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move is move...patrol/intercept etc those are the kinds of things you want usually,you want convoy raiding in that case. Read the actual definition of the missions and it will tell you.
 
Yes, what the OP wants will occur for the most part. The fleets spotting chance will usually get the fleet exiting the port. Unless you have a really poorly trained navy, you almost always spot enemy fleets exiting a port. When this occurs, the AI always retreats to the port OR, stupidly retreats elsewhere and then tries to move back to the port giving you a second chance to sink em all. I always use this strategy in singleplayer. You lock china down and give your fleets plenty of easy exp cause the AI doesnt get sunk but you get plenty of chances.
 
Yes, what the OP wants will occur for the most part. The fleets spotting chance will usually get the fleet exiting the port. Unless you have a really poorly trained navy, you almost always spot enemy fleets exiting a port. When this occurs, the AI always retreats to the port OR, stupidly retreats elsewhere and then tries to move back to the port giving you a second chance to sink em all. I always use this strategy in singleplayer. You lock china down and give your fleets plenty of easy exp cause the AI doesnt get sunk but you get plenty of chances.

In your experience, what is the best strat to employ if you are being blockaded in this way to get fleet out?

I know you can use land based air power or bring another fleet to relieve blockaded one - I was hoping that there might be a mechanic where a fleet may be able to "sneak" past or avoid combat, or direct retreat to a different province?
 
In your experience, what is the best strat to employ if you are being blockaded in this way to get fleet out?

I know you can use land based air power or bring another fleet to relieve blockaded one - I was hoping that there might be a mechanic where a fleet may be able to "sneak" past or avoid combat, or direct retreat to a different province?

The strategy only works on weaker nations. German, italian, british, and american land based aircraft make you pay dearly for blocking their ports. As for how to get out, you can roll the dice and go with low vis fleets leaving peicemeal or rebase some powerful navs/cags to an airbase in range and make the enemy pay dearly. Thankfully the AI plays by a completely different set of rules, they use sortie, intercept, convoy raid, and escort, and never just use move commands and sit in provinces.