Complete Guide

How to Fish with the
Xpece ONE Drone.

Everything you need to know — from your first flight to dropping bait a mile out. No experience required.

Surf Fishing Shore Fishing Kayak Shark Fishing Offshore Beginners Welcome

01

What Is the Xpece ONE?

The Xpece ONE is a waterproof drone built specifically for fishermen. It carries bait up to 7 lbs and drops it precisely up to 1 mile offshore — no boat, no kayak, no app needed. Both the drone and the remote are IP67 waterproof, designed to handle saltwater spray, sand, and even accidental water landings.

🎧
No experience needed. The Xpece ONE requires zero calibration and no smartphone app. Turn it on, get a satellite lock in under 60 seconds, and you're flying. Three speed modes (Slow, Medium, Fast) let you ease in at your own pace.

Unlike traditional fishing methods, the drone lets you drop bait beyond the break, past sandbars, over reefs, and into spots completely inaccessible from shore. The built-in HD camera on the remote lets you scout fish in real time — before and after dropping your bait.

02

Key Specs at a Glance.

Know your equipment before your first cast.

Flight Time
28 – 31 min
Under ideal conditions. Heavier bait = less time.
Bait Capacity
Up to 7 lbs
Full shark rig. Half mullet + 6–8 oz weight included.
Range
Up to 1 mile
With auto Return-To-Home after bait drop.
Waterproof
IP67
Drone and remote. Floats on water. Saltwater safe.
Satellites
Up to 31
GPS + GLONASS + Galileo + BeiDou for rock-solid hold.
Camera
HD 1080p
2-axis stabilized gimbal. Modular — upgrade to 4K, thermal, or zoom.
Speed Modes
3 Modes
Slow, Medium, Fast. No calibration needed between modes.
FAA Compliance
RemoteID
Built-in. No extra module or registration needed.
⚠️
Battery tip: Carrying maximum payload (7 lbs) in strong winds will reduce your flight time significantly — expect 18–22 minutes in those conditions. Always return home with at least 20% battery remaining.

03

Your First Flight — Step by Step.

Before you put bait on, fly the drone once empty. Get comfortable with the controls, learn how it hovers and responds to wind, and test the Return-To-Home function.

  1. 1
    Charge the battery fully
    Charge until the indicator shows 100%. A full battery gives you maximum flight time. Never fly on less than 50% for your first sessions.
  2. 2
    Insert battery and power on the drone
    Place the drone on flat ground. Insert the battery, then power on the drone first, then the remote. Wait for the LED indicators to stabilize.
  3. 3
    Wait for satellite lock (under 60 seconds)
    The remote display shows satellite count. Wait until you have at least 8 satellites for stable GPS hold. In open areas this takes under a minute.
  4. 4
    Select Slow mode for your first flight
    Use Slow mode until you are comfortable. The drone responds to stick inputs gently — perfect for learning how it handles in crosswind.
  5. 5
    Take off and hover at 5–10 feet
    Push the throttle gently upward. Let the drone stabilize in a hover. Practice moving left, right, forward, and backward before going higher.
  6. 6
    Test Return-To-Home
    Fly 50–100 yards out and flip the RTH switch. The drone will return and land automatically near your position. This is your safety net — know it cold.
  7. 7
    Land manually using the throttle
    Slowly reduce throttle until the drone descends. Let it auto-land or bring it down manually to your hand or a flat surface.
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Pro tip: On your first 2–3 sessions, fly without bait to get the muscle memory down. A confident pilot drops bait more accurately and wastes less battery repositioning.

04

Bait Setup & Loading.

The Xpece ONE uses a precision payload release system. Loading it correctly ensures a clean drop exactly where you want it.

