Saltwater vis and fishing

From my experience, rockfishing when the water is very murky isn't as good as when you have at least a couple feet of vis.  I'll still catch fish in the murk, but it's usually a tough day.  I try to add a lot of scent to my lures or use straight bait if I'm fishing murky stuff, seems to help.

But, is it tough because it's murky, or because of an increased swell, with the murk just being a side effect of the swell?

Big swell definitely puts the fish down, but I've fished in murk that came from either wind wave action from days before, or from runoff with relatively small swell, and the fishing wasn't as good compared to when you have at least a couple feet of vis.  Rockfish have really big eyes, which indicates to me that they rely heavily on sight to feed.  When their eyesight is negated by murky water, they then have to rely on smell and their lateral line to find prey.  So in murky water I'll fall back on relying on scent to attract rockfish to my bait/lure, but even then I never expect great rockfish action when fishing in murk and so far, all of my murky-water-rockfishing trips have never been stellar trips.

From my experience, rockfishing when the water is very murky isn't as good as when you have at least a couple feet of vis.  I'll still catch fish in the murk, but it's usually a tough day.  I try to add a lot of scent to my lures or use straight bait if I'm fishing murky stuff, seems to help.

But, is it tough because it's murky, or because of an increased swell, with the murk just being a side effect of the swell?

Big swell definitely puts the fish down, but I've fished in murk that came from either wind wave action from days before, or from runoff with relatively small swell, and the fishing wasn't as good compared to when you have at least a couple feet of vis.  Rockfish have really big eyes, which indicates to me that they rely heavily on sight to feed.  When their eyesight is negated by murky water, they then have to rely on smell and their lateral line to find prey.  So in murky water I'll fall back on relying on scent to attract rockfish to my bait/lure, but even then I never expect great rockfish action when fishing in murk and so far, all of my murky-water-rockfishing trips have never been stellar trips.

Makes sense---thanks for the info.

It also depends what kind of fish you're targeting.

When it comes to salmon, finding brown water often means finding fish.


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Thanks for the info. Sounds like if it's a mud pit I probably won't have much luck. Guess I'll just fish once I'm smoked from diving on good days.

From my experience, good action, changing colors and adding scent usually helps in dirty water. 
Having a bait that throws out good swimming vibes with its action, like a high quality swimbait or something with a spinner can pull fish in from a distance.
Dark colors that will contrast and sometimes really bright obnoxious colors like chartreuse. 
My other theory is that you just need to get your hook closer to the fish because they can't see it, obviously.  This means getting in closer to structure.
Scent helps get them excited and looking which will make them more likely to find it.


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