Catch 22 wrote:
yip.. and its something I never quite will understand, the selfishness of most skippers down here. when they come apon fish it suddenly becomes theirs and nobody else must find out the fish is coming up. that I think is the reason for their anti social behaviour when at sea. casual conversations is out. we dont need a radio where we may have lenghthy conversations with other for they might just find out where we are. we only need vhf in case we in trouble. I wonder why they answer the phone if it rings.
I monitor and speak to quite a few commercial guys - not on 71 or 69 - on the lower simplex channels to find out where the fish is. always short and sweet conversations on vhf ( once again just in case someone else is monitoring) but we chat for hours on ssb.
I am luckily in a position where I go fishing and then after I return I have a braai with friends and chat the night away,so I couldnt be bothered.
BUT, its nice to have any radio on the boat should there be a crisis.
I remember the 80's in Mossel Bay when my grandfather was the radio operator for the NSRI, we used to sit at his house and listen to all the conversations and "coded" comments" on where the fish was biting.
yip.. and its something I never quite will understand, the selfishness of most skippers down here. when they come apon fish it suddenly becomes theirs and nobody else must find out the fish is coming up. that I think is the reason for their anti social behaviour when at sea. casual conversations is out. we dont need a radio where we may have lenghthy conversations with other for they might just find out where we are. we only need vhf in case we in trouble. I wonder why they answer the phone if it rings.
I monitor and speak to quite a few commercial guys - not on 71 or 69 - on the lower simplex channels to find out where the fish is. always short and sweet conversations on vhf ( once again just in case someone else is monitoring) but we chat for hours on ssb.