  1. 1
    Rig your bait on shore first
    Have your full rig ready — hook, leader, bait, and sinker — before attaching it to the drone. Never load bait while the drone is powered on or props are spinning.
  2. 2
    Attach the rig to the payload release clip
    Clip your main line to the release mechanism. Make sure the clip is fully engaged — give it a gentle tug to confirm it won't release prematurely.
  3. 3
    Keep your reel engaged with drag set
    Your fishing line should be running out freely from the rod. Set your drag loose enough to let line out as the drone flies — the drone is pulling the line, not carrying a fixed amount.
  4. 4
    Fly out in a straight line
    Head straight out to your target spot. Avoid flying sideways with bait — it creates unnecessary drag and uneven line tension. Use the HD camera to watch for structure below.
  5. 5
    Hover, then trigger the release
    Once over your target spot, hover briefly to stabilize. Press the release button on the remote — the bait drops cleanly. The drone is now free to return home.
  6. 6
    Hit RTH and tend your rod
    Flip the RTH switch immediately after the drop. The drone comes home on its own — you focus on your rod. Run up to 8 baits per battery charge in good conditions.

Recommended Bait Types by Target Species

Target Species Recommended Bait Weight Distance
Shark (Blacktip, Bull, Hammerhead) Half mullet, stingray flap, bonito 4–7 lbs 200–1,000 yds
Tarpon Live or dead crab, threadfin herring 1–3 lbs 100–400 yds
Red Drum / Bull Reds Crab, cut mullet, menhaden 2–5 lbs 150–600 yds
Cobia Eel, crab, live pinfish 1–3 lbs 100–500 yds
Striped Bass Bunker chunk, clam, bloodworm 1–4 lbs 100–400 yds
Permit / Pompano Sand flea, crab 0.5–2 lbs 50–250 yds

05

Fishing Techniques.

The Xpece ONE opens up techniques that are impossible with traditional casting. Here are the most effective approaches.

Precision Spot Drop

Use the HD camera to identify structure — a reef edge, a color change in the water, or a rip current seam. Fly directly to that spot, hover, and drop. Mark the drop spot on your remote display so you can run a second rod to the exact same location.

Troll Fishing

The Xpece ONE can troll a bait for up to a mile over the water. Fly slowly along a depth change or current line while your bait is in the water. This is extremely effective for pelagic species that respond to movement.

Multi-Rod Spread

Run multiple baits to different distances and angles — 200 yds to the left, 500 yds straight out, 400 yds to the right. One battery charge is enough for 6–8 drops. Mark each drop spot so you know exactly where each bait is sitting.

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The Mark Drop Spot feature saves the GPS coordinates of your last bait drop on the remote display. Use this to send a second bait to the exact same productive zone, or to triangulate where your rigs are sitting on the bottom.

06

Scouting Fish from Above.

One of the biggest advantages of the Xpece ONE is aerial reconnaissance — something no sonar or fishfinder can give you from shore.

  1. 1
    Fly at 30–50 feet for the best visibility
    Too high and you lose detail. Too low and you spook fish. 30–50 feet gives you the widest field of view while keeping the camera angle usable.
  2. 2
    Look for color changes and structure
    Dark patches = reef, rock, or grass. Foam lines and current seams concentrate bait. Brown or off-color water near the bottom = shallow structure worth targeting.
  3. 3
    Watch for baitfish schools near the surface
    Nervous water, bird activity, or dense dark patches near the surface = baitfish. Predators are below. Drop your bait at the edge of or just below the school.
  4. 4
    Spot large fish directly in clear water
    In clear, shallow water you can often see sharks, tarpon, or rays directly. Fly quietly, approach slowly from upwind, and drop the bait just ahead of where they are heading.
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Camera tip: The Xpece ONE records HD1080 video directly. Review your scouting footage after each session — you'll start to recognize productive water signatures and improve your spot selection over time.

07

Wind, Weather & Conditions.

The Xpece ONE handles 31 mph winds, but conditions affect both your flight and your fishing. Here's how to read them.

Wind Speed Flight Quality Recommended Action
0–10 mph Ideal Perfect conditions. Max payload, max range.
10–20 mph Good Reduce payload to 4–5 lbs. Fly directly into/with wind.
20–31 mph Manageable Light payload only (2–3 lbs). Stay closer to shore. Use slow mode.
31+ mph Do not fly Above the drone's rated limit. Stay grounded.
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Lightning rule: Never fly during or approaching a thunderstorm. The drone and fishing line act as conductors. If you see lightning within 10 miles, land immediately and wait 30 minutes after the last strike.

