Maintaining your health as a surfcaster

[Joe]

Don't go by DZ as your example - he's skinny as a twig and does not seem to have the bad habits of your typical surfcaster. He'll spend the night circumnavigating Block Island on foot and then run with the deer in the morning and subsist on fallen crab apples.

[Raven]

short cuts and payback:

when you drink lots of coffee or energy drinks
this is a just a short cut and eventually
there's gonna be pay back time

so maybe you can go two nights or three even
and then you CRASH hard....exhausted... REPEAT

this is a very poor substitute for health....

your fishing in a very dangerous environment and
need to have your wits in top shape to make good decisions

Pure whey protein is the rejuvenation food to repair
all the damage done by repetitive tasks
and this repair is done mainly during sleep

Nutrients: Zinc to think, E for sore muscles, vitamin A foods
and or lutien for eyesight, melatonin for better sleep and sleeping with Music
that is designed to make you sleep deeper is highly recommended.

Jacuzzi after wards to relieve sore Muscles because when your body is being floated
by bubbles its much easier to do stretches than standing.

[FormerUser]

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.

[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.

[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

[FormerUser]

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.

[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.

[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.