Example systems and methods are provided herein for controlling a watercraft in response to a bite on a fishing line. A system includes a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to receive data via user input or one or more sensors to determine whether a fish has bitten on a fishing line. In response to a determination that the fish has bitten on the fishing line, the processor causes the watercraft to operate according to a fish-on operation, which includes at least one of altering a speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of the watercraft, altering a rate of change of the speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of a trolling motor, notifying other watercrafts, or engaging an autopilot to navigate the watercraft according to a preset route. The fish-on operation is designed to aid a user in catching the fish.