A few suggestions:
When you get a contact, change directions (I usually change about 45 degrees of the assumed direction of the target) every five minutes or so. This will help you triangulate the target's position and range better than just chugging along in the same direction. If the target is close, make the time durations between the direction changes smaller and for farther away targets, make your directions changes every 5-10-15 minutes. Experiment a little and keep going back and forth. Each pass will give you a better fix.
Next suggestion:
Another tactic I use a lot is when there is a thermal layer present. I usually drive my sub slow just above the layer with my towed array streamed all the way out. I'll be driving VERY slow (within the 3 knot range). This causes you to stay above the layer and your towed array to dip below the layer so you have sonar both above and below the layer. It's useful for getting an idea of the depth of a target. Also, use that layer to your advantage. Duck under it and above it often.
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