Safety in the Surf

"Safety in the surf, a forgotten issue." by Bill Nolan      Not that long ago I learned a valuable lesson. While fishing a southern Rhode Island shoreline at night, I was into quite a few fish. I wasn't paying attention and as I was casting, a wave came at my side and swept me off my feet so fast, that it scared the daylights out of me! The sea is extremly powerful and deserves the utmost respect. I was lucky and only my pride was hurt. I now look at things much differently.      It is easy to forget, you are catching fish, having fun out on a sandbar, and suddenly without out warning you're swept off your feet. In the panic your waders fill up, and you can guess the outcome, not pretty. Whenever we're fishing, the talk is always about how many, how big and where. Very rarely does the subject of safety come up, there are more important issues like which lure is working this night. Well I think its time to talk about safety. Having fun and coming home safe and sound with a great fish story to tell is the objective here.      Lets start by talking about surfcasting from rocks. This is very dangerous and should not be taken lightly. I can't tell how many times I see people fish from these slippery perches with sneakers on! It makes me cringe, these rocks are as slippery as ice and you can be down in a millisecond. Secondly, people think that if they are on a rock in shallow water, that they are somehow safe from harm? Nothing could be further from the truth! Lets remember it only takes a few inches of water to drown in if a person should fall and be rendered unconscious. Drowning could easily take place.      Waders should be equipped with some sort of traction device such as Korkers. These are sandal type shoes, which slip over your waders or hip boots and have spikes on the bottom to aid in traction on slippery rocks, and they work great!       The other option, which in my opinion is not as safe as the corkers, is felt bottom waders. You can also buy the felt and put them on your waders or hipboots yourself with the glue which comes in the package.      Either of these items can be purchased at a tackle store or sporting goods store. Korkers cost in the range of $45 to $55. A small investment to save your neck.      Drinking in my opinion has no place in surf fishing. I have nothing against the occasional social drink. Wait till after the fishing trip to indulge. You'll be much safer for it. I think the reasons for this should be painfully obvious. I won't elaborate any further on this.      The other important factor to use is common sense! If the water seems to rough, or you are uneasy venturing out onto some boulder in the darkness, DON'T! You will have plenty of chances to catch that trophy without causing yourself bodily harm. Wait for the right conditions and fish another time.      The other common sense issue involves scouting. Don't fish on rocks at night in an unfamiliar location. If you see or hear of a likely location, go there in the daytime at low tide and look the area over. Things to be looking for should include safe routes to and from the shore, where the high water mark is and which rocks provide the best casting platform. Also look for easy places to land a fish, you don't want to be rock hoping with a thrashing 30 pound striper on the end of your line!      The buddy system. Fishing is a solitary sport providing time to reflect and to just relax, but when you are fishing at night on the stones with a rough sea its always good to go as a twosome and watch out for each other. Things can go wrong in a hurry and if you are alone on some destitute shoreline in the middle of the night, who will be there to help?      Which brings me to another point. Always tell someone where you will be and what time to expect you back, this could be your wife or other family member, this is very important and should become habit. All of the above also pertains to beach fishing. Granted we don't have rocks to contend with but we do have vicious currents, changing sandbars and big water. If you are new to the surf fishing game, try to find an experienced angler to learn from and don't take chances.      Equipment: I like two carry two items, which I think are very important, a knife and an extra light. The knife is there to cut myself free if my waders should become filled with water, were I to fall in. The light has saved me a few times, if your out on a rock in a new moon and your bulb decides to go south you'll thank me for telling you to have that extra light tucked away.      I also wear an orange rain jacket. The reasons are so boats can see me if I'm out on some sandbar half a mile from shore. Yellow works well for this also. Always wear a wading belt. This is very important when suiting up. Wear your raincoat outside your waders then cinch the belt around the coat and your waders, this is the proper way to wear these items and also offer the best protection from water filling up your waders.      Another handy item I carry is a lightstick made by chyalum. They can be purchased in any camping store. You simply bend them to activate then shake them, they last for hours and are very bright. One way I use them, is if I'm fishing from a beach such as Chatham, and venture out onto a sand bar, I'll tie the lightstick to a sandspike on the shore and in the fog I can find my way back to the beach. This has helped me many times. You can also wear one around your neck so your partner can spot where you are.      Fatigue is another over looked factor. When you've worked all day and decide to fish a 2 am tide, you will need to get some sleep! Climb into bed for a few hours before you go fishing you will feel refreshed and think with a clear head. Mental mistakes increase with sleep loss, this has been widely proven.     Landing a fish is one more concern. Many surfcasters carry a short handle gaff with them, I prefer not too. I've always wondered, if I should fall would I accidentally gaff myself? I prefer to beach my fish whenever possible, or if the fish is very large I will ask my partner for a helping hand, handling a large striper in the surf can be dangerous! The thrashing fish can impale you with a dorsal fin. I know it has happened to me several times! Use patience and walk all but the smallest fish back to the shore. Carry pliers with you, as a bass with a fateful of treble hooks can ruin your day also. Take your time removing hooks from a fish its better for both of you, I see people carelessly rip hooks out of the fishes maw, if you intend to release the lineside try not to inflict anymore damage than is possible.      As you can see there is a lot to think about, with the resurgence of the striped bass, more and more fishermen are going after them. Enjoy your fishing time! And also make it safe. You'll be around to tell all those fishing tales! Copyright © 1998 Bill Nolan No part of this article may be used except with written consent by the author.