Charter fishing can be a pleasurable activity, but as with any hobby in nature, there are dangers to consider. Safety is always a top priority for you and your loved ones, so be sure to follow some of the tips below to ensure your trip goes smoothly and you’re prepared.
As with any expedition, be sure that people know when you’re leaving, and when you intend to return. The captain of the ship should already be doing this, but if you can offer a bit of redundancy there it wouldn’t hurt. Include the dock slip number as extra potentially useful information.
Fishing and survival require that you have some knowledge about survival at sea. This means knowing how to improvise and use flotation devices, how to purify water, how to deal with weather (including both very stormy weather and very hot and sunny weather), and how to find food, improvising fishing gear with what you’ve got. If something happened to the boat, you won’t necessarily have your rod with you! Try a sea survival course. This may sound like overkill but the skills are invaluable.
It goes without saying, but really, you should know how to swim. You should know how to swim anyway, but being and to tread and move across water is essential, keeping you alive and from tiring yourself out with inefficient strokes. Hopefully the safety equipment will limit your need to swim, but it might not.
Speaking of safety equipment, learn where the safety equipment is located on board. The captain should tell you when you get on the boat in an initial safety orientation session, but don’t be afraid to ask. You should expect basic sea communication equipment (radios), life rafts, and personal flotation devices for every person on board, including some spares. Life jackets have come a long way, so I’d be concerned if what’s on board looks old-fashioned and tattered.
The biggest piece of equipment is the boat itself, so even if you’re not an expert, try to get a sense of the shape the boat is in. It doesn’t hurt to see if the captain is the owner, and if he is, that can boost your confidence about its safety.
Finally, you should have a decent sense of basic boating etiquette, rules, and regulations. There are ways of behaving on a boat which are designed not only to keep people happy, but to keep them safe. Don’t think you’re an exception.
The above suggestions should ensure your safety and survival on your next charter fishing trip. Have fun!