Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:32 pm
yngkmd wrote:personally i dont think i would be comfortable being tethered to a rock or a railing when fishing.
ive been fishing off rocks day and night for 20 years and never even come closing to falling in once, granted it wouldnt be the first time my foot went down a small crevice or i tripped over something but that was because it was back from the edge and i wasnt watching what i was doing. i ALWAYS give my full concentration if going anywhere near the edge and if its slippy stay as far back from the edge as is possible or practical.
safety is always a priority and i wouldnt think twice about leaving a rock mark if i though it was or was getting too rough no matter how good the fishing was, but at the end of the day accidents do happen no matter how safety concious you are or how well you try to prepare yourself.
Throwing a rope into the mix trailing about after me, i can image lamps, tripods and bags getting caught up and dragged over the rocks as well as an increased chance of cracking your skull when you trip on it and go head first onto the nearest pointy rock.
all i can say is whats already been said. fish it first in day time, preferably at high tide so you can see where the water comes up to and where the splashes\washes will be. or even go look on a really rough day when its too rough to fish as this would make the danger areas at lot easier to see so you know where to avoid.
also i think a lamp is invaluable, head torch is also a must but it only lights up a small spot at a time. i would always position the lamp behind me and on a slightly higher rock if possible as well so it lights up the area in front of me (between me and the rod and the rock edge) without me having it in my direct line of sight which can interfere with my night vision.
as for dont fish alone i think that would be down to the venue. there are places i would happily fish alone at night but these would all have realtively easy access and be moderately close to civilisation/car park. anything that involves steep climbs or trekking half a mile over jagged rock etc i would normally avoid at night, even if i was with someone.
finally, the BIGGEST mistake to make, and one some of us have come a cropper to (myself included when i thought i knew where i was standing and went down a hole and dislocated my thumb) is NEVER get complacent to the potential dangers, especailly if its a mark you are familiar with, over confidence can be a killer.