Tide & Time of Day

Fish are most active during moving tides — 1 hour before and after both high and low tide. Early morning (6–9am) and late afternoon (5–8pm) are peak feeding windows. Use the drone to scout during the first hour of light when visibility is best and fish are shallow.

08

Post-Session Aftercare.

The Xpece ONE is IP67 waterproof and saltwater resistant — but proper aftercare extends its life significantly.

  • Rinse the drone with fresh water after every saltwater session — focus on the arms, motor mounts, and landing legs.
  • Rinse the remote with fresh water and dry with a clean cloth. The screen area is sealed but avoid submerging it unnecessarily.
  • Remove the battery after every session. Never store the drone with the battery installed.
  • Store the battery at 50–60% charge if not flying for more than a week. Full charge storage degrades lithium batteries faster.
  • Check propellers for nicks, cracks, or warping before every flight. Replace any damaged prop immediately — never fly with a damaged prop.
  • Clean the camera lens with a microfiber cloth. Salt crystals on the lens degrade video quality significantly.
  • Inspect the payload release mechanism for sand or salt buildup after every session. A light rinse and dry keeps it releasing cleanly.
  • Store in the carry case away from direct heat and sunlight. Extreme heat degrades both the battery and the electronics.
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Quick release props make field maintenance easy — no tools needed. Carry a spare set of props in your bag. If a prop is damaged mid-session, you can swap it in under 2 minutes and get back in the water.

09

Frequently Asked Questions.

The most common questions from new Xpece ONE owners.

Do I need a drone license or registration to fly the Xpece ONE?
The Xpece ONE weighs over 250g and is used for recreational purposes, so it must be registered with the FAA ($5, done online in minutes). The drone has built-in RemoteID compliance — no extra module needed. You do not need a Part 107 commercial license for recreational fishing use.
Can I fly the Xpece ONE from a kayak or boat?
Yes. The Xpece ONE can take off and land from any relatively stable platform. On a kayak, make sure the craft is stable before launch. On a boat, launch from the bow or stern away from people. The RTH feature returns the drone to its launch GPS coordinates — make sure you're still near that position when it returns.
What happens if the drone lands in the water?
The Xpece ONE is designed to float. Both the drone and remote are IP67 waterproof. If it lands on the water, it will float long enough for you to retrieve it. After any water landing, rinse thoroughly with fresh water and allow to dry completely before the next flight.
How many baits can I drop per battery charge?
In good conditions (light wind, 3–5 lb bait, 200–400 yard drops), most users report 6–8 drops per charge. Heavier bait, longer distances, and headwinds reduce this. Always keep 20% battery reserve for the final return home.
Can the drone troll a bait while it's in the water?
Yes — the Xpece ONE supports troll fishing. Fly slowly along a current line or depth change while the bait is dragging below. This is one of the most effective techniques for pelagic species. Keep speed in Slow mode to maintain a natural bait presentation.
What's the best way to target sharks from shore?
Use a heavy bait (4–7 lbs) on a wire leader — half mullet, stingray flap, or bonito are proven shark baits. Fly 400–1,000 yards out, drop beyond the second sandbar or into a depth change you can see from the camera. Set the rod in a spike or holder with the drag free so the shark can take line on the strike without resistance.
Is the Xpece ONE good for beginners?
Yes. It's one of the easiest fishing drones to fly — no calibration, no app, no complicated setup. Most users are flying confidently within 2–3 sessions. Start in Slow mode, practice without bait first, and you'll be dropping bait like a pro within a week.
How do I get support if I have an issue?
Email fish@xpece.com for a response within 12–24 hours. You can also use the live chat on xpece.com. The Xpece Facebook community group is also an excellent resource — thousands of experienced Xpece owners sharing tips, spots, and troubleshooting advice.

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