jetty safety, jetty tips

[surfwalker]

I don't do the rocks/jetties anymore, matter of fact it's been years since I did them. My fear of them has overcome my catching at any cost. I don't preach not to go out on them, just take note of what Dark states. If you think something can't happen to you, then maybe you should keep in mind those that have slipped or taken a dunk- I'm sure they didn't wake up one morning and say that today I will have an accident on a jetty. Just think before you step or take that extra stroll, especially in the cold. Don't be one of the ones who say what a stupid thing I did- after the fact, if you're lucky enough.

[DarkSkies]

I'm sure they didn't wake up one morning and say that today I will have an accident on a jetty. Just think before you step or take that extra stroll, especially in the cold. Don't be one of the ones who say what a stupid thing I did- after the fact, if you're lucky enough.

Excellent points, Surfwalker, thanks for sharing them.


Something along those lines happened to me the other night....
Thought I would share.....




Stories, stories, there are so many of them out there.. some good some bad.
but really, I want to to stress safety, over all else, how sad would it be for your family if you went out there, and didn't come home from a night of fishin?...I had the dubious pleasure of fishing next to a drunk guy the other night,...

He came up as I was gearing up to go out. Generally I would rather keep to myself out there, but this guy kind of crept up on me....

When I turned around and he was talking, his breath was so strong from drinking if you lit a match he would have been breathing flames....

He said he had just come from the bar, and he was going out there...
I tried to give some words of advice, talked about the huge swell, said it was bad enough I was wearing a PFD, and told him that even though I didn't know his level of expertise, it was not a great night to be out there anyway....

Additionally I told him that if he fell in I would be the one who would have to jump in and save him, and I wasn't looking forward to that moment if it should happen...

You can only reason with a drunk so much, otherwise it's a waste of words.

I did much drinking and drugs in my life and no one could ever tell me anything when I was high or drunk....

His response:
"Thanks for looking out for me, brotha! But I'm going to go out there anyway"


I saw that he eventually put himself into a risky position. There were no real opportunities for fish that night where he was fishing anyway. I know you can't save someone who is hell bent on destruction.

I left soon after, and checked the papers the next morning to see if anyone was reported missing or dead. Satisfied that there was no news, I'm glad he made it out of there OK.



He had no business being out there in those conditions.

[jigfreak]

He had no business being out there in those conditions.

Amen brother! Every year another idiot gets culled from the herd. Maybe it's Darwin's laws of survival of the fittest. You should see how insane they are in Australia. Losing another fisherman seems to be routine down under.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6f2_1330517296

[nitestrikes]

Amen brother! Every year another idiot gets culled from the herd. Maybe it's Darwin's laws of survival of the fittest. You should see how insane they are in Australia. Losing another fisherman seems to be routine down under.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6f2_1330517296

Dark you should really speak on this. Did you watch this video?

Guys are starting to wear pfds. I, have seen 1 or 2 at Montauk, or maybe that was you and I didn't realize it? The narrative in this video is eye-opening. Here is some of it:

(Starting at 5:00)
"Just how crazy this sport can be, not a life jacket in sight.
Rescuers end up risking their lives to fish out the bodies.
Their chance of dying while fishing is high becuuse of their overconfidence.

Helo pilot:
I've never picked up a fisherman who drowned while wearing a life jacket.
Why are there no life jackets? - Arrogance."


Granted we don't have waves that bad there, but at the Point at Montauk it can get pretty bad, or just a little west of that on an incoming moon tide.

[DarkSkies]

Helo pilot:
I've never picked up a fisherman who drowned while wearing a life jacket.
Why are there no life jackets? - Arrogance."

Nitestrikes thanks for bringing this up. I watched the video and have come to the conclusion that a lot of Aussies have a different mindset than we have here. They seem to embrace danger, even to go so far as taunting death.....because IMO that's what you're doing when you fish craggy points like that that have waves crashing over them, without a PFD.

I was at the Nissequogue River the afternoon last summer that father who wasn't wearing a PFD died. It has affected me deeply.


I have been to Montauk many times, and never thought of wearing a PFD.
Like some of you have mentioned, I probably would have thought that others would think you were a sissy or wimp for wearing one. We are all self-conscious about looking stupid when we're out there....

Since that Dad drowned in the Nissy,
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...quogue-8-12-11

I've gotten beyond that apprehension of what others might think, and am now actively trying to promote guys to wear a PFD when fishing dangerous areas. I try to set an example by wearing one every time.

[DarkSkies]

So far, it doesn't seem many are listening, or feel they would benefit from wearing one....
I understand the apprehension and fear of looking stupid....

A guy kind of laughed when he saw me putting on mine a few weeks ago, we had met out there and decided to fish together...in his culture they laugh at those kinds of preparations....when he saw the way I fish, he wasn't laughing any more and told me it was a smart thing.....

Will guys start wearing them just because I'm preaching about them?
Absolutely not....

But if I can get one person, at a time, to change the way they look at their safety, and the families they leave behind if they end up dead...then it will have all been worth it...


Thanks for pointing that out, Nitestrikes. We have surf fishermen and kayakers who die every year, right here in the US, because they didn't place a high degree of importance on safety and protecting their lives....



UrbanFishingMan, thanks for posting a pic of your gear. I thinik people would be amazed if they knew the level of preparation you go through before you go out there. IMO that's because you've seen the worst that can happen, and are mature enough that you don't want to put yourself in the same situation.







Also, to those folks who think this level of preparation is stupid, I ask you if you've thought about the First Reponders who will be at risk as well, if they have to go and rescue you...isn't that something that we should also be thinking about?

[Monty]

Also, to those folks who think this level of preparation is stupid, I ask you if you've thought about the First Reponders who will be at risk as well, if they have to go and rescue you...isn't that something that we should also be thinking about?

I think it the opposite of stupid.
IMO its smart, well thought out and properly prepared for his fishing experience.
Nothing but respect for a person properly prepared.

[Monty]

Amen brother! Every year another idiot gets culled from the herd. Maybe it's Darwin's laws of survival of the fittest. You should see how insane they are in Australia. Losing another fisherman seems to be routine down under.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6f2_1330517296

Thanks for posting that video, that's crazy stupid. You gotta be an idiot fishing there. Its simply not safe.

[UrbanFishingMan]

those Australians are nuts!
A korkers store would make $$$

Here's how i go out if i feel
being swept away is a possibility.

[jigfreak]

those Australians are nuts!
A korkers store would make $$$

Here's how i go out if i feel
being swept away is a possibility.

Nice gear dude. Awesome pirate flag. Is that for a yak or do you just fly in the sand when you're out there?

[UrbanFishingMan]

From Surfcasters journal
The Striper Surf took back another one of its disciples today. A truly remarkable person in so many ways.
RIP Tim Coleman.
The Fisherman, The Author, The Editor and a Friend
Our sincerest condolences to the Coleman family and his friends