Maintaining your health as a surfcaster

[pbadad]

I hear your concerns Pete. I have throttled back due to a ripped knee cartlidge, pull thigh muscle and numbness in my right hand. I can't say excessive walking and standing on slippery rocks are the reason but I'm sure it didn't help. I will be taking this years Cutty trip off because of the pain. Cutty is no place to be if walking on flat areas hurts. There isn't a pail of sand on the island and moving rocks aren't the best for a bad knee. I now pick and choose areas that offer reasonable spots that don't punish your legs. I will be doing Block soon. I fished areas that actually have easier footing than here at home. Granted I really want to fish SW and southside but I still will enjoy fishing the island at beneign areas. By the way, good thread.

[basswipe]

I know that I fish nowhere near the amount of time I used to.Age and way to many broken bones have taken their toll.Shot knees and a bionic right arm limit me to what I can do.Standing on wet rocks for hours is out,throwing large plugs on heavy rods isn't happpening.

I've had to alter where and how I fish completely.I fish places that are easier to get to(which means people sometimes) and easier on the body.I still will walk some distance but it has to an easy walk,a lot of beaches and shallow backwater areas now.The very largest rod I now plug with is a Batson 1088 with plugs not much larger than 2oz.

The above limits my ability in many cases to target large and I very often have to settle for smaller bass.I very often will target bluefish because they're there and available.

Hardcore surfcasting imo isn't much exercise.Especially in my case it can add to my already existing conditions.Way I look at it is I can still walk and fish and I do so when I can and in a way that doesn't cause me major discomfort and pain.

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Secondly, 24 is young, 34 is not.....and 40 is the beginning of the end.

Geez George, ya tryin to scare the H*ll outa everyone here.

I think if you live your life in moderation, exercise, eat right, limit booze
and nix cigs, you will be surf fishing into your 70's and still enjoying it, albeit
you won't be pulling all nighters or fishin more than 1 tide.
Look at Clammer, he's pushin 85. ,

Mixing up the exercise is key. Combos of walking,running,biking,stretching and light weight lifting keeps you motivated.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Zeno

you'll sleep plenty when you are dead
why waste time doing it now?

One reason is sleep is "rest" for your heart. No rest for the muscle=heart attack. 47 years old when I had my first. 100 nights a year in the surf for 40 years. Coffee and cigs. No good.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Some of the not so junior surfcasters have a rep for going at it hard.I heard you have to run to keep up with DZ in his turf.Same with Numby and SK.The days of me taking waves over the head are over.My hat is off to those who can endure this type of fishing.

Try keeping up with Crazy Alberto sometime.

Guy's in his early 60s and has the body of a 20-something.

Jack "The Professor" Frech was a Long Island surfcaster and renowned plug-maker who was an absolute fitness nut, who, ironically, died by drowning.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Your diet is the easiest thing to control. Just bring healthy stuff with you. I always bring a couple bottles of water, an apple and usually a granola bar or small bag of nuts or something.

I'm doing that now and it works. Living in the north east will kill ya if ya just lay around and eat heavy all winter. Training in the winter is a must,,cardio,, yoga,, that kind of stuff .. heavy weight training will just beat you up more .

[jonserfish]

H 2 O. stay hydrated and everything else feels better.

[ivanputski]

I have been carrying a Poland spring water bottle , sealed, on my surf belt... when I pen it after a few hours, It tastes like complete saltwater... I could see if I opened the thing up and left the cap loose, but sealed? Voodoo magic

[Thumper]

My fav snack food for the surf is trail mix, stuff is great. I've been drinking way more water than coffee compared to last year, and I don't seem to crash halfway through the night. My need to do is quit the smoking, I've tried twice already but hey third time is a charm right.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Secondly, 24 is young, 34 is not.....and 40 is the beginning of the end.

I was told that at 40 your warranty expires, after that you are on borrowed time and all the deferred maintenance catches up with you.

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I have been carrying a Poland spring water bottle , sealed, on my surf belt... when I pen it after a few hours, It tastes like complete saltwater... I could see if I opened the thing up and left the cap loose, but sealed? Voodoo magic

Use a Nalgene water bottle.

[RNC]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I have been carrying a Poland spring water bottle , sealed, on my surf belt... when I pen it after a few hours, It tastes like complete saltwater... I could see if I opened the thing up and left the cap loose, but sealed? Voodoo magic

Drink Gatorade instead. When the saltwater mixes in there it actually adds a little flavor to it.

[redlite]

We were talkin about this down the shop today.....All chimin in about the abuse our bodies have been takin and how much weight we have lost lately.......Well, we all hopped on the scale....My normal weight is about 165# to 170#...most ever was 175#...I'm at 156# WITH CLOTHES ON >.......YIKES!!!!!! I haven't weighed this little since I was 14 yrs old.
Scary.

[slow eddie]

been doing this for over 50 yrs. now.
advice. drink water, not coffee. plan to mix fishing the hard spots with the bad. less wear and tear. bring your food with you. everyone has a cooler. take a nap. this means taking your gear off and really taking a nap.
due to the abuse i put my body through, between work and play, now i really feel it. every year i fish less and less. fish the rocks for 3 hours. rest the next day or hit the beach instead.. life is a beautiful thing, prolong it as long as you can.

[luds]

Don't think about being a healthy surfcaster.. Just have a healthy diet and exercise and you'll be just fine. Now if I could only follow my own advice.

[GattaFish]

Just a few things I know for sure.

Sleep Deprivation is cumulative and is extremely abusive on your body whether you feel it or not, beyond just being tired. A few nights with too little sleep adds up.

It can seriously reduce your cognitive ability, balance, coordination, increase stress, affect your heart and even cause someone to lose weight.

There have been lots of studies on it


Regular light exercise, Good diet (more proteins less fats), staying well hydrated (water), staying well rested prior or Short naps (10-30 min nap can keep you alert for 3-4 or more hours) during long periods without sleep, stretch move around, take deep breaths and staying cool will all help.