Hell-en H Offshore Cod Trip, Sat. 12/15/07

[MikeToole]

I think the one point you missed is always check the marine forecast prior to going out and if it's changing towards the worst, then don't go. I mean check it just before you go, not the day before. I've made a bunch of winter trips and have never really had a bad one weather wise by just doing this and being willing to turn around and drive home if I'm not sure. I also usually don't make reservations until the last minute, if at all, so that it doesn't become an issue if the weather is changing and I decide not to go.

In many cases the captain is in a no win situation. If you got 50 people willing to go out it's really hard to say no especially if you think the weather will improve. Many of the people who go out on the Helen H drive 200 or 300 miles and will not be happy if you cancel a trip. Also the Captain can not be held responsible for people doing dumb things like bring a kid out on a winter trip when the weather is questionable. I know guys who don't mind getting all banged up, as long as they get to fish.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by MikeToole

I think the one point you missed is always check the marine forecast prior to going out and if it's changing towards the worst, then don't go...

Many of the people who go out on the Helen H drive 200 or 300 miles and will not be happy if you cancel a trip.

We checked on Friday evening. 4:15 p.m. was the go/no-go time per the skipper. He decided to go out, even though we had our misgivings about fishing ahead of a noreaster.

Since we were part of a crew that drove 200 miles to get there, we didn't get a chance to check the weather again online and nobody had a NOAA radio on them.

Trust me, if we showed up at 1 a.m. and the captain cancelled the trip, that would have been fine by us.

[tattoobob]

Wow, that sounds like a nightmare, I would have had to kill myself
I can't even go on those trips on warm calm days. forgetaboutit
I'm glad you got fish

[striperman36]

But people will stay up all night, climb on slime coverd rocks, washed over by knee deep swells, swim in wetsuits to distant locations in the hope to catch a single fish over tide. Go figure

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by striperman36

But people will stay up all night, climb on slime coverd rocks, washed over by knee deep swells, swim in wetsuits to distant locations in the hope to catch a single fish over tide. Go figure

but that's FUN.

you have the option of swimming back to shore when you want to (on a boat 60 miles offshore you are stuck there) ... and most people don't wetsuit in freezing temperatures.

oh yeah, it's FREE.

[zimmy]

man, sounds like a fun trip . I feel bad for that kid... that is tough for anyone to take, but brutal at that age.

[RickBomba]

Ben,
Did you wear the kneepads?
Sounds like they might have come in handy.
LOL,
Rick

[Gloucester2]

Man o Man that sounds like a real kick in the nuts . . . The older I get the more I realize no fish is worth a kick in the nuts like that