kicked off the 2022 EFSA European Championship Big Game Fishing Tournament, AKA The PENN Challenge. And what a tournament it was. Expectations Two weeks prior... [Read More...]

    • New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      Georgia DNR, Brunswick, Ga., May 5, 2022—A 53-year-old Midway man is the new state record holder for dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as mahi mahi, after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certified his catch Friday. James Roberts of Midway landed the 68-pound, 1.6-ounce dolphin on April 26. He was fishing over Deli Ledge approximately 80 miles east of... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2022 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.