We Get Water Clarity/Color via Chlorophyll Shots.

Let's take a look at the most important formula of fishing:

Fish = Temp + Structure + Bait

Temperatures we can get from SSTs.

Structure we can get from Bathymetry data & our Waypoints.

Bait we can get indirectly from Chlorophyll.

How exactly does this work? When there is an upwelling in the ocean, cold water rises and warm water sinks. This means nutrients that were on the bottom are pushed to the surface, causing algae growth and phytoplankton blooms. The plankton multiply and feed on the nutrients. Small critters eat the plankton. Small minnows eat the small critters. Bigger fish eat the smaller minnows. See where this is going?

Water containing higher concentrations of plankton has a higher level of chlorophyll. Blue water is cleaner with less chlorophyll.

Bottom Line = Some of the best fishing is near areas of higher nutrient concentrations (where blue water meets higher levels). The longer it lasts means the better it is to fish. Look for Chlorophyll lasting at least 3 days near a temperature break and near structure.

Serious fishermen should use Chlorophyll charts to weed out poor conditions and to find the better areas holding fish. Chlorophyll charts can save you fuel and also help get your boat bloodier!

Chlorophyll shots generally come from the same sources: NASA's MODIS Terra or MODIS Aqua, or SeaWiFS (SEA-viewing WIde Field of view Sensor).

To see ALL the worldwide Chlorophyll shots from MODIS, click HERE.

To see ALL the worldwide Chlorophyll shots from SeaWiFS, click HERE.

To see the MOST RECENT MODIS Aqua Chlorophyll shots for FLORIDA: click to open SuperMap HERE.