Question for Pier#r & others more experienced than me.

I went out in my boat Tuesday looking for reds. With a north breeze we started drifting just outside the Pavillion snorkel reef. There were pelicans and gulls feeding, but no sign of fish (2 small charter boats also fishing with no hookups). The fish finder was clouded with bait for hundreds of yards and anchovies would often follow a retrieved cigar minnow, so I could see what they were.

We drifted out twice. Not only no bites, but no fish on the humminbird. Just acres and acres of anchovies.

I know they migrate out at this time of year, but is this typical? Was nothing feeding because they were gorged (probably?) ?

Back when I had a boat we’d see similar all the time:
acres of bait and no bites. Hard to figure out, just shake your head and move on.
Meir you try fishing below the bait balls? Sometimes the predators are deep pushing the bait up.
And then it’s hard to compete with 5 million live bait.

Ditto!
The water just outside the reefs is about like that of the 'octi'.
Only 20'-25' and reds often patrol a bit farther out (1/2 mile to a mile or more).
Surprised as you there were no bonita or bluefish on the anchovies though.
That may have something to do with the calm, clear water and bright moon and rising tide at night.
Or even the low concentrations of red tide in that vicinity?

If I were a baitfish, I'd also seek predator safe spaces where hiding was easier and/or hang out in giant schools so my odds of being eaten were reduced.