I recently saw an online report by a private boat angler who, after hitting the bunk during an all-night fishing trip for white seabass at Catalina Island, was startled awake by a proverbial “bump in the night.” His first thought was that his boat had dragged anchor and had drifted into the rocks on the weather side of this popular Southern California island. As he and the rest of his crew stumbled topsides to spring into action, it quickly became clear this was not the case. To their disbelief, they soon realized their vessel had been rammed by another boat trying to navigate the crowded “minefield” of boats anchored up on Catalina’s backside squid grounds, soaking baits and waiting for schools of the giant croakers to swim through. After the initial shock wore off (they were properly lit and had a man on watch), they quickly assessed the damage to both vessels. Fortunately, the captain of the other fishing boat was traveling slowly enough that the damage, while costly, was only cosmetic and did not endanger either boat.
Situations like this remind us that boating, particularly at night, is a sport with inherent dangers. Fortunately, by exercising a little common sense, learning the rules of the road and taking advantage of today’s modern technology, we have the power to minimize these dangers. Here are some quick tips for fishermen who like to fish at night:
Maintain A Sharp Lookout — In the scenario above, the anchored fishing boat correctly had one person awake and on watch, yet as the saying goes, “he never saw what hit him.” Being on watch means just that — scanning the horizon for lights, watching the radar and listening to radio traffic. It’s easy to “veg” when its dark and everybody’s asleep, so rotate the man on watch at least every two hours. You can use a watch clock to help stay awake.
Use Technology — It’s not enough to have radar, or even to have your radar on, if it isn’t being used effectively. Or worse yet, not being watched at all. Train yourself on your boat’s radar during daylight under controlled conditions. And learn to use important features such as Guard Zone Alarm that can alert you to vessels coming within a set perimeter. Many GPS/chart plotters feature an Anchor Watch Alarm that can alert you if your boat swings too far or breaks loose when anchored at night. The increasing affordability of Class B AIS (Automatic Identification System) equipment can alert you to approaching commercial vessels — such as when drift fishing at night in the shipping lanes.
Get Lit. This seems obvious, but the better illuminated your vessel is, the more visible it will be to other vessels. Make sure your running lights and all around anchor light are operational. If possible, keep your spreader lights or additional lighting on for additional visibility.
Slow Down. Maintain safe speed when traveling at night and/or in weather that limits your visibility. An extra set of eyes (or two) at the helm helps provide an added margin of safety.
Comments for Safety Tips for Fishing at Night