Analyzing Fish Behavior from Your Trolling Footage

Filming your trolling runs with a Westin underwater camera opens a new frontier in how anglers understand fish behavior. But capturing incredible underwater footage is only half the battle—knowing what you’re looking at is where things really start to pay off.

Let's walk through how to review your trolling videos with intention. From subtle tailers to full-blown ambush strikes, every clip offers clues about what’s working and what needs adjustment.

Curiosity vs. Commitment

One of the most overlooked moments in trolling footage is when a fish follows but doesn’t strike. Anglers often mistake this for a total lack of action, when in fact the fish is interested but not convinced. Watch closely for:

• Fish swimming directly behind or slightly off to the side of your lure
• Quick dart-ins followed by backing off
• Sustained tracking for 10+ seconds without engagement

These are signs your lure presentation is close—but not quite right. This could mean your speed is off, your lure is too large, or the color isn’t triggering aggression. Adjusting any of these variables and reviewing how fish respond in follow-up clips can help you dial it in.

Reading Strike Style

Not all hits are created equal. Some fish blast a lure with full force from below, while others nip at the tail once or twice before committing. Watching your footage frame-by-frame can help you identify:

• Species-specific tendencies (e.g., king mackerel slashing vs. grouper engulfing)
• Reactionary strikes triggered by lure motion or directional change
• Near-misses that suggest spacing or camera rigging may be interfering

This insight gives you more than bragging rights—it’s the key to understanding what specific cues triggered the bite, allowing you to replicate them more often.

Identifying Gear Interference

In some clips, you may notice fish show interest but veer off once they reach the camera itself. If this happens often, your rig may need a tweak. Look for:

• Fish reacting negatively to flashes, glints, or wobble from your camera
• Lures that swim erratically due to placement too close to the camera
• Sediment or bubble trails kicked up by your rig’s motion

Consider adjusting the camera’s distance from the lure, switching to the more hydrodynamic Escape Cam, or changing lighting conditions (time of day, water clarity) to reduce distraction.

When the Lure Doesn’t Look Right

You might be surprised how often trolling footage reveals that your lure isn’t swimming the way you thought it was. Common issues include:

• Lures spinning or tracking off-angle
• Swimming action that’s too subtle or overly aggressive
• Dragging at an unnatural angle when trolled too fast or improperly rigged

Seeing this on camera allows you to correct problems immediately—something you’d never detect from the boat.

Using Footage to Create a Trolling Game Plan

Over time, your camera footage becomes more than just a highlight reel—it’s a research archive. The more you film and analyze, the clearer your patterns become:

• What lure types get the most committed bites
• What trolling speeds result in higher strike rates
• What species respond best to certain colors, depths, or actions

This transforms guesswork into strategy, giving you a tactical advantage every time you drop a line.

Let the Fish Teach You

There’s no sonar, no rod tip, and no gut feeling that can deliver the kind of raw behavioral insight you’ll get from trolling with a Westin Cam. These aren’t just cool videos—they’re real-time lessons in what fish want, when they want it, and how they want it presented.

So next time you review your footage, don’t just look for the strike. Watch the approach, study the hesitation, and pay attention to what the fish are telling you. Because when you listen, they’ll help you become a far more effective angler.