What is your comfort level....

[Back Beach]

When surf casting, what is your comfort level in terms of how far/deep you will wade and on what type of structure? Where do you draw the line? What type of situation makes you the most uncomforatable?

I've found the rocks,obviously, to be much more of a hazard than sand. When I only fished the cape surf, I would wade in my shorts and bare feet most of the time because I could walk fast and cover ground. Now I primarily fish rocks, and consider myself conservative in terms of where I will wade. Despite my conservative nature, I found myself face down in the water three times in the last two seasons. None of them life threatening, but uncomfortable, and thankful for my dry top.I primarily wear wading gear to keep me dry from splashes, not necessarily to get way out.

So, where do you draw the line, if you have a line?

[RIJIMMY]

Im not sure I have a line, but I play it safe and factor in current and wave height.
The most challenging areas are rocky ones with large spaces between boulders, where you need to climb up on rocks. The water depth varies between the boulders and its difficult to fish. I usually dont last long in these spots.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Mike:
Depends on surf conditions, and where it is...
A shallow rocky reef that I know fairly well I can tolerate it up over my waist, especially since I usually climb out on a rock or ledge where it is shallower...
Sand=no line; wetsuit
On rocks, if there is a good surf I don't want water over my knees, too easy to get knocked down...

[riverrat2]

To tell you the truth I have been more scared on the back beaches then in the rocks. A lot of the parts of the cape I have fished the drop off is quick and steep. One night 2 years ago in september there was a good groundswell from one of the hurricanes long waits in between set waves. I creaped a little to close to the edge and nearly got sucked over it. To me, it was way scarier than stumbling in the rocks because I can get back up fairly easily.

[chief10]

I draw the line at if I can't concentrate on fishing because of the conditions then I'll move.

[Pete_G]

Being bashed ON the rocks is what scares me. If I'm on rocks where there's more rocks behind me, anything above the knees sends me running.

I much prefer using the wetsuit to find a spot to stand where there's nothing but water behind me.

There's a lot that goes into computing what is "safe" wading. I think with time you get better at it. How much foam is in a wave, how fast it's moving, etc. Lots of variables...

Chief10's decision making process is a lot like mine. I can't define what's too much, I just know it when I feel it...

[tynan19]

It is funny, I used to not really be afraid of anything till I had kids. I would hunt in the middle of the night and the coyotes would encircle our dogs and that wouldn't faze me. But just last fall out on Squibby by myslef I really felt uneasy a few times. Almost to the point of leaving.

I think current, especially outgoing ones scare me the most. Going down to get a fish and a wave takes you off the rock into the outflow. Or standing out on the bar and making the wrong step. No thanks.

[Rockport24]

since I mainly fish rocky areas with steep drop offs, I like to restrict myself to mostly flat rock perches (not slanted toward the water) and if I get hit with spray over my head a few times, it's enough to back to me off a little.

[nightprowler]

depends on who i am with and where i am fishing. when im alone I don't push as hard as when im with others. I fish mostly rocky shores, like squibby and the north shore of the vineyard, so i like to wade out and hop onto a rock. i get uncomfortable when i feel like the waves have control of me. I dont mind getting knocked off a rock if i know whats around me. i can always hop back on....
thank god for dry tops though.

[t.orlando]

I let Redlite go first, then see if he gets destroyed before venturing out. Can't swim too good so I am pretty timid about going way out. Plus I think getting way the F out there is overrated at most places. Also dos not take much for a wave to go over my head

[vanstaal]

well having the holy hell scared out of me this Sept I kinda rethink everything before was what ever it took to get er done was the key
I am more selective of the spot and the wave hight around knee high is good that was really too close for me. God bless the wader belt I really think it saved my life

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by t.orlando

I let Redlite go first, then see if he gets destroyed before venturing out. Can't swim too good so I am pretty timid about going way out. Plus I think getting way the F out there is overrated at most places. Also dos not take much for a wave to go over my head

Exactly..
when I fish with JoeP (who is 8ft tall)... I have to be careful when following him if I'm not in my wetsuit!

[spence]

I usually just stand 20 feet behind RIROCKHOUND. It's much safer and I can easily cast over his head

-spence

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by spence

I usually just stand 20 feet behind RIROCKHOUND. It's much safer and I can easily cast over his head

-spence

When you don't have a birdsnest!

[Finaddict]

It's hard to say exactly as it all depends upon the location ... as last year, I ventured out on rocks and had the tide come up and found myself trying to venture back with breaking whitewash all around me, made it tough and took a dip into the drink on three different occassions - sand banks in fast moving rivers also is a concern, as you don't want it to cave in and find yourself in a fast current with waders, etc. A regular sand beach is a lot more comfortable conditions when fishing in the dark though ... as I move carefully in the rocks ... just don't want to get dragged in.

My sister used to live on the coast of Maine near Pemaquid Point, she said tourists every year stand too close and get washed off the rocks by big waves - not sure if that was exactly true, but the water dropped down to more than 80 feet by those rocks, so it was deep water and not a place that I would put myself at risk ...

[decksweeper]

I've mainly fished in very rocky areas so it basically depends on the surf. I wear a Simms support belt, surf pullover then another belt over my jacket, so if it's calm, I'll go fairly deep to get to that next perch..

