Nearshore Planer Trolling with Chad Raney

Why Are Planers Essential for East Coast Nearshore Fishing?

Capt. Chad Raney demonstrates techniques for getting bait presentations down and running them at productive depths using both in-line and bridled methods. Understanding how to troll baits and lures at various water depths determines whether you intercept feeding fish or spend long days watching empty lines while fish feed below your spread.

How Do You Find Bait and Fish on Nearshore Reefs and Structure?

Finding fish on reefs requires locating baitfish concentrations first because predators position where forage holds. Nearshore structure creates zones where bait stages based on current, depth, and bottom composition, with gamefish patrolling these areas systematically.
Search patterns to locate fish involve:

• Reading electronics for bait depth and density
• Understanding how atmospheric conditions affect fish positioning
• Recognizing productive times of day based on barometer, wind, cloud cover, and seas

Determining the right depth to fish depends on where electronics mark bait rather than assumptions about where fish should be. Raney's simple techniques reveal how to interpret these variables and adjust planer deployments accordingly.

What Atmospheric Conditions Affect Nearshore Fish Activity?

Trolling nearshore with planers becomes most effective when anglers read atmospheric variables and adjust depths matching where fish respond to changing conditions throughout the day.