Opposing fleet's cags always find me first sonehow

[ZenTex]

An issue I've had since I got this game at release:

My CV fleet comes close to an enemy CV fleet. Not on the same tile yet their cags start bombing me. While I'm chasing them every new tile I enter I'm getting bombed while my cags don't return the favour, even if the enemy fleet is visible. This keeps on going until I manage to finally engage I battle.
More often than not however I'm forced to retreat due to damage taken.
My last experience was particularly bad, having sent 3 CV fleet's at a single enemy fleet and having to retreat even before a battle happened and this time their cags didn't even take damage.

My carriers are usually up to date as are my cags, doctrines and radar techs. Its taking the fun out of the naval game. (I always disliked CV gameplay as it's boring anyway)

So what must I do to counter this?

 

[Count Blue]

Cant say just want to mention that this never happens to me.

I only have difficutly beating enemy fleets in the early stages of the game like 1940/41 when doctrines and techs are low on my side.
Later the naval game becomes more of a match for me.
But one thing comes to my mind I use bigger fleets, 4CV/6CL is my choice.
But that can hardly make the difference when it comes to reaction speed I believe.

Does this happen to you everywhere on the oceans or is it a specific area and/or opponent?

 

[marxianTJ]

They can see you somehow and you can't see them so they're pre-bombing you is what I'm getting from this situation yeah?

Your best bet is to have some trash ships or submarines out and about so you can see them earlier so they can't soften you up before you catch them with your fleet proper. It *is* a viable strategy - especially with older CVs - to not engage enemies directly and fight purely with the CAGs from another sea tile - since your screens don't fight anyways in a typical CV battle.