Fishing logs do you keep one?

[pitch bait]

This is something that I have done a few times and never stick with it. I start one then get busy and all the days blend together. I was talking to my skipper yesterday about the log he has been keeping on the boat. He has been keeping a very detailed log for the past ten years of his own. He claims that you can look at the log and he can see alot of simularities in where he is fishing at what time of year. Yesterday when I was looking at our log the thing that stood out to me was wind direction and air temp. It is clear as day that the sails in Florida bit better in certian winds and also the effects that a cold front or a warm front had on the fish. It was totaly opposite of what you would think. The cold front pushed the fish (north) up the beach and the warm weather pushed them south. If anyone was here in Florida this winter you will remember how cold it was. I would imagine thats why the fishing was good for so long. It just interesting, Im very sorry that I didnt keep such a log book over the years.

[jackdaniels]

Fishing logs may become an important tool in re-evaluating fishery science. Inaccufrate catch estimates have always been a problem

[weekender]

not a formal one with all the the details, but I do have a calendar that I log exceptional catches. I have been keeping it for about 8 years.

[gmoney]

I plan to start one this year, keep it near the helm, jot some notes down on the way in (provided your not getting your a$$ kicked on the way in)

[TunaTeaser1]

This will be my third year keeping logs...I started keeping track of hunting and fishing the same year.

For me it's been easier to keep updated because I do it on my computer and can type my thoughts out a lot quicker than writing them by hand.

I've been meaning to make a template so I won't forget anything.

[Full Choke]

I have recently started (this past summer). However, I havent missed a trip yet. If you can take the time to do it, It will really pay off years to come, and can be fun to go back and read all the things you've done.

[Ponce]

I keep one with the weather, sea state, water temp, who fished with me, what we caught. I also have a little remarks section to note anything noteable, like we did well or bad on hook-ups ect.

I have found that you can start to see trends in numbers and types of fish after just a little time.

[Catcher's Mitt]

This is something that I have done a few times and never stick with it. I start one then get busy and all the days blend together. I was talking to my skipper yesterday about the log he has been keeping on the boat. He has been keeping a very detailed log for the past ten years of his own. He claims that you can look at the log and he can see alot of simularities in where he is fishing at what time of year. Yesterday when I was looking at our log the thing that stood out to me was wind direction and air temp. It is clear as day that the sails in Florida bit better in certian winds and also the effects that a cold front or a warm front had on the fish. It was totaly opposite of what you would think. The cold front pushed the fish (north) up the beach and the warm weather pushed them south. If anyone was here in Florida this winter you will remember how cold it was. I would imagine thats why the fishing was good for so long. It just interesting, Im very sorry that I didnt keep such a log book over the years.

Hey Pitch,

great thread. I have looked on line a couple of times and never found anything i like. has anybody found one that they like? Are there any out there that are a relational database? i have seen a few excel templates but they are pretty lame. a friend of mine is working on a Iphone app that will pull all kinds of information together when you catch or kill something. i hope he sends me the Beta version. if he does i guess i will have to buy a Iphone

Mark

[SeaMarie]

Hard to write stuff down out there on smaller boats or any boat on some days out there. A good tool to use are the digital voice recorders. Its pretty easy to record your thoughts verbally and when back on land you can write it in your book.

ab

[Capt Fred]

We have kept a Log for the past 15 years. I am fortunate that my crew is religious about making the entry before we leave the boat each trip, (thanks Shelly). Our early logs ones are sketchy. The last 10 years are very detailed. Weather, sea condition, catch numbers & size, etc. Fun to look at in the winter