well,I know it's a year and 10 days later but,I didn't realize I never replied to this.
I sure wish I knew why a school of fish would leave food and swim away.
perhaps they were on a migration to a preferred area or less or more favorable water temps.
I know gators like to roam,they are built to do so fast and steady.
as for bass they are laid back but, will leave food to continue on their way/migrate.
I have seen that quite a few times where there is plenty of feed for them but, they move on perhaps to be in an area for a squid bloom or something like that.
at times animals know when to be somewhere specific no matter what.
R-P