T
TowingTomics
Guest
I am new here but I notice a common thread on a lot of the topics. There seems to be an unwritten rule that separates those that can safely fish offshore and those that are assumed stupid for even thinking about going out there. The line seems to be drawn around the minimum size boat required to tackle the offshore banks in a relatively safe manner.
I would like to submit both my own opinion on this and ask for feedback from the rest of you.
In my opinion: The size of your boat will not make much of a difference if you are not prepared for the challenges of fishing offshore. While a bigger boat will keep you more comfortable in moderate weather there are few boats in the sport fishing fleet that will withstand any kind of a real blow 30 – 60 knots offshore. If you watch the weather both before you go and while you are out there I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be able to fish out there in relative safety. I spent last year fishing almost exclusively 30 – 40 miles off of Bamfield in a 24’ Welcraft and on some of the good days it was flat as a pancake out there, no reason why someone in a well equipped 18’ boat couldn’t have been out there with us. We all know that there is no fishing like offshore fishing, the salmon action is constant and the halibut and other bottom fish are abundant, so why wouldn’t you want to go out and fish there?
So I have two questions. In your opinion what is the minimum equipment requirement for fishing out where we all know limits are just a boat ride away? What is your reasoning behind this number?
I would like to submit both my own opinion on this and ask for feedback from the rest of you.
In my opinion: The size of your boat will not make much of a difference if you are not prepared for the challenges of fishing offshore. While a bigger boat will keep you more comfortable in moderate weather there are few boats in the sport fishing fleet that will withstand any kind of a real blow 30 – 60 knots offshore. If you watch the weather both before you go and while you are out there I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be able to fish out there in relative safety. I spent last year fishing almost exclusively 30 – 40 miles off of Bamfield in a 24’ Welcraft and on some of the good days it was flat as a pancake out there, no reason why someone in a well equipped 18’ boat couldn’t have been out there with us. We all know that there is no fishing like offshore fishing, the salmon action is constant and the halibut and other bottom fish are abundant, so why wouldn’t you want to go out and fish there?
So I have two questions. In your opinion what is the minimum equipment requirement for fishing out where we all know limits are just a boat ride away? What is your reasoning behind this number?