5/19 SI Mahi & Tuna

bluewater_fever

So I was suppose to fish with my brother Thursday but he canceled on me last minute. So I ended up going by myself. Got a very late start. Didn't make it to the ramp until 8:00 which is not normal for me. Weeds weeds and more weeds. The stuff was everywhere. Cleaning lines solo gets old fast. I got a good hit in 250, a screamer, but it came off. Trolled for hours with no fish. About 1:30, I was minutes from pulling lines but I suddenly could see birds diving in the distance. I gave it a little gas to get over to the birds faster and the outrigger pops...dolphin. As I was resetting lines, I get another hit...blackfin. Worked the area for another hour and went home. Long day.  

So I wanted to make a comment about that guy whose boat washed ashore in Melbourne. Years ago, I didn't really think much about the danger of fishing offshore solo. I have a wife and two little kids now and it really makes me think about it. Fishing alone, offshore, and trolling is extremely dangerous. You fall in the water trolling, without a PLB(personal locator beacon), your as good as dead. If your reading this you obviously like to fish as I do, and I'm not going to let fears or the obvious danger keep me from doing what I enjoy the most. So when I fish alone, I keep my PLB in my pocket and tether it to my belt. Not sure what happened to that guy but if he had a PLB on him, he might be at home instead of.... So if you fish alone and you don't wear a PLB, you should really reconsider. It could mean the difference between life and death. 

StratCaster

Great comments on the PLB.  When trolling alone, in addition to the PLB, I tie a 12' tether from the kill switch to my shorts.  At times it gets in the way but it should stop the boat should I fall out.

BottomBumpin

NICE work and the safety tip is the spot on!!! thanks for the reminders...  ... chit happens quick..  be safe

MikeT1

Nice job on the Mahi & Tuna!

When fishing alone, I add an auto inflatable life jacket with the PLB, and a Garmin InReach nearby. The InReach is excellent for keeping in touch with someone onshore throughout the day, and it provides a link to bring up your location on a map.

Thank you for the report!

The Cat's Eye

I have an electronic tether that will shut off my engine if i fall out of my catamaran. It does not require hard wiring and attaches to the kill switch and pops off the switch if the transmitter goes into the ocean. The water does not have anything to do how it works except to attenuate the transmitter signal. In other words, it can get soaked in my button down pants pocket and will not shut down the engine. I also carry on my person a PLB with GPS and have a second PLB in a ditch bag. I many fish solo and also have a self inflating two person life raft canister that only weights 14 lbs.

Ask your self ow much is your life worth ?

PS. in my fifty yesrs on the water i have rescused a total of five males bobbing in the ocean that could not get back to their boat. Four of them were divers and one fell off a sailboat and was in the water for several hours. I spotted him late in the day trying to swim to a buoy The four Scuba divers were diving from a recreactional boat that had individuals left in the boat who were unable to run the boat or in one case the person was unable to preform a proper search and rescue.

One more bit of advice: When solo never try to pee over the side of the boat. Always us a small bucket or just pee on the deck and wash it down.