Top 10 tips for solo trailerboat fishing
Do you fish solo off your boat? Then heed Paul Worsteling's tips for making sure you come home safelyEvery now and then I find myself with a boat, perfect weather, a free schedule and no one to fish with! So what do I do? I go fishing, of course. But not without making sure I have done everything possible to ensure I return home safely.
Fishing solo requires that you are doubly diligent when it comes to your safety. The recent lucky rescue of a keen sportfisher who fell overboard from his boat and spent six hours afloat off Exmouth is a case in point.
Here are 10 tips for helping stay safe when you are fishing solo...
1. Double Check:
2. Always Radio: Log ON and OFF (on your return) with the local sea rescue.
3. Take a mobile phone with you: If your electrics do fail then a mobile phone could be a vital life line.
4. Check your safety equipment: Make sure it is in working order and meets the correct standard set by your local/state water authorities. For example, your flares must in date, your EPIRB must be registered and in date, your lifejacket must meet requirements, and all of these must be in an accessible place, not locked in a box, under a huge pile of gear, or stuffed up the very front of your vessel. Make a grab bag and keep it near the helm.
5. Wear your life jacket always: It may not be a fashion statement, but lifejackets are there to save lives. Before you leave the boat ramp make sure it’s fastened securely on yourself and don’t take it off until you step back on dry land.
6. Always tell a friend where you are going and what time you are expecting to return: Although you have checked in with sea rescue, and carry a mobile phone, you can never be too safe.
7. Keep a tidy boat: Ensure your deck space is clear and everything is stowed away properly. The last thing you want is to trip and fall overboard.
8. Utilise your dead-man or kill chord: Do you know what that red coiled cable is for near your ignition or throttle? I cannot stress enough the importance of securing this cable and clip to yourself. That way, if you somehow fall overboard while motoring along, your boat engine will stop immediately.
9. Take your time, be prepared and relax. Accidents happen when you are moving too fast, not prepared correctly and trying to do many things at once. Fishing is meant to be enjoyable so try and ensure this by just playing it cool and taking your time.
10. Have Fun: If you’re not having fun then what’s the point in doing it at all?
*ED: To the above list of good advice we'd strongly recommend you wear a personal EPIRB if you fish solo. Also, make sure you have enough fuel, leaving at least 1/3 spare in your calculations for contingencies, and add an inline fuel filter/water separator to your rig in an accessible location. Besides fuel-related problems, batteries are the other big cause of breakdown. A dual set-up is a good investment if you run lots of electronics.
Just remember, if you are going to head out solo boat fishing then make sure you do it safely! Try and follow these few simple rules and please keep in mind: “No fish is worth a person's life”.
And check your State's maritime regulation authority for the full list of required safety gear and safe boating tips. Having said all that, fishing solo often results in some of the best fishing as there's no-one else to worry about but you.
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