Winter Thread Topic: Surf Safety Tips & Tricks

[slow eddie]

going to a new spot? going out on the rocks?
take 10 and watch the waves. it seems that from my own experience and talking to others, it's the waves that all of a sudden come from either side or even behind that get you.
as in, just where they hell did that come from?????????

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by slow eddie

going to a new spot? going out on the rocks?
take 10 and watch the waves. it seems that from my own experience and talking to others, it's the waves that all of a sudden come from either side or even behind that get you.
as in, just where they hell did that come from?????????

I agree with this 100%. Could be the simplest but most important thing to remember. Just give yourself 10 minutes to analyze the wave patterns. So many times ive thought a spot was fishable only to see 4 minutes later it being swallowed every 4 sets. Dont get me wrong, ive been blasted of my share of rocks. I dont always follow my own advise.

[landwave]

When the tides are super low, scout out your spots during the day. You might be surprised at what you see.

Again, wait ten minutes while you watch the surf before heading out!

[Rappin Mikey]

Never turn your back to the water.

[Chubby-Chaser]

Originally Posted by Rappin Mikey

Never turn your back to the water.

I second this, in a nor'easter this fall I found myself turning towards the beach when changing lures, I got knocked down and never saw the wave.

[chefchris401]

Really good thread here.

Like most guys here I carry two lights, a headlamp and a neck light with a rescue whistle taped to it mounted on surgical tubing.

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...s-whistle.html

I lost my hat and headlamp a few years ago while trying to avoid a rogue wave, ducked down between two rocks and the wash broke over me, luckily I had my neck light and was able to make my way back to shore safely.

I always try and fish with at least one other guy, if I do fish alone I will fish the "safer" spots.

Know your limits and stick by them.

When we do swim to a rock or point, we go one at a time, watching the other guy get to the point safely, that way if something was to happen were in a better position for a rescue.

Were in the works of putting a "rescue bag" together for next season. Something light enough where theres no reason not to bring it every trip.

So far the bag includes: small air horn, basic first aid kit, bolt cutters, whistle, roll of electrical tape, and a throw bag.

Hoping to put all the gear in a dry bag or small back pack, then the cell phone in a dry bag in case we need to call serious help.

The two guys I fish with are going to make the same bag so that we all have the same rescue gear, so no matter what happens we will always have at least one full kit.

The other things I always do are text the girlfriend where I am, a lot of times plans change at the last minute and you end up somewhere else, even though shes sleeping at least theres a time line of where i was last if something was to happen.

Be safe, its been said before but "its just a fish"

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by Rappin Mikey

Never turn your back to the water.

Or to an ex-wife.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[ecduzitgood]

If thunderstorms are forecasted don't stray far from a walled hard roof structure (tents aren't safe), there is no safe place outdoors. Wait atleast 1/2 hour after the storm has passed before going outside.
In order to determine how far off the storm is count how long between the lightning and the thunder and DIVIDE by 5, 10 seconds means 2 miles and a bolt of lightning can travel 10 miles.

[DZ]

This is a good thread – the past season saw two of my friends perish in surf fishing accidents and it weighs heavily on my mind. The way I see it is that surfcasters should learn from close calls – most of the guys who’ve been casting for many years surely have a story or two about getting knocked off a rock. I do and I definitely learned from the experience. Younger neophyte surf casters are more susceptible to making a mistake that could cause injury or death – unfortunately the first mistake could be their last. Couple youth, a wetsuit, and the feeling of invincibility and you increase your chances. And like my good friend Big Ed says, “As soon as you step into the water you’ve added the necessary ingredient to die”.

They call it an accident for a reason – accidents are unpredictable. It’s the things YOU DON’T EXPECT that could kill you. One example is a guy I know that was swimming to a rock in water well over his head. As he’s swimming the braid comes off his reel and tangles his feet and hands immobilizing him so he could not even tread water. He can’t even get to his knife/pliers to cut himself out. If not for a buddy he may have taken his last swim.

Had another friend talk about a good night fishing on a rock but getting blasted by waves on a flood tide which knocked him off his perch into deep water repeatedly. Guy is married and has a family. I’m thinking what the hell are you doing going back on that rock – it’s just a damn fish!

My friend Al Pellini was one of those killed in a surf casting accident this season – hopefully all of you have read the letter his wife Marilyn wrote to On the Water imploring that other surf casters NOT DO what her husband loved to do which was swim to distant rock perches all alone. She and her family are devastated by his death. We don’t know what caused Al’s death – but judging from his over 40 years of surfcasting experience – it was something he didn’t expect.

Just remember - the most important piece of safety equipment is between your shoulders – use it!

DZ