  Nearly all saltwater fly fishing situations
demand that the angler see the fish before making the
cast. In many circumstances, the sooner the fish can be
located, the better. It is a decided advantage to the fly
fisherman when there is more time to decide where to
throw the fly and to finally deliver it. To see fish
quickly is something fly fishermen must learn.
Fortunately there are techniques and tricks that are
easily mastered that will help the angler.
Perhaps the first
thing to realize is that you are not looking for
something that looks like a fish. Many
fish have silver sides, such as trevally, permit, tarpon,
bonefish, etc. The silver sides of such fish act just
like a mirror--reflecting the environment or bottom over
which they are swimming. It is difficult to realize that
very large trevally could be swimming in 3 feet of water
and be almost invisible--but the silvery sides allow it
to.
So, the first thing to learn about
looking for fish is not to expect to see a total fish.
For trevally and permit, the top of the back and part of
the tail fin have a slightly darker coloration. When you
see a thin black line knifing through the water--it may
mean a 30 pound or larger fish.  A
bonefish is very difficult to see. Often it is either the
large eye, the slightly pale green or blue color of the
tail--or the slightly darker shading of the back that's
visible.
To see well you need the proper
tools--which fortunately are few in number. If you fish
and don't wear a hat, you are at a distinct disadvantage.
You need a hat to shade the eyes to see better. The color
of the under side of the brim is very important. It
should be black in color, or very dark. Hats with a light
under brim reflect the light bouncing off the water into
the eyes--reducing your chances of seeing well.
Polarizing glasses are important,
too. I favor wearing three different colors for different
fishing situations. For most fishing I think that those
that are of a brown/yellow color are best. On overcast or
rainy days, a pair of bright yellow ones are best and for
offshore fishing a pair of polarizing glasses that are
blue-gray seem to let you penetrate the water better.
Whatever kind of polarizing glasses
you wear--they should have side shields on the frames.
These shields prevents glare that bounces off the water
at your side or behind you and strikes the inside your
glasses, ruining your ability to see well. It is
advisable to carry some glass cleaner to remove salt
spray. In a small plastic bag I also carry paper napkins
that are dry and can be used to keep my glasses clean.
Also, polarizing glasses are manufactured to remove glare
from most situations. Sometimes, if you tilt your head to
the left or to the right, you can remove additional
glare. Try this from time to time as you search for fish.
SEEING FISH IN
SHALLOW WATER
How to search for fish in shallow water
differs a little from looking for fish in deep water.
The time of the year often
influences how well you can see fish in the shallows. The
best light is when there is a cloud-free sky and the sun
is HIGH OVERHEAD. The lower the angle of the sun, the
more difficult it is to see into the water. 
One reason Christmas Island is so ideal for bonefishing
is because it is located on the equator. For most of the
day the sun is high above the horizon. Any fisherman that
travels during the winter to such tropical places as
Florida, Bahamas or similar areas that are rather far
from the equator, may be disappointed. The sun doesn't
get high enough for good vision until about 9 in the
morning, and by 4 in the afternoon the lower angle makes
things again difficult. But, in the summer months in this
same area, you could fish two or three hours earlier--and
later, simply because the angle of the sun is higher.
If you are fishing from a boat, try
not to stare at the water--you'll see little. Constantly
scan the area and not just the waters in front of you!
Frequently examine the water as far away as you feel you
can locate fish. Look for bonefish, for a distance of at
least 50 yards around the boat. For tarpon, which often
roll as they breath, breaking the surface, you could look
as far away as 200 yards from the boat. When wading the
shallows, try to look as far ahead as it is possible to
see fish.
As you move along, try to keep the
sun at your back or side. Looking into the sun's glare
means many fish will not be noticed. On days when the
light is low or overcast you can often improve your
chances. Try fishing along a shoreline with dark foliage,
where the fish will be more easily detected. You can
accomplish the same thing if there is a storm in the
background. Poling toward a bright cloud on the horizon
can ruin your ability to see well. But, poling toward a
dark cloud is just the reverse--it improves your ability
to locate fish. Another good time to fish close to
shorelines that are in the lee is when the wind is
blowing. Such calm water aids greatly in seeing fish.
