Most dangerous places to surfcast

[Rockport24]

so true about the mouth of the merri
that thing is crazy, the coast guard has been known to warn people to get off that thing when the tide is coming in!

[afterhours]

beavertail makes me nervous, used to fish it a lot years ago, not so much now.

[The Iceman 6]

I agree with Penfield. It's a long walk back from that lighthouse, I always fish that on outgoing and tide comes in quick. One time my brothers were fishing Chatham inlet and the fog came in they didn't know which was was land and got very lucky, fog is a whole nother variable. When you think of dangerous places the first thing that comes to your mind is rocks (and they are very dangerous especially the breachways) but you walk way out on a sandbar and the tides coming in and you lose your bearings, it's a sad ending to the story.
Stay Safe!

Ice

[bassballer]

beavertail, the aves, and a nearby point are basically the only areas I fish. At night at these spots i dont have to worry about crowds and theres somethin about being on those rocks in the middle of the night with no one around that is surreal.

Put me on a beach and thats when i feel uncomfortable.

[bill huki]

Here is a pretty safe place that has been a real killer. 5 people in 5 years in the late 90's. Sandwich Creek.

[eastendlu]

To me its anywhere that you are not properly geared or knowlegedely prepared to fish.You can just slip on a rock and knock yourself out and drown just because you did not have korkers on a sunny day at any spot.

[smac]

I had a good scare at one of the avenues last year. Pretty good swell comin in and I just wanted to go watch for a minute. Didnt think it was very bad at all til I got close to the edge. Water disappeared and a wave stood up in front of me. I had stone dust coming off my korkers as I ran back up that rock face.

You gotta pick and choose your days over there.

[stcroixman]

that sand bar at Conimicut point here in Warwick has taken many lives of fisherman and beachgoers. You can go out a mile at low and all of a sudden coming back its High and the current is wicked.

People still ignore the City signs to stay off it.

[Doublerunner]

First time I ever went to Beavertail I was invited there by a friend who knows that area extremely well. We're standing on the same cliff about 20' apart max and I look over to him and he's in the surf. Never even heard him get washed off from the constant roar of the waves and siren blasting constantly. Fortunately he was okay...a little banged up but okay

First time I ever fished at Point Judith east wall there is a memorial there to a fisherman who was washed away from the shore there....that makes you think twice

[lighthouse]

south side at Beavertail Light. One slip your shakin' tenderized and swallowed whole! There are few places that rival the danger of this spot.

If your not extremely heads up you may find yourself in a world of hurt in the blink of an eye. Its like every 20th wave BA-BOOOOM! And everything is swept away and shredded over the jagged rocks. You never see it coming. Be careful.

Wading out at the end of the Narrow River is fun when you take the extra step too far...oops and over your head, but thats not nearly as dangerous as the Beavertail.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by UPSmanMatt

It was nice to have it all to myself last night.

Just me and my great grandfather and grampa. That place is actually my comfort zone. I hate sand.

Originally Posted by lighthouse

south side at Beavertail Light. One slip your shakin' tenderized and swallowed whole! There are few places that rival the danger of this spot.

If your not extremely heads up you may find yourself in a world of hurt in the blink of an eye. Its like every 20th wave BA-BOOOOM! And everything is swept away and shredded over the jagged rocks. You never see it coming. Be careful.

Wading out at the end of the Narrow River is fun when you take the extra step too far...oops and over your head, but thats not nearly as dangerous as the Beavertail.

I need to say RE Beavertail. Some of the North Shore Mass spots I saw the past couple years are like Beavertail but slicker than Newton/Hazard, with a 10 foot tide

Not quite the wave action though

[Clogston29]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I need to say RE Beavertail. Some of the North Shore Mass spots I saw the past couple years are like Beavertail but slicker than Newton/Hazard, with a 10 foot tide

Not quite the wave action though

if you head out to those spots when there is significant wave action, you deserve what you get. luckily the wave action seams more predictable up here, fewer rouges. although one place i fish is good for one a night. i've actually lost quite a few contact lenses getting blasted by those.

[Adam_777]

Went to east side of Pt.Jude once I fell and got a nasty cut from the slime covered rocks.Was pretty nasty there.Bought some corkers real soon after and chest waders.I fish b-tail when I feel lucky and that place can get nasty real fast.Black rock is another spot that can get pretty tricky.I've walked the avenues but not fished them.All these spots can be really tricky but whats funny is alot of the old timers I talk to about surfcasting say yeah a twelve pack and soak some chunks is what it's all about.I couldn't see myself at any of the pre mentioned places after a few drinks.Would be the last drinks you ever had!My only advice to people wanting to try these places is be alert,scope them out in the day,corkers and waders are a must,a self inflating PFD is a good idea also,cell phone in a ziplock bag sealed, if you can swim out to a lobster pot or a buoy go for it better chance of survival than waves crushing rocks.Just be careful everyone!Be smart ...never turn your back on the water.

[ilovetwofish]

First rock in ganset to the east wall very tough just be careful try to have a partner.

[RedHerring]

I want to re-iterate about the North Rip of Block; I am not covering up a secret spot; the place is a genuine evil death trap; it just invites you to walk further and further and further out....