[technologist]

I have to agree some other posts and when I start to feel uncomfortable I move, especially when I'm alone. I can remember fishing a sandy bar that had recently formed off a point, as the tide started to come in ,certain spots on the bar became quicksand. I sunk down above my knees and had a difficult time getting out. The water on the bar was only 4" deep!

[Joe]

Big Surf.
Numero Uno killer of surfcasters.

For boaters, it's alcohol.

[Pete F.]

I always look and watch awhile first, even then you can get a wacko wave once in a while.
Stand on the bluffs on CH or the Vineyard sometime on a calm day and you can see the big difference between the sets of waves, pretty amazing...

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Mike:
Depends on surf conditions, and where it is...
Sand=no line;
On rocks, if there is a good surf I don't want water over my knees, too easy to get knocked down...

Pretty much my limits as well.

Wading in strong current doesn't bother me and as long as there are no underwater rocky drop-offs then deep-wading on sandy or rocky bottoms, even in big surf, doesn't really bother me - except when the waves are those really powerful driving waves that have a tendency to hit you right below the belt every time. Those really really piss me off!

Rocky drop-offs are a whole different story. The knees limit is about mine as well. And even if I can fish a place up on the rocks away from the waves I don't want to deal with going down to land a fish or having to try to winch up a big fish.

[GoFish]

I fish mostly alone on the rocks under the bluffs on BI. Managed to fracture a hip in a fall in weedy rocks a few years ago, and have become more conservative. Still get cleaned off a rock occasionally, but don't generally find that that last few yards is worth dying for. You're usually casting beyond the fish anyway.

Did buy an automatic Mustang PFD, and joke with my wife that it is so she can recover the body, collect the insurance, and not have to wonder if I wandered off with another woman...

[BassNuts]

I fish Montauk most of the time, so it's mostly rock-hopping for me. I'll hardly ever put myself on a rock where the water is deeper than my waist...I'm not one of these swimming guys. If the surf is running too high, I'll back up a bit if I can. There's no fish worth dying for. I'm double careful at night and carry both a strobe light and a manual whistle just in case I get into trouble. You'd be surprised how loud one of those coaches whistes are!!! Oh and the safety tip of the day...NEVER turn your back to the surf while perched up on a rock. Don't ask how I know.

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by chief10

I draw the line at if I can't concentrate on fishing because of the conditions then I'll move.

yup....

[FishermanTim]

I fish the east end of the canal, and occaisionally on Duxbury Beach.
In both cases, the first rule I adhere to is: "Never turn your back on the ocean!" All it takes is a rogue wave to knock you off your feet.
The one and ONLY time this happened to me, I was fortunate enough to get slammed into a flat rock. It scare the crap out of me, and from then on, I always keep at least one eye on the surf.
The other rule is: "Keep track of the tide." This applies more when I'm at the canal, and climbing up on slippery rocks is a last resort.
I also had a "dunking" two years ago. I had waded down along the jetty, and didn't realize that I was standing on a sand bar until I decided to walk back to me exit point. I stand 6' 1", and the water was up to my armpits. Needles to say, I got a little damp. This too, happened ONLY once! (Getting wet is bad enough, but when you wear neoprene waders, you also become more bouyant, so you "bob" in the water the deeper you get. Now add in an easterly current and now you start getting worried.)

[fcap60]

Originally Posted by chief10

I draw the line at if I can't concentrate on fishing because of the conditions then I'll move.

Yep, that pretty much is my view.

[Slipknot]

I am comfortable on the sand to my waist if there is not much of a current out on a sandbar or whatever but usually I stand at the edge of the shore. On rocks I like to stay on dry ground when possible, in protected areas no problem getting in to my knees. I don't see any reason to swim out to any rock, if that is what is needed to fish , then I'd use a boat. At a place like Beavertail or something like that, I'd wear korkers and a PFD and choose my footing carefully when picking a spot.

[Tburg]

I have a pair of muck boots just to stand on a few rocks in the ditch. when they get wet I move.....

I do want to get a pair of waders or a wet suit to try new spots but I do not think I will be swiming out to any boulder fields to wet a line...

[bloocrab]

The rough-ness of the water is the primary factor in determining how comfortable I'm going to be. Next is my experience with the spot that I'm fishing. You don't want to walk out to a point that you saw on a map ...at 1am. You have to know your surroundings..that will also greatly affect my level. Fishing with a friend can give you false confidence but It's definately worth having someone with you in those extreme situations. I don't worry much on the beach... you can only go in as far as you're allowed to drop your rod...I don't worry about a deep-pitched beach because If it's that steep, I don't have to enter...(a bar is a different story in itself though......hello Mr. FOG ...and Mr. Tide....and Mr. Current )

[reelecstasy]

Originally Posted by chief10

I draw the line at if I can't concentrate on fishing because of the conditions then I'll move.

That is the line for me as well...

[FittyPoundah]

Two situations have gotten me uncomfortable:

1) On the boat. I love fishing with my dad out there, but when the whales are breaking the surface and then dissapear, I always get real jittery.

2) There is a spot on the Cape (I bet everyone here knows it) where you wade out a long, long way to fish. There's been a time there when we wanted to stay out just a little longer, and I was worried about getting back. VERY uncomfortable.