The offshore waters of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia feature excellent gamefish opportunities for species such as marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin, tuna, and more. Believe it or not, the bird circling in the air can help put you on more fish. However, some anglers overlook the power of sighting frigate birds. 

Is There A Bird Called A Frigate

Yes, there is a bird called a frigate which is also known as a Man-O-War bird. The bird is easily distinguishable due to there appearance.

Man-O-War birds have a sleek appearance similar to fighter jets. The coloration ranges from all black for males to white and black for females. 

 The bodies of frigates are small; however, they are equipped with an elongated forked tail and almost eight-foot wingspan.

Frigates are found worldwide in semitropical and tropical climates. Keep a lookout for Man-O-Wars circling overhead. However, don’t confuse the frigate bird with the frigate fish otherwise called a frigate tuna.

In addition to the frigate fish or frigate tuna, Offshore Angler offers a frigate fishing reel. The frigate fishing reel is a spinning-type reel.

How Long Can Frigate Birds Fly

As unimaginable as it may seem, frigates can remain airborne for months at a time. Their ability to stay in flight has to do with the birds’ aerodynamic features, resulting in gliding for miles on end. 

Equally as remarkable is the altitude at which they fly. Frigates exceed 5,000 above sea level depending on the weather patterns. Due to the height at which they fly, the man o war bird because incredibly challenging to spot unless equipped with binoculars.

What Does A Frigate Eat

Considering the bird spends most of its time over the ocean, the diet consists of sealife. The answer to what do frigate birds eat is frigates dine on squid, flying fish, schooling baitfish, and larger species, including tuna. 

In the process of plucking fish from the sea, the Man-Of-War bird remains dry. The bird cannot become wet to stay aloft. So when asked how do birds catch fish? The frigate bird waits for fish to jump out of the water where they grab the food while the bird and the prey are in the air.

How Do Man-O-War Birds Help Fisherman Locate Birds

The next time you are fishing the ocean off the coast of Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina, keep your eyes on the sky.

Consider the frigate to be a fish finder except one in the air instead of reading electronics focused on the waters below. Many people use the term fishing the birds because the angler focuses there attention on the sea beneath the circling Man-Of-War bird.

The Man-O-War bird is capable of spotting baitfish from thousands of feet in the air. Offshore game fish congregate in areas where large schools of bait are present. 

Circling frigates indicate balls of bait below, resulting in the increased likelihood of catching wahoo, dolphin, tuna, marlin, and sailfish as they feed on the schools of fish. 

Bait and gamefish gravitate towards structure. In addition to birds helping to locate fish, they also guide anglers to floating debris and weed lines ideal for trolling past. Hungry predators lurk below. 

How Do You Spot Frigate Birds

Maintain a sharp lookout for birds circling overhead. Remember the process of spotting a frigate bird is challenging, particularly on bright sunny days when the intense light obscures vision.

Of course, remember to bring along a pair of binoculars to help locate the birds and adjust the course in the direction they are circling. Frigate bird fishing requires patience because the angler must position the boat correctly to draw a strike from a fish the bird is watching.

Once the boat is positioned beneath, the birds or the area they are diving for food make numerous passes while trolling in the vicinity to cover enough ground. More times than not, a strike will occur. Maintain a visual on the frigates for as long as possible to maximize the chances of catching fish.

Will Man-O-War Birds Be Spotted Every Time You Head Offshore

Unfortunately, there is no rhyme or reason to the likelihood of spotting frigates. Frigates migrate long distances, and using them as aids to spot fish is hit or miss. Take advantage of every opportunity to locate and fish beneath frigates.

Are You Ready To Use Birds In Helping Locate Gamefish

The next time you run offshore to troll the blue water, make your best effort to spot Man-O-War birds circling overhead. These will help you narrow down the vast open ocean and put you on the fish sooner. What is even more effective is to locate sargassum beds in combination with a circling man o war bird. Time is money large amounts of fuel are burned while locating gamefish in the Atlantic ocean.Â