Winter Thread Topic: Surf Safety Tips & Tricks

[Fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Joe

4) No one has ever been found dead wearing a p.f.d.

If only this were true

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Fishoholic

If only this were true

I'm not referencing boaters. Sometimes they fall down drunk and break their heads on the gunwale, then go over the side with a fractured skull and a life jacket on.

You know of a surf death where a person was wearing a p.f.d.? I was researching an article on surf rescues and I spent a full day in the morgue of the Narragansett Times reading about all the surf accidents for the last fifty years - I didn't come across any. Must be pretty recent if it did happen.

[Fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Joe

I'm not referencing boaters. Sometimes they fall down drunk and break their heads on the gunwale, then go over the side with a fractured skull and a life jacket on.

You know of a surf death where a person was wearing a p.f.d.? I was researching an article on surf rescues and I spent a full day in the morgue of the Narragansett Times reading about all the surf accidents for the last fifty years - I didn't come across any. Must be pretty recent if it did happen.

No I don't know of any surf fisherman that have died with a pfd on. I do know of some that were on boats. Not saying it never happened, but I agree with your point. I'd bet less than 5% of all surf fisherman wear pfd's all the time. I fish with a lot of guys but might know one. It's just that some places like hazard ave or Beavertail that when it gets really snotty out , I think you'll need a lot more than a pfd to get your ass out of the drink. I'd be curious to see the stats for the whole east coast or US.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Fishoholic

It's just that some places like hazard ave or Beavertail that when it gets really snotty out , I think you'll need a lot more than a pfd to get your ass out of the drink.

Plain and simple: Don't fish Hazard or East side of Beavertail in a big swell. There are experienced guys on this site who have gone down or been swept off the rocks at both places and are lucky to have come out alive. There are better, safer alternatives near both locations anyways...