Another amazing way of using the
autopilot function is; one drives up to a
waypoint and maybe 20m or so before
we reach the waypoint, we engage the
pilot to navigate toward that same point.
We set one motor to idle and turn the
second motor off. The trick here is to
ensure the speed of the current exceeds
the speed of the boat - so what ends up
happening is the boat holds its course
trying to reach the waypoint up-current
but because the current speed exceeds
the boat speed, one achieves a very slow
controlled drift always astern. This allows
one to set lines out the back of the boat,
still pulling live baits into the current, all
while moving slowly backwards.
The pilot will keep bow facing into the
current, lines and chum trail heading out
the back. This is a deadly Couta Technique
and really effective with other gamefish
as well. I’ve tried the same while fishing
at great depths dropping for Amberjack
when the current would normally be too
strong to fish, works well if there isn’t
a howling wind, and the skipper can
actually join the crew and fish!
I must say what I enjoy most now,
is being able to set a slow circle or
zigzag course either up current or
down current, setting lines and baits
with the crew and once all’s done -
being able to sit down and enjoy
chatting with the crew, maybe listen
to a bit of music on the Sonic hub
while eating breakfast.
It’s so much better an experience
when a rod screams away and the
skipper is not always the last guy
to grab a rod. Before I owned the
Autopilot, I always said I’d never
need it, now that I have it on my
boat it’ll be the last thing I’d ever
do without. I’ll never go to sea
again without one, it just makes the
overall experience so much better.”
Spend more time fishing, with the Lowrance autopilot! Thank you Carl!
Advice from a real pro. The Lowrance Autopilot system is the extra pair
of hands when you need it. It works with Lowrance HDS units,
and currently retails for R23 620.
Click on this button to read up on our Outboard Pilot- but please note
that the article is from a 2017 issue so prices are not valid:
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