Fishing Safety

[boogieman]

We all love fishing and spend countless hours working and thinking hard about catching Big Fish...How long do we honestly spend thinking about SAFETY?
I personally use to make my living thinking about safety and rescueing those that did not give it a second thought. We fish from Rocks, Boats, Surf and sand and there are even those of us that fish while swimming right along with our prey. Think hard about what it would take to get you out that sweet little honey hole of a spot you found on google earth this past winter. How long did it take for you to get there? Being a secretive bunch that we are I am willing to bet that Noone else Knows where your at! Many people have died from exposure while the search crews were searching in a completelly differnt area! A broken ankle or something as simple as that could wind up KILLING YOU! If rescue doesn't get to you in time! I know what your thinking..."I atleast will die happy" Thats what i would say atleast!
On Tuesady June 24 2008 Edgardo Torres was hit by Lightning while fishing the rocks in Bristol..Edgardo Died on Thursday June 26 from his injuries!
Hit by Lightning durring a storm that myself and Chip were fishing in!
HIT BY LIGHTNING
That could have been any of us!
How many times have we read about undertows taking swimmers away from the beach? The same beaches we prowl in the dead of night! OUR RODS ARE LIGHTNING RODS they're just waitng for lighting to kill us! We need to stop every once in awhile and think about our own safety and the safety of our fishing buddies! Now i'm not saying don't do anything stupid in the name of being safe i'm saying calculate the risk! The coast Guard does a great job of saving lives and i have been side by side with these brave men! But they can only help if they can find you! We need to think about the little things Before we get i a pickle..DO you know how to bail out of you waders While under water?...Can you swim back from the sand bar or rock with a twisted ankle before the tide turns?...Do you even know where you are?...
All I'm trying to say is...
THINK ABOUT YOUR SAFETY!!!
This way we can Read about Your "BIG" catch... instead of your slow agonizing death!!!
FISH ON LIVE ON!!!

[chom bucket]

ya ihear there i myself have done some pretty stupid things while fishing it really is not worth it when you think about it .

[scottw]

great points Ray, I love google earth too! Mrs. W came home the other day a quickly pointed out the unfortunate Bristol story...must have been hairy for the two of you in the boat in that storm....there always seem to be a couple of incidents each year, seems like someone is always getting washed in at Beavertail or Narragansett, one of the Squirrel Chasers at Brenton told me they found an empty kayak out front last year ...it's so easy to get caught up in the pursuit and ingore the sensible thing because you are trying to get the most out of whatever time you have available and/or you are sporting a 40+ body and still have a 18 yr old mindset and that rough water just draws you into it, mesmerizing..."I know there's a fish in there if I can just get a little closer"....went for a little swim the other day, no injuries but it made me think, only takes one misstep...but it's dangerous crossing my street too....just hope everyone stays safe out there, use common sense, proper gear and check the radar before you go out the door....

[Frightnight]

By the way Ray, good call the other day when we were on the boat. Ray suggested that we put down our poles the other day, while we were in that storm the other day. Matter of fact, we were just south of where he was struck that day. Ray also suggested driving through the strom to get to the backside of it, which put us through it as quickly as possible, and limiting our time in it, instead of just sitting in it and waiting for it to past, which would have increase our time in the storm significantly. Go call...who knows, if we waitied dit out, could have been us too! May have saved both our lives with the suggestion. My family thanks you Ray, and so do I. God probably thought the world would not be as exciting with us not in it.....hahaha. OK, I am in South Carolina now, and looking up local tackle shops to point me in the right direction to see if I can catch something I have never caught before. If i do land something, I will post pics, and or vids later. Take care all, and save some fish for me for next week.

[basswipe]

Good safety article in OTW this month also.

[rirockhound]

Nah.
Basswipe, that F'ing goon has no idea what he's talking about.

I have to say, I try and think about being safe as much as I do where/when/how to fish.

Be careful out there!

[boogieman]

Well I have to confess something about safety! last night i Got the snot knocked out o me on the rocks! I was paying attention to the breakers and the flow of the current around and behind the rock i was on and got waylayed from the left by a wave crashing into the current runnig out to my left!!! It picked me up and slammed me down on my back over the rock Knocking the wind out of my lungs, dropped my rod in the drink when i finally got my wind back i dug my rod out and moved out if the surf line to Do a quick "system" check! No bones stickin out or grindin bones not much blood...Shrinkin tide..setting sun time to suck it up and ...FISH!!! Didn't want to loose the tide..After leaving the water i called my girl to Inquire about our medical coverage..(something i never do!) After listening to her call me a dumb ass over and over..i just have some bruised ribs and maybe a bruised lung but I'll be back out tommorow night for sure! The not so funny thing is that no one knew were i was..I guess i am a dumb ass..cann't even take my own advise..Guess instead of thinking twice i need to think three times!!! Stay smart

[Dave]

Originally Posted by rirockhound

Nah.
Basswipe, that F'ing goon has no idea what he's talking about.

I have to say, I try and think about being safe as much as I do where/when/how to fish.

Be careful out there!

Bryan, I didn't get to posting in the S-B thread because I didn't get around to reading it till a good bit after the thread. Definately a good article and 2-3 of these type throughout the season to reiterate it to the readers is always a good idea.

For some it takes a close call in the surf and others well.....

There is always a lee or protected cove to fish. Be smart, learn them, be safe and be productive.