Fishing solo?

[CLS]

Will have to give it a try sometime,when my crew can't make it

[dugong]

Solo on a SkiVee...........working the 'snoek zone' inside the break off Hyper

[1309sg]

I'd rather go solo on a boat than solo on a highway...

Do it all the time and although it can be seriously hard work at times, but totally lekka! Not with any major billfish though... unfortunately limited to smallish stuff.

Destressing after a hectic week, JUST you and no-one else.... man that gets your mind clear and focused!

[Weskus Wayne]

I guess the same would apply for fishing solo,when R&S?

Some places today you just cannot do it,due to old rotton apples that come and wanna steal your stuff and so on....

With me I know I break the rules and do this quite offten,and deep down inside I am taking a chance when doing this,along Macs,Stranfontain and so on,even on the Weskus,seems no where is safe any more. Its just that I dont get to fish with buddies in the week as they all at work and are only avalible on weekends...so what does one do...if you hooked on this sport as bad as I am.....

[nico]

At the risk of being called a troll or a  ...
 
Of course you  can fish alone. At the end onf the day, you have to make the call if it is safe, and make the right calls when you are out at sea.
 
Any of you done a technical diving course? Dive alone die alone when you are doing open water courses, but when you go deep it is a case of whoever needs to trust someone else will die with that guy!
 
It doesn't mean that it is for everyone, but I do believe that you do get situations (and a level of experience) where you will be as safe, or safer, than looking after crew. I'm lucky, everyone I fish with are qualified and experienced skippers.
 
It is a personal choice, and we do not (yet) live in a nanny state.
 
 

[DATSUN]

Hey

I often fish alone. I often run up to 60Km from the club. Obviously I am confident with my boat/safety gear/electronics/weather etc before I do. Like many others have mentioned, I enjoy the alone time.

I fished of fishing ski's (obviously alone) for many years before moving here, where the distances are just too far for the ski.

In my oppinion, I'd rather fish alone than have a w@nker, on board with me. That's not to say that I don't enjoy fishing with a good buddy, but they seem to be few-and-far-between, these days.

I've managed some pretty good catches, nothing spectacular, but some decent fish, whilst fishing alone.

Now don't crucify me for killing such a small marlin, but it was my first one, and as luck would have it, I'd forgotten my camera. I got this guy on my bottom-stick with a 10-inch KP whilst fishing for Kingies with live Bonny, in 60 meters of water. I was alone, so boating it was a bit of a mission. Also in my defence, this fish was landed by standing on the deck (no fighting chair) and no chasing the fish (not once were the motors started during the fight)

I feel that if done responsibly, there's nothing wrong with fishing alone. After all, it's your life and you'll only have yourself to blame if you make Sh**.

[John F]

Well done Datsun!

Congrats on your first bill on such "low tech" tackle!!!! When was this?

Please update the UA Billfish Hall of Fame!

[DATSUN]

Thanx John F

Have updated, thanx for the advice!!!

[benniejordaan]

I love fishing with my crew, I'm very lucky to have great company... But I actually wouldn't mind fishing alone if they can't make it. I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with it! I've driven to JHB on my own... I reckon that is way more dangerous!

[TUNAMAN]

Many responses here are from members that have a facility to launch from a harbour. Will the feeling still be the same if it was a surf launch? Why I ask is I have experienced launches where skippers got injured during the launch and they then required the help of their crew.

I personally would use a harbour on my own but I will hesitate when a surf launch is involved.

[benniejordaan]

Many responses here are from members that have a facility to launch from a harbour. Will the feeling still be the same if it was a surf launch? Why I ask is I have experienced launches where skippers got injured during the launch and they then required the help of their crew.

I personally would use a harbour on my own but I will hesitate when a surf launch is involved.

All within reason! For one thing you cannot handle a boat by yourself if in the surf. If the sea was nice and I had help launching, I'd still do it! But from somewhere like Vetchies, for sure!

[DATSUN]

I've seen some guys do it on the KZN North-coast, a few years ago.
They obviously had help pushing the boat into the surf, otherwise, Like Bennie said, it would be impossible.

What struck me about these guys, is that they all opperated on smaller craft, 12ft & 14ft Skivee's etc.

These guys must have been superbly confident....

[Homie]

Informative topic !

What about going out alone on a jetski ? Also, what are the legal issues of this ?

[TUNAMAN]

Informative topic !

What about going out alone on a jetski ? Also, what are the legal issues of this ?

Homie as far as i know a Ski-boat is not allowed to launch with just the skipper at a registered launch site.

With Jetski's I think the 5 nautical mile border set is what makes it allowable and safer.

[Homie]

Thanks Reinhardt !

[Capt. Hook]

All within reason! For one thing you cannot handle a boat by yourself if in the surf. If the sea was nice and I had help launching, I'd still do it! But from somewhere like Vetchies, for sure!

100% agreed, I have launched at DBSC on my own before and this will depend on conditions, if a large NE swell is running into vetchies you cannot do it alone.
I have also surf launched alone at other places but have needed a ground crew to help turn and hold the boat.