10-23 REELLIFE DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 20
We’re going fishing! The gear is
stowed, trailer lights checked and
working, you’ve topped off the
fuel tank, and the ice chest is full of
food, drinks and bait. When going
through the checklist, did you
consider your first-aid supplies? I
know you’re just going out to pull
crab pots or fish the last few hours
of the tide change, what can
possibly happen?
In 2022 the USCG statistics show
that there were 2,222 reportable
boating injuries. Who knows how
many unreported injuries there
are. This year it is estimated that
55 million Americans will embark
on a fishing trip. While the plan
is to make it back to the dock
without so much as a thought
about a boating or fishing injury,
they happen, and you should be
prepared.
While the most common injuries
are largely preventable, there
are many “oh crap” moments
any time you are on the water.
Some preventable mishaps are as
follows:
Falls, Pulled Muscles/Sprains Many injuries can be prevented
by wearing proper footwear and
keeping the deck organized. I
don’t know how many times I
have slid down a ramp float at
2:30 in the morning because I
20 | NWFISHING.net
was wearing worn out flip-flops
or sandals. Make sure the tread
on your footwear is serviceable.
Boat organization is important
in the prevention of injuries.
Everything should have a place
and be kept there. Loose ice
chests, loose gear, or weights have
caused many falls related injuries.
Fish slime and blood should
be cleaned up immediately. A
few years back while fishing for
winter blackmouth, I slipped on
a puddle of chinook slime we
hadn’t cleaned up yet. If not for a
quick handed atomic wedgie by a
fishing buddy I would have gone
swimming.
Back injuries - Many times, back
injuries are caused by twisting
under load- if the seas are rolling
don’t pick up a heavily loaded ice
chest to clear the deck. Pulling
crab or shrimp pots should be
done with a plan. Use a puller if
you can but if not possible keep
your chin over your knees while
pulling pots. Be aware of your
posture as you swing the pot
into the boat. When downrigger
fishing, use a retriever setup,
don’t lean over the edge of the
boat to manage the downrigger
clip. Anchoring is another activity
where an extra dose of caution
should be prescribed. Never just
throw the anchor and hope for
the best. Always have control of
the anchor line and then once it
hits the bottom, slowly feed it out
to get the appropriate scope. Keep
the deck clear when managing
the line and if you don’t have an
anchor locker use a milk crate,
anchor bag, or even a 5-gallon
bucket to manage loose line.
Finally, consider the protentional
for cumulative abuse injuries to
you or your passengers’ backs.
Here in the Pacific Northwest,
many of us are running
aluminum boats.