Lightning - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

rwilhelm · 08-23-2004, 10:04 AM

I was fishing Fri night and I saw a flash of lightning but it was tough to tell how far away it was because it was overcast. Well I took off, I had in my mind the awful story of those guys on the West Wall. Do you take off at the first sign of lightning or does it depend on how far away it is? I played it safe just wondering some thoughts on this.

partsjay · 08-23-2004, 10:26 AM

If I'm fishing and I see any lightning.....I'll meet you in the truck.
I'm all set with that stuff.....can't play around with that.

RIJIMMY · 08-23-2004, 10:37 AM

ri - I was out Fri night - Sat am. Around 2:30 or so I saw flashes, they seemed very far away. I was thinking about the guys hit in Matunuck and I was a little nervous. There was no sign of a storm, ie rain, or thunder so I stuck around. I never saw lightning, just far away flashes.

spence · 08-23-2004, 10:48 AM

I would think you would know if the lightening was moving in. If it came on really fast I'd lay my rod somewhere and move off the beach until it passed.

-spence

JohnR · 08-23-2004, 10:57 AM

If lighting might be in the forecast, I fish close to where I can park. If I see remote flashes I pay extra close attention. I will leave my lighting rod if its really close and sneaks up on me... What is a better lightning rod than a fiberglass stick? A graphite one

....

new jack · 08-23-2004, 11:17 AM

I usually just wait and see where it's headed. If it's coming my way I'll wait till it's over head then if there is a lot, I'll book it. If I get struck, At least i'll go out doing something tht I love!!

justplugit · 08-23-2004, 12:38 PM

Lighting= get to truck and stay there.Most storms pass quickly and missing an hour of fishing isn't going to kill me.

Vectorfisher · 08-23-2004, 05:32 PM

See if ya didnt carry those expensive plug sticks you could just break it down in two pieces and walk back to the truck

Roseneath · 08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

If I see lighting or hear thunder, my night/day of fishing is over.

I'll just go back tomorrow.

kippy · 08-23-2004, 07:26 PM

fished with BM saturday and saw some lightning..he told me to hold my rod waayyy up in the air..said it was good luck...

BernOC · 08-23-2004, 09:33 PM

This time of year the onshore breeze will blow most storms well north of me. If I see lightning in the distance I will carefull try to track it's path. The moment I hear thunder I'm off the beach and back to the truck. Sound travels about a mile every 5 seconds (actually 761 mph at 59 deg at sealevel). Just to get an idea of the distance of a strike.

Crafty Angler · 08-23-2004, 10:08 PM

Ya gotta remember that lightening can travel from miles away to strike an object - ever hear of a bolt out of the blue? It happens.

I was out a coupla years ago an realized an approaching storm was setting up a charge on my graphite rod - every time I touched a guide or the seat in the dark I got a static shock. I left pretty quick.

Another time I saw some flashes in the distance and waited to leave - until a bolt flash-blinded me for about 5 seconds

I'll tell ya, there ain't a teenager alive that could have have kept up with this old bastage hustling off the rocks that night -