Planning Your Day On the Water

Going out on a fishing trip with your best friends or family is a wonderful way to socialize and maybe catch something delicious for dinner! Heading out onto open water early in the morning when it’s peaceful can be a soothing way to begin your weekend. 

Any marine excursion you take requires a little planning to ensure it goes well and that no one wants for anything when you’re in the middle of the lake. Your local boat dealer, Surfride Marine, is located in Mesa, Arizona, and we’ve got all the knowledge you need to have a successful day out on the water with your friends and family. Read this guide to prepare yourself for your upcoming fishing trip!

Health Concerns

One of your top concerns should be the health and welfare of your passengers. You definitely don’t want anyone getting sick or feeling off. One cause of marine malaise is the heat. Sunlight can be amplified by the water, necessitating sun protection in the form of wide-brimmed hats or sunglasses. Apply water-resistant sunscreen to all exposed skin and reapply as necessary. Prevent chapped and sunburnt lips with a high SPF lip balm. Bring plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated. If your boat has a T-top or other shelter, spend as much time under it as you can to reduce your sun exposure on a hot day.

Another culprit when it comes to ailing health is cold temperatures. Even if the temperature is warm on shore, it can be several degrees cooler out in the middle of the water, which means you’ll want to layer up and pack jackets and blankets for everyone. Keep spare clothes to hand in case someone gets wet so they can change into dry clothes. Warmth is especially important for any children you may have on your boat, as they will suffer from the cold more than adults, and are more prone to get wet.

Finally, you’ll want to pack plenty of snacks to keep everyone sated while you’re out on the water for hours at a time. Fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts and jerky will all keep very well in a cooler and provide necessary sustenance. You could even pack sandwiches if you want to lunch out on the water.

Passenger Safety

You should stock your boat with several vital pieces of safety equipment. The most important piece of equipment is a life jacket for every passenger aboard. These should be worn at all times, especially by children. A throwable life ring on a rope is handy for anyone who falls overboard. Bring a first aid kit stocked with medicines and bandages to address minor illnesses and injuries, perhaps including some ginger or Dramamine for motion sickness. Bring emergency supplies like a radio, flares, a map of the area and a compass just in case your GPS or phone powers off or fails to get a signal.

Check the weather forecast before you head out. You’ll want to avoid boating in harsh conditions like snow, heavy rain, hail, lightning storms and high winds. Hot and cool temperatures can be tolerated to some degree, but if it looks like a miserable day is ahead weatherwise, then you would do well to defer your trip to another day.

Let a trusted friend, family member or neighbor on shore know where you’ll be boating and how long you intend to be gone so they can contact authorities if you don’t reappear at the appointed time. This will help rescue crews to find you sooner.

Fishing Tips

Make sure your boat is also stocked with all the fishing equipment you’ll need. Rods, tackle box, lures, needle-nose pliers and a net are all useful tools to have. Live bait will work best for any type of fishing, but if this is inconvenient due to a lack of baitwell or way to store the bait, then lures will do. Handle your bait with clean hands since fish are sensitive to smells and will reject bait that smells too strongly of people. 

Pick out some ideal spots for fishing in advance. Different fish prefer to swim in different depths of water, so using a depth finder to locate those areas can save you time that you can use to net your big catch for the day!

If you still haven’t found the boat you’re looking for, then come down to our showroom to see our wide array of new and used boats for sale. Our experienced staff can help you narrow down your options so you can leave satisfied with a boat that will serve you well for years to come. Surfride Marine serves the whole Phoenix metro area as well as nearby Gilbert, Arizona, with our dealership in Mesa.