When setting the anchor, the current speed and wind drift are accounted for by moving the boat up-current or upwind of the spot by 30 to 50 metres in mild conditions or 100 metres in heavy conditions and dropping the anchor. When the pick bites into the bottom, the boat can be manipulated up or down the rope to locate the boat right over the fish. With modern sounders and GPS plotters aggregations of fish can also be 'bombed' by going from spot to spot searching for signs of fish then dropping baited rigs into the schools or shows of fish. This system works so long as the angler knows where to look. Knowing the target fish again helps with bait selection although most of the popular table fish will take most of these baits.
Live bait is extremely useful on the larger predatory fish like mulloway and kingfish.
When using strips of fish flesh for bait it is essential to keep the baits relatively small and thin. Strip baits about the size of an index finger are right for most fish. The hook is placed at one end of the bait and passed only once through the bait, from the flesh side out through the skin. This enables the fish to swallow the bait easily and the hook to bite cleanly into its mouth. Far too many anglers try to thread the bait onto the hook by passing the hook many times through the bait.