prepare for a skishermen fad

[Nebe]

great article, but I think we will see people who read this and go out and try it without proper preparation...

Swimming With the Fishes: Anglers Tangle Over 'Skishing' - WSJ.com

[SurfCaster413]

That was a really good article and video cant say I will be donning a wet suit any time

[Joe]

Wall St types taking to the sea in wetsuits......Go for it bi_ches. Just remember...ain't nobody gonna bail your a_s out if you gamble and lose.

[Finaddict]

Having almost run over a skisher in 2001, 2002, about 200 or so yards off Montauk ... it was startling to say the least ... I am not a big fan of it ... as you cannot expect all boat operators to be responsible enough to keep an eye out for someone in a black suite floating along the shoreline in the dark ... I am actually surprised that the Journal ran such a story ... the article will certainly help ZeeBaas

[flyvice11787]

Doubtful you'll get a lot more people skishing. Similar article came out a few years back on Melynk and skishing in the NY Times, if I remember correctly .
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[Joe]

Ahh..but girly men who read the NYT don't have the stones that the conservatives who read the WSJ have. I say the sport gets a good bounce. It's not uncommon among finance people to try and one-up each other and to be as competitive with respect to what they do in their free time as they are in their professional lives.

[Thumper]

Good read. I wonder how long its gonna take for one of these skisherman to get hit by a boat, eatin by a shark or just swept out to sea. I have some serious respect for thoes guys that takes some serious stones.
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[Joe]

Me too....My stomach gurgles at the thought of skishing.

[PaulS]

Melyn is not a good ambassador for the sport. Arrogant. The boat captain was yelling at him and "that's why he now carries a knife" - give me a break. There are people who represent the sport better than him. That's not to take away the fact that he is a great fisherman.

[GoFish]

So I'm gonna dress up to look like a seal and take a nightime swim in prime white shark territory attached to a struggling fish in a chum slick of striper blood? Uh, no. Guaranteed (posthumous) Darwin Award for someone.

Wall Street guys may just be dumb or drunk enough to try it though. Gotta improve the gene pool!

[FishermanTim]

Of course these "Wall St. weekend warriors" will probably also be geared up with a boatload of accessories, like a cell phone, Ipod, flare gun, GPS tracker, a fanny pack full of Jameson's nips and a condom, because you never know what you'll come across in the water.

[Rockport24]

I don't know if wall street types would be into this, too much aggravation for them, now if someone started a skishing chartering business, got them suited up and all that, they would probably be all over it.

[WoodyCT]

Originally Posted by Joe

Wall St types taking to the sea in wetsuits......Go for it bi_ches. Just remember...ain't nobody gonna bail your a_s out if you gamble and lose.

And charge them for every nickel spent on S&R to get their butts out of a jam!

Someone gets hurt or dies trying to save them? Ring em up for criminal negligence!
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[JakeF]

I was approached multiple times by the WSJ reporter and interviewed for that article over the last year or so. I guess I'm too laid back, or not controversial enough to make good press . I just like to fish.

Either way. I'm glad ZeeBaaS got a plug out of it. They're good people in my opinion.

I must say I strongly disagree with this mentality that pits the skisher against the surfcaster with his feet on the rocks, and it saddens me that this philosophy is one that is being thrust to the forefront as a primary reason for skishing.

For me, skishing is about many things that have absolutely nothing to do with feeling like I have to get away from other surfcasters. It’s about pitting myself and my abilities against the power of the sea. It’s about the serenity of floating along, weightless in the darkness, and feeling current and the waves roll under me, knowing that at any time a battle could begin. It’s about the thrill of fighting a fish in its own environment, and winning. It’s about putting myself in a position to work productive sections of shoreline and submerged reefs from a different angle, or which would be inaccessible to me in waders or by boat. It’s about reaching the blitz that is beyond casting range from shore. It’s about being able to release caught fish in the best possible condition with a minimal amount of handling. This is what skishing is all about to me.

Skishing is not always the most productive approach to surfcasting in some areas or in some conditions, and I have nothing against donning the waders and dry top instead of the wetsuit in some situations. The choice has nothing to do with how I feel about other surfcasters in the area, nor is it an elitist or hostile attitude that drives me to don the wetsuit and go for a swim. Some of my closest surfcasting friends are not skishers, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

My goal is to provide a balanced and realistic view of skishing in New England waters, and to help (to the best of my ability) those who decide to get into skishing to do so as safely and as well prepared as possible.

If you are interested in skishing for the first time and looking for advice or assistance getting into the sport safely, you know where to find me. I won't be the guy yelling at the boats or taunting the guys on shore.

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by JakeF

I It’s about the thrill of fighting a fish in its own environment, and winning.

This I kinda disagree with, Unless your simming down catching him barehanded and wrestling him up

[BasicPatrick]

As a definate novice that has particpated in this extreme corner of the surfcasting world for more than a few years I will point out that people have been predicting there will be a skishing shark attach or boat accident for years and I have not heard of a death or serious injury yet. I claim skishing is safer than rockhopping.

[flyvice11787]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

As a definate novice that has particpated in this extreme corner of the surfcasting world for more than a few years I will point out that people have been predicting there will be a skishing shark attach or boat accident for years and I have not heard of a death or serious injury yet. I claim skishing is safer than rockhopping.

