A Breaching Situation
I tried to keep the fish up on the surface and Walt came to the back of the boat with a gaff. Naturally, the fish did not want to cooperate, and over the next several minutes we hassled with line and leader – all the while forgetting about the boat.
It was just when Walt gaffed the fish and started to bring it over the gunnel that I realized we had allowed the boat to get into a breech position. That means the boat was sideways to the wave action, and it meant some serious danger if we did not act fast.
The weather guessers may forecast three to five foot seas, but even if they are right, there are always several rogue waves that can cause damage to a small boat. Sure enough, and eight footer came up on the back side of the boat.
A Broadside Dilemma
As Walt struggled to lift the fish, the boat lurched sideways, tilting almost ninety-degrees. Tackle, rods, ice chests, and anything else not tied down slammed against both our legs and the other side of the boat.
The, as the wave rolled under us, the boat lurched back the other direction on the backside, and everything that had move starboard immediately moved to port, including Walt and myself. Oh yes, the fish came with us as well.
We were extremely fortunate in a couple of respects. As we began our port migration, Walt was able, on his way to the deck, to guide the fish into the now open cooler. Dolphin are not the kind of fish to give up a fight just because they came into a boat. That fish – a small bull about thirty pounds – thrashed and kicked, throwing the gaff up into the air. The gaff landed in the boat with no harm done as I climbed up onto and closed the ice chest. Walt in the mean time crawled up to the helm to get the boat headed back into the oncoming swells.
Both hinges on Walt’s 123 quart Igloo cooler were broken as I sat on the top trying to regain my sense. I believe it was pure instinct that made us do what we did in that fiasco.
Walt looked at me and I looked at Walt. Neither of us spoke but I think both of us were thinking the same thing. That was one close call.
The Bottom Line
Since that time a number of years ago, I have been in a position to have the same thing occur. Luckily, I realized the situation and got the boat headed back into the wind. I have also had the opportunity to tell others what I am telling all of you now. And that is simply this – there is no fish important enough to make you leave the helm in heavy seas.
I have been on charter boats backing down on a billfish in heavy seas, and even in a 54 footer, it can be disastrous if the captain is not in control. In a smaller boat, you are asking for big problems. Always make sure you have someone at the helm when fighting a fish in a small vessel. Never allow the boat to breech, and try to keep the bow into the oncoming waves. Heavy seas in a small boat can and will ruin not just a fishing trip.
