Yes, we’re going back to Second Grade and reviewing how to tell time, but not on a clock, on a boat…

Why?

When sight fishing from a skiff, anglers use a clock to keep everyone on the same page for communicating when a fish is spotted. When your guide spots a fish, you’ll hear them call out the direction based on a clock. 12 o’clock is straight ahead, right in front of the bow. 3 o’clock is the immediate right of the boat  and 9 o’clock is the left. The thing to remember is the clock is based on the boat, NOT where you’re looking. 

Setting yourself up for success

To help with keeping everything in order, plant your feet with your toes pointing towards the bow. When you hear your guide call the clock position, you’ll already have your body in the right position, so your brain will be ready to tell you the direction to look. 

As you’re scanning for the fish, point your rod in the direction you’re looking. This tells the guide where your focus is and they can help to make corrections, “more left”, or “a little more right”. 

You’ll hear the guide call distance also. This gives you a general idea of where the fish will be. The thing to remember is that not everyone has the same baseline. Sometimes a guide's 30 feet is your 40 feet. Determine what’s 30, 50, and 70 feet early in the day and make sure everyone is on the same page.

If you’re having trouble spotting fish, communicate with the guide. It’s okay if you can’t see the fish at first, let the guide know, so they can help you spot it. If you’re new to flats fishing, it’s going to take some time to learn how to see fish. Learn to look for subtle clues like shadows, fins or wakes. Most of all, have a good attitude and have fun!

See below for a visualization for telling time on the skiff!