The wonders of GPS

[Bruce Beath]

Yesterday I launched at 6h00 from RBSC for a trip to Petinga. This is a 14km run from home base. Due to the choppy waters (windguru predictions wrong) I opend up a bit to stay dry. On arrival at Petinga I discovered to my horror that I had lost my entire fishing rig. This consisted of the frame, four fishing rods, four reels, bait box with bait, live well and my rescue bottle fully kitted with flares, anchor and first aid kit. I was devastated as I thought all was lost.

I decided to backtrack with the help of my GPS (Lowrance M68c) and followed the track that I had travelled to Petinga all the way back. About 8km from where I started I spotted the safety bottle floating in the rough sea.

As I approached I noticed all my kit was still attached.

Learnings from this experience

Always check all attaching shakkels (spelling?). The one u joint had come lose.
Ensure all lose equipment is tied on to the rig. I had strapped in the rods, gaff and bait box with rubber tie downs.

This was my most profitable catch of the day.

 

[zahir.rawat]

Glad u got all ur stuff back

 

[Fishton]

That Lowrance has surely paid for itself.

 

[Serra Moz]

Lucky you! Lesson learned? Ensure all gear are properly secured and lashed down for sea.

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

You must have been a very happy camper when you saw your capsize bottle floating in the waves!

 

[Bruce Beath]

Thanks for all the positive comments. I was really worried as it was about R 15 000's worth of kit. The biggest concern was the possible loss of a new multiplier my daughter had bought me for Christmass. I had it spooled on the 28th.

I spent today buying new tiedowns and applied locknut to all my D shackels. I have also attached a safety harness to the rig to ensure if any of the shackels do come lose again that there is a final stop to any loss of the rig.

 

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Its also a good idea to secure your safety bottles, both my son and his mate have had their bottles lifted out of the cage when punching through foamies. The nylon rope that secures them to the cage then rips through the plastic of the bottle. the water gets underneath the bottle and just pops it out. Fortunatly all were recovered though one seagull legged member of team NGK had to be threatned with GBH before he agreed to return the bottle from the back of his bakkie.