I don't think it's safer. The reason nothing has happened yet is the small number of people skishing. You're talking about a minuscule sample of the whole number of people fishing. Hopefully nothing happens, but odds are something will, eventually.
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[WESTPORTMAFIA]

I don't care how BIG or many fish are out there I"M NOT SWIMMING. I will walk out to a rock tits high if I can get to it and have atleast half of my body out of the water. Not for me. I have taken some skunkings while guys were getting good fish just 30 yds from my cast and it still didn't make me even think about changing my mind. I get creeped out too easy in the dark nights water. These guys aren't babies and do know the risks involved and I don't knock them one bit nor am i jealous. I wish I had the sack to do it but I don't.

[striperman36]

You need to wear a visor it scares the carnivores away

[mag minnow]

WTS...Wetsuit only used once. Peed in but throughly washed and rinsed. If you buy this I'll throw in a Lami rod and Zeebass reel for free...

[Typhoon]

Who's going to be the first darwin contestant skishing at dusk killed by a Great White?

F that.

[JakeF]

I've been injured more often and more severely while rockhopping than while skishing, that's fact. My opinion is that I'm much safer after I gear up and get in the water than I was while driving through Providence, RI traffic to get there.

Everyone brings up two dangers, boats & sharks. Both dangers are real, and can be deadly.

I'll talk about boats first. Most of the places I skish have very little, if any, boat traffic. Many of the places I skish are inaccessible by boat or shore, so swimming there or kayaking there is really the only option. When swimming at night I am equipped with a VERY bright light for emergency use, and can make myself quite visible if I need to. I've never had a close call. I am quiet, and can hear even the quietest boat coming long before it presents a danger. In the event that I do find myself in a situation with a boat bearing down on me, I can easily dive to 30+ feet in a matter of seconds and have a 4 minute + breath hold. I can get out of the way when I need to.

Sharks... They get a bad rap in my opinion, through sensationalized TV & other media. I do avoid swimming with seals as much as possible once the water warms enough for sharks to be present. For the most part, I don't worry about them. I swam with the shark (I think it was a blue shark) that got Horseneck Beach shut down a few weeks ago. It wasn't interested in me, and would even let me get close enough for a quality photo (underwater visibility was only about 6 feet and hazy). Sharks are keen hunters and even in low viz, murky water, they can tell what it is that they are hunting. I really don't think there are many sharks out there who will choose to tangle with a swimmer who can present an 20' profile in the water and shows no fear. I do carry a large toothbrush with me while skishing, just in case I do get close enough to lend a helping hand to passing sharks,,, they don't get to brush very often. A sign of good will . They can be quite playful really...

[JohnR]

Obviously not a MeeMaw or PeePaw shark in that last pic...

[Fishoholic]

mehh.. oversize sea kittens

[JLH]

I love fishing in a wetsuit and have no problem swimming to deep water rocks but skishing just isn’t for me…

While a shark may not be interested in you normally they sure would be interested in that fish struggling at the end of your line. Trouble is you never really know when they are present and bringing a struggling and potentially bleeding fish in for a release is when I would be most worried. Even seen the videos of sharks tearing into hooked and struggling tarpon down south? I wouldn’t want to be in the water while something like that’s going.

[JakeF]

I understand your sentiments. It is interesting to note that while the number of skishers along the coast is very low, the number of spearfishermen is not. Spear fishing is very popular, not only in every coastal state in the US, but all around the world. Spear fishermen collectively spend WAY more time in the water, many of them swim with sharks on an almost daily basis while spearing fish, which I believe is a much bloodier proposition than catch and release with rod/reel/hook tackle. When is the last time you heard of a spearfisherman being killed by a shark? It has happened, but it is VERY rare and the odds are MUCH higher than with skishing.

[redlite]

Originally Posted by JakeF

I understand your sentiments. It is interesting to note that while the number of skishers along the coast is very low, the number of spearfishermen is not. Spear fishing is very popular, not only in every coastal state in the US, but all around the world. Spear fishermen collectively spend WAY more time in the water, many of them swim with sharks on an almost daily basis while spearing fish, which I believe is a much bloodier proposition than catch and release with rod/reel/hook tackle. When is the last time you heard of a spearfisherman being killed by a shark? It has happened, but it is VERY rare and the odds are MUCH higher than with skishing.

Yeah, but in my opinion there is an enormous difference between a spear fisherman being down deep where as a skisher is floating, bobbing, struggling on the surface looking and smelling like most sharks' main staple. SEAL.
No way for me. I swim, and I swim far, but I do it as fast as humanely possible. I no do sharks.

[JLH]

I spear fish but mainly only in shallow water for blackfish. I agree that there is a risk associated with it but personally I feel a lot more comfortable spear fishing simply because I have a clear view of what is going on around me. Floating above the water line at night with no idea of what might be lurking below is what would get to me; I guess it’s a fear of the unknown/unseen. I don’t have anything against skishing and in theory it sounds pretty cool I just don’t think I would be able to relax enough to enjoy it.

[Pete F.]

I would try skishing but I would hear the bass line the whole time, sometimes I hear it when I'm wading waist deep.http://simplythebest.net/sounds/Midi...files/jaws.mid