Best Practices to Stay Safe on a Deep Sea Fishing Charter

So, you finally booked your deep sea fishing charter in Oregon, and you’re feeling pumped! And who wouldn’t be? There are so many fish you can catch! Imagine the thrill of reeling in a monster and the stories you get to tell your loved ones when you arrive home?

But of course, there’s always the slight worry about things that may go wrong when you’re out in the deep blue waters. Of course, fishing charters are safe, and you have a professional captain and crew prioritizing your safety throughout the trip! But there are things that you can do to make it safer for you during the fishing charter.

Read on for the best practices to stay safe on a deep sea fishing charter.

Best Practices to Stay Safe on a Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Heading to the vast ocean to experience deep sea fishing is an adventure family and friends will enjoy together. While it’s a fun and exciting time, it’s crucial to follow safety precautions and prepare for the trip to ensure everything is smooth sailing.

Here are the tips to follow:

Listen to the Crew

You’ll most likely have a short safety orientation before heading to the boat, so make sure you listen to the instructions and obey them throughout. Also, always listen to the captain and crew, following their advice. All the safety precautions they say and do are set in place to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

Besides listening to the crew, it’s best to learn about the onboard safety equipment. The fishing charter must be equipped with standard boat safety equipment like life jackets, flares, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and the like. Ensure you know how to use this equipment and where to find it to avoid delays during emergencies.

Obey the Fishing Restrictions

There are state rules and regulations no matter what waters you head to. Oregon has specific fishing regulations and restrictions you must follow to maintain proper fish populations.

Make sure that you’re aware of the catch and size limits, read up on the rules, and listen to the captain. If the crew says you need to release the fish, put it back into the waters. Don’t worry; there are many opportunities to catch more fish to keep.

Use Protection!

No, not THAT kind of protection! We’re talking about sun protection!

Even if it doesn’t look too sunny, you’ll be exposed to harmful UV rays throughout the day. Plus, the sun would reflect the waters, so you stand a higher risk of getting sunburnt without sunscreen.

Prepare sunscreen and lather yourself up at least 15 minutes before you depart land. The goal is to fry your catch after returning home, not to fry yourself!

Besides that, we also recommend bringing insect spray or lotion to use before the trip. You might get exposed to a lot of bugs while outdoors. To avoid that pesky bug bites, have insect repellant around.

Dress Properly

When you’re on a fishing charter, you’ll be exposed to the elements, whether it’s the sun, rain, or heavy winds. Besides preparing the typical sun protection mentioned above, make sure that you also wear layered clothing to prevent sunburn and heatstroke.

Furthermore, make sure you wear anti-glare sunglasses and a hat that can cover part of your face. As for shoes, do not wear flip-flops or open-toed sandals, even if it does feel more comfortable since you’ll get wet. Instead, wear shoes with enough traction as you’ll be walking around a slippery boat.

Avoid Alcohol

Sure, it would be fun to enjoy fishing over a few beers, but the Coast Guard highly recommends against it! Leave all alcoholic beverages off fishing boats, even if you aren’t responsible for maneuvering the boat.

As you know, alcohol can impair one’s thinking and movements, so intoxicated passengers are more likely to get injured when onboard. Worst case scenario, they can fall off the boat or cause accidents. It would be more challenging dealing with such accidents when on the open waters when land is miles away.

It’s crucial to stay hydrated when under the hot sun, but go for water and other non-alcoholic beverages. The beer and hard liquor can wait until you get back to land after cooking your catch!

Be Careful Handling Tackle

As you handle tackle, remember that these are sharp items. When using them, they can travel at high speeds. Before casting, look over your shoulder to ensure you aren’t hooking an object or person.

Also, do not leave your tackle or equipment on the ground, which is a tripping hazard. If you need to remove deeply-embedded fish hooks, use pliers and not your fingers to avoid injuries.

Do You Get Seasick Easily?

Anyone can get seasick, and it’s one of the most uncomfortable feelings that can ruin your day out in the waters. Prepare travel sickness tablets just in case you or someone else starts to feel queasy.

What to Eat

While skipping meals may help reduce the chance of vomiting, it’s not recommended. Never fish on an empty stomach and have a light meal before leaving. Also, prepare light meals and snacks such as sandwiches, energy bars, and water.

We can’t emphasize how much you need to stay hydrated, especially during hot days. Bring insulated bottles of cold water or coolers filled with ice water to refresh yourself throughout the day.

Wrapping It Up

While the captain and crew will remind you about some of these safety tips, it’s best to prepare ahead. That way, you can focus more on having fun waiting and reeling in huge catches in the deep waters. We hope our tips helped you out and relieved some of your pre-charter jitters!

You can learn more about Oregon and the fishing action in our blog or contact us to avail of charter services. We can provide the services you want and need to make your trip fun.