update on the drowned fisherman

[Rockport24]

I really don't know what I would do, diving into 50something degree surf to save somebody seems to be asking to become a victim yourself, however if somebody was drowning in front of me who knows.. I would probably rig up my rod with stronger leader materials and try to cast to the guy and reel him in!! you MIGHT be able to reel in a 200 pound guy with 50lb test right?

[piemma]

By the time you "rigged up your rod" the guy would be dead....

[Rockport24]

so you're saying it's a bad idea then?

[piemma]

Well, I think your pulling my leg but here goes. Even if you had a spool of 50# line in your bag, how long would it take you to take the old spool off, put the new spool on, run the line through the guides, tie a lure on and cast. 2, 3, 5 minutes. You got between 30 seconds and a minute to get to the guy and get his head above water.

Bingo!!!

He's dead! Drowned! Bit the dust! Sleeping with the fishes!!

[rockfisherman]

Do a google search on res-q disk. I have one in my car. It could save someone without you getting in the water. I originally bought it for ice fishing and carried it on my sled, so that I could pull someone out without going in myself. But now I carry it in the car when surf casting. It takes very little practice to use. If you can throw a frisbee, you can use this.

[tangler]

A couple points ...... I am sure (as stated above ) whoever made the call for help feels very bad and this night will haunt them the rest of their days . We have no idea if they tried to rescue Paul or not or if they were even physically able to help.. What ever decision they made was the right one . Laying a guilt trip out there on this person ( for what ever reason) is just so very wrong .
I fish this area on a regular basis. I was there but left what must have been a couple hours before the accident. I had decided to check out the cbreachway , a place I rarely fish. I always carry a good rope and a float with me in the jeep for just such an occasion. I have used it just once but that one time I pulled a kid out of the water on Newton Ave.
I cant help feeling bad about not being there the night of Pauls accident. It was very dark early that night and the surf was crazy finding someone out there would have been difficult. Still I cant help thinking that I would have been able to help had I been there.
I have knee problems which prevent me from getting out there like I used to . I see guys out there some nights( by themselves )way too far out when the conditions are just too rough to be out there. It makes me pretty uncomfortable and more than one time I have left because I felt that if they did get in trouble I would not be able to help and a phone call would be just too late. I will say there have also been nights that I have stayed under those conditions praying that nothing goes wrong.

Please put yourself in the other guys place and seriously think about it before you pass judgment on them .

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by piemma

Well, I think your pulling my leg but here goes. Even if you had a spool of 50# line in your bag, how long would it take you to take the old spool off, put the new spool on, run the line through the guides, tie a lure on and cast. 2, 3, 5 minutes. You got between 30 seconds and a minute to get to the guy and get his head above water.

Bingo!!!

He's dead! Drowned! Bit the dust! Sleeping with the fishes!!

I was kind of joking in my second post... it wouldn't work, I agree. I would prob call 911 first (the reason why I ALWAYS have my cell phone in my waders) a lot of guys are afraid of getting it wet, but as Piemma has mentioned, a few seconds is all it takes, so sometimes there is not enough time to run back to the car to get the phone. serioulsy though, for lack of a better idea, I would try to cast to the guy and try and reel him in, even with my 20 pound mono