One of the most important tricks for
seeing fish is to understand that when fish are in less
than a foot of water, you look for them differently, than
when they are in deeper water.  When fish
are in water less than a foot deep, you look at the
surface. If the fish is of catchable size, when it swims
in less than a foot of water--it will make a wake. This
disturbance is easy to see. But, remember, when you make
your cast, the fish will be in front of the wake.
When fish swim in water more than a
foot deep, unless they are very large, no wake is
produced. Then, you should look at the bottom. This
sounds logical, but many fishermen don't do it. Let me
give an example of how not looking at the bottom may
prevent someone from seeing fish. If you look in a store
window at items just inside the window, you don't see
anything farther back inside the store. But, if you
looked through the window at the back of the store,
anyone moving between you and the back of the store would
interrupt your vision and be noticed. By concentrating on
looking at the bottom, you will more quickly see any fish
swimming across that bottom.
Swimming fish can cause a
disturbance on the surface. If you see tiny ripples in a
calm area, (called nervous water) this is an indicator
that fish are swimming under those little ripples. Also,
be aware of wave patterns. If the waves are coming from
one direction--and one wave is not following the same
pattern--it may be caused by swimming fish.
Different colorations on a shallow
flat can also mean a good place for fish. Snook,
barramundi, barracuda and other species enjoy lying in
white sand holes on a flat--so check them carefully. Dark
spots can also be a good place to search. Logs, coral
heads and other debris that are on a flat are often
ambush spots or hideouts for many species.
Look for muddy places, too. Some
fish, such as bonefish, will try to root out from the
bottom crabs, shrimp and other foods. This will cause
small puffs of mud--visible to fishermen. Various types
of rays can also be helpful. Rays will cruise along, then
drop to the bottom and pound their wings against the
bottom. This is done to flush tiny food creatures hiding
there. Because the rays are slow swimming, many fast
swimming fish take advantage of this. They will hover
close to or over a ray. When shrimp, crabs and other
morsels try to flee the ray, the faster moving fish grab
them before the ray can. Even when rays are not pounding
the bottom, many predatory fish will swim alongside them.
So, anytime you see a ray pounding the bottom or
swimming, be sure to check it out.
At night docks and bridges that have
lights on them attract small bait and shrimp. These foods
in turn draw predatory fish there. Learning to see these
fish is easy and can produce some excellent fishing. The
predatory fish will always be holding on the uptide side
of such a lighted area. For example, if the tide is
flowing from north to south, the fish will be on the
north side. To locate the fish, examine where the shadow
line falls on the water. The fish will be just inside
that shadow line, facing into the current. They will
appear as a dark shadow--and once you know what you are
looking for they are easy to see.
OFFSHORE
Locating fish in deeper waters requires a
little different technique. One of the best aids are the
many birds that use the sea to obtain their food. Anytime
you see birds diving to the water you know that baitfish
are being pushed to the surface. Under them will be the
fish you seek. A flock of birds that are just resting on
the surface can be a good indicator. The birds may
realize that under them is a large school of bait. They
are simply waiting for predatory fish to come along and
begin feeding. If you have no place special to go, it may
be worth staying nearby.
The frigate bird, a large bird with
"W"-shaped wings, is a good indicator of large
fish in the area. These birds frequently follow billfish,
tuna and other large species. If you see a frigate bird
lazily gliding overhead--keep a watch on it. And, if the
bird suddenly dives toward the surface, you can almost be
certain that a big fish in there.
When many species, such as dogtooth
tuna, mackerel and bluefish feed well below the surface
on a school of baitfish, there may be an oil slick on the
surface. Many baitfish contain a great deal of oil. When
predatory fish cut and chop into them, this oil is
released and comes to the surface forming a slick.
White splashes on the horizon, or
leaping fish are indicators you always are searching for
offshore. In the sea there are few places where small
fish can hide from predators. Floating debris such as
trees, logs, boards, old boxes and similar items as well
as large patches of grass, are where these smaller fish
hide. Always check such debris for fish.
There are many tricks to locating
fish. Fortunately, most of them are easy to learn.
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