[vanstaal]

personal issue for me Hazard Ave had a real close one last year.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RedHerring

I want to re-iterate about the North Rip of Block; I am not covering up a secret spot; the place is a genuine evil death trap; it just invites you to walk further and further and further out....

Actually, there are a dozen (12) surf fishermen who have died at the North Rip. The danger is exactly what Red Herring said. You can see large breaking and you know that with 2 more steps you can reach them....
Met a couple of Coast Guard guys out there once and they told me that the North Rip is famous for the "Red Ball float". I asked what that was and they explained that the first thing the Coasties look for is the "Red Ball" on the waders. When a surfguy dies the body puffs up and pops to the surface after a couple of days. Back when we wore "rubber" waders Greylite and Red Ball were the 2 best waders. The Red Balls had a Red Ball logo on the front and was easy to spot.

[RNC]

I'd say Beavertail and Sachuest Point. Then again any place can be dangerous but it comes down to your comfort level and knowledge of the area.

[BasicPatrick]

I have fished Cape Point on a stiff south wind...Bad

I have fished both the South Side and under the light at Montauk....Bad

I have fished the Avenues...very Bad (even the approach is funky)

I have fished Beavertail...Bad

I have fished Squibby (all the way down to the points)....bad


All in all, I have to agree with John R....you get North of Boston and you get more steep, jagged rocks and a tide that is 3 to 4 times that of anywhere in NY or RI. The amount of water is astounding. I have to say the northern coast of MA/NH/ME is much more dangerous because the wrong wave hits and you don't worry about what to do after as the amount of water pressure in the wave has already broken all the ribs in your chest. If the blast of the wave doesn't kill you, there is no safe place to fall into, all the rocks up there can cut you up. Nasty nasty area.

I will never forget Crazy Alberto's first reaction to the size of the tides in Hull...it was like he was in shock.

Personal skill, appropriate equipment and local knowledge are always the largest factors in where and how much risk any person should take. I like fishing rocks and being wet, thus, I gear upf or that. Hell, een my fat arse can get into a wet suit and flippers (:>)

[shadow]

I agree w/ nebe the east wall is rough the fall on the rocks could hurt you worst then going in the drink there for sure.used to fish CT. abit too as well penfield at night is not a spot for those who do not Know it well.

[mrstriper]

I have tripped over rocks in a foot of water, fallen off my boat (once at the dock, once alittle further out), so I would have to say ANYWHERE

[justplugit]

Many lives lost on NE Point at BI and huge rougue waves, anytime of the day, in the York Maine area.

[Thom]

Got to be beavertail after watching three sets of waves come in it looked like it was safe to fish this one rock well the next set picks me up and toss me about four feet back luckly it was toward shore nothing damaged except my pride. Never fish that place alone again. ThomT

[DaveS]

Thought I'd bump this as fall is kicking off. Lets be safe out there fellas

[doc]

believe it or not but cranes beach on a moonless night incoming tide out on those bars can be crazy scary...huge currents btwn the bars and if you dont know your way back then...hello portugal...

[Rob Rockcrawler]

A good thread to bump up. I fish most of the spots mentioned. HAvent done much on the north shore. Last year was my first trip to BI, and the north rip was a scare SOB. I walked about 10 feet out and that was enough, six inches of water laping over my boots and she had my respect. Its funny i bought a inflatable pfd a couple seasons ago and have only used it twice. Now if i think i need to wear it i dont fish the spot. You would think having it on would make me feel better, it just makes me realize that if i need it i shouldnt be there. The East Wall is a scary bastard. Easy enough if you are pulling scup on the rocks, cant imagine landing a cow there. Every time i walk the wall i look for a decent spot to land a fish. I found one that is marginal at BEST.

[quick decision]

i was knoked off a rock just south of the lighthouse at Montauk. Came out of nowhere and blew me back 8 feet. Then the undertow dragged me past the rock into deeper water. I ran back to shore as fast as I could, and got pounded again by a slightly smaller wave. Finaly made it back to shore and reflected for a few minutes.

[ivanputski]

Like many, i came damn close to going in the water at hazard while fishing alone on a big night... That place has a mental hold on me now... cant focus on fishing... and I had a close call on a big surf/new moon night at the very tip of the east wall... at least I'd get swept into the harbor of refuge, but that was pre-wetsuit... but honestly, i think most of us are attracted to this type of fishing because if the thrill associated with the risk...

[Islander77]

A few here will know this.. Go into Twin Maples on the island look up you will see a pristine cherry colored lami custom wrapped old glass blank ask John bout it... was an old timers from island that drowned fishing north rip... But lets face facts there are tons of places that are dangerous.. Hell even quonny pond can be.. .yes thats right i said quonny pond.. there is a place out back you can wade to to get to the channel and a rock pile... one step to far DEEP water... WH light can be dangerous also

[piemma]

My friend Gary Bradbury, Navy Seal and a dive Master died at Beavertail 3 years ago surfishing when he was hit by a wave, knocked down and hit his head (that's the theory). They found the body a few days later.