How to Use This Website
Web Site Tools
CANYON CROPS
A new addition to the service during the 2008 season is the ability to get a close look into a canyon area. This is not a "zoom." It is a new chart of a canyon area that is contoured out in 1/2 a degree contours. Just click the canyon crop area you desire getting a closer look at. They are located under the current temperature chart of each canyon area chart.
If a specific canyon is cloud covered on the current image and the crop provides no useful information, There will be no crop for the cloud covered canyom.
Determining Age of Images in Web Site
The first page that opens up after you place your username and password into the system is our "Cloud Cover Status" page. On the right side near the top there is a rectangular button marked "View Cloud Cover Entire Northeast." Click this button and an image will open up. This is an actual satellite image of the entire Northeast. Where color can be seen those areas are clear, and free of clouds. In areas that are marked with cross-hatch, these areas are cloud covered and no useable imagery was available in those areas.
Let's say the area you fish is between the Wilmington and the Baltimore canyons. And let's say the area was marked with cross-hatch which means it was cloud covered on the morning image. Close out the window with the cloud cover image and look under the button marked "View Cloud Cover Entire Northeast." In red print there are different locations where cloud cover was encountered on the most recent satellite pass. Next to the location it will say "Most Recent Image in File is" and it will provide a date and time of the most recent image we have available for that area. Now you can determine how old the images are in the file before you get charged a download.If you have an unlimited plan don't worry about it and download what we have as most current.
Green Flashing Message Light
On the Cloud Cover Status Page, I will activate a green flashing button Marked "Click Here for Important Message." If you see this pop up, click it and read it. It will usually provide information on when the next pass will be posted or if there is a problem with the site and when it will be back on line.
Determining When the Next Pass Will be Captured
At the bottom of the list of cloud covered areas written in red there will be a note stating when the next round of satellite passes should be expected. Check the web site for updates at that time.
Latitude and Longitude Cursor
Move the cursor anywhere on the chart and it will provide accurate lat and long of the position you are pointing at. Use this tool to get the position of an area you want to run to. Copy it your GPS and head to the exact position.
Point and Click Mileage
Place the cursor on any position on a chart and left click (Mac users need Firefox). It will place a green dot on the chart and a box under the cursor will appear stating "select a destination." Then place your cursor on another location on the chart and left click again. A red dot will appear on the chart. Under the cursor it will provide the nautical miles between the 2 dots. Left click anywhere on the chart and the dots and mileage are removed.
You can not use this tool interchart. It can only be used on the same chart. If you want to know the distance between any points in the Northeast, go to the very last chart in the file. It is the"Big Picture" the entire Northeast between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. This chart will provide mileage to any point from any point between Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Charts
We provide a current chart of numerous areas in each of the three regions in the Northeast.We also provide a previous chart of the same area. The current chart was the last clear image we obtained and the previous chart is the second to last image we obtained. A current chart is useless without something to compare it with. That's why we offer the two charts of the same area. Compare the previous chart to the current chart and you can see in which direction the edges and break are moving. Make sure you get the dates right. The information to determine which chart is the current image and which is the previous one is printed below the posted chart.
Find the Distance Temp Breaks Move
Using your Point and Click Mileage, look at a previous chart of a given area. Let's say for example a previous chart of the Hudson Canyon. For an example, there is a huge temperature break running east to west through the center of the canyon. Looking at the current chart, and let's say the temperature break has moved to the mouth of the Hudson. Remember where the break was on the previous chart and place your cursor on that same location on the current chart and left click. Now place your cursor on the break where it is on the current chart and left click. The distance in nautical miles will appear under the cursor--lets say 10 miles. The break moved ten miles from the previous chart to the current chart. Look at the date and time of both charts and determine how long of a period of time between the two charts. Lets say 24 hours. So the break has pushed to the southeast 10 miles in 24 hours. Just figure when you will be out there and make a rough determination where the break will be upon your arrival.
Yellow Arrows
I will help you determine which way temperature breaks are moving by placing yellow arrows on the charts. The arrows will point at the direction the edge is moving. Two arrows pointing at each other designates that the break has not moved from the previous image to the current image. It is considered a "stationary front."
Cross-Hatched Areas on Charts
Cross-Hatched areas on any chart depict the location of clouds, fog or heavy mositure. We can not see through the clouds and must blot them from an image.
Purple Circles on Charts
If I see an area that has potential to amass bait, I will place a purple circle on the image depicting a "Captains Choice" area. These areas are worth checking out for "life." If you find bait in the area, stay with it and work it hard. The gamefish will most likely follow.
Turbidity Charts
Turbidity charts are created from the Modis Aqua satellite. It will provide aproximately 2 to 3 images a week, cloud cover permitting, of the Northeast. We will leave them on the site until they are replaced with new charts.
Turbid water is water containing suspended particles. A high amount of suspended particules is represented by red. Areas of low suspended particles are represented by blue. In theory, the higher the turbidity, the dirtier the water. The lower the turbidity the cleaner the water. With these charts you can locate edges of clean and dirty water which is another bait amassing edge.
Chlorophyll Charts
Chlorophyll charts supposedly locate areas with high concentrations of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a by-product of phytoplankton and phytoplankton is the start of the food chain. In theory locate the chlorophyll and locate areas holding bait.After 2 years of ground truthing we have found there is no coorelation between areas of high chlorophyll and locations of baitfish.We no longer provide these charts.The turbidity images are far more usefull.
Copyright Infringement: We Capture IP Addresses
Every computer has an IP address. We have the ability to see how many computers our subscribers use to access our web site. If we see an excessive amount of computers entering the web site under one password and username we will determine that the user's password has been compromised or he has passed it on to unauthorized individuals. This is a violation of our copyright and against the law. Every subscriber is issued 4 computers. If they exceed that amount we are notified. Then we notify you. If the problem isn't rectified we will shut you down permanently with no reimbursement!
Seasonal Service: Use'em or Lose'em
If you have purchased a certain number of downloads you must use them this season. They are not available forever. If you do not use them this season, you will lose them so don't be too thrifty with the charts.
We will Provide Imagery for your Early or Late Year Trips
Our season service begins 2nd Monday of June and shuts down in mid-October. Most of our customers are high and dry for the winter at that time. Charts are extremely labor intensive so we shutdown our daily service in October. If you are making a late or early season run before we start or after we shutdown our daily service please give use a call at 800 827 4468 and we will provide charts for your trip. If you are that much a diehard, we will do the work and get you current images.