Summer weather patterns have set in, and afternoon thunderstorms are the norm for July and August.
Fishing remains good in late summer, for sure, but don’t be too eager just to catch a fish that you run out of options when that big, dark cloud pops up, or you just might catch a beatin’ when you head for the landing.
Weather is unpredictable. Stormy weather can be very interesting to watch from land, but not so from a boat. Being extra cautious can often spare fishermen from being pelted by rain during an all-out run back to the landing. Pay attention to weather forecasts, but more importantly, pay attention to what’s happening in the specific area where you’re fishing.
Sometimes, there is a fine line between weather that is fishable — like drizzling rain and light wind, or straight-down rain with no wind — and weather that can turn threatening, such as black cloud edges on the approach with no electrical activity.
Experience teaches that those edges produce what is commonly called “dry lightening” — a bolt of electricity that can appear a bit ahead of the storm edge.
One such summer fishing trip involved a 20-minute ride from the landing to the fishing grounds at the edge of the ocean. Roughly three hours passed without incident under overcast conditions, with only a slight chop on the water.
It really looked like a great time to fish, with the clouds providing a break from the heat, and the flotilla of boats in the same location giving a sense of confidence, even when the first far off and infrequent rumbles of thunder were heard.
The fishing was slow, except for some sharks and other non-target species, but with the long summer day and the fact that it was a weekend, no one was in a rush to pick-up their lines. After several days of “splash-and-dash” thunderstorms in the afternoon, the forecast was for possible stronger weather to develop later in the day. For once, the meteorologists were right.
A white squall line rushed out of the ocean towards the fleet, and the lightning arrived with it. All at once, lines were pulled in and botas headed in mass up a nearby creek where a marina was located, everyone seeking a dry spot to wait out the shower. It was like the start of a fishing derby, with everyone speeding away and riding the crests of the boat wakes beside and in front of them.
From the safety of the marina, another wall of rain was clearly evident further up that creek, and while we didn’t need to go any further, clearly, that route was cut off. Both edges were a part of the same storm, and once in-between them, I was able to glimpse the top of the clouds from the first storm. An anvil cloud was bubbling up, and we could see that this was a storm that was brewing and growing.
We stayed in a rain-free zone at the marina for 20 minutes or so as the storm seemed to pause, and a bit of clear weather could still be seen inland in the direction of our home landing. But little did we know, our window of opportunity for a dry run was about to end. With thoughts of fishing again after the storm long gone, we held tight, and then the “unpredictable weather” sprung its evil plan.
Both storm edges starting moving again and were converging where the last clear weather was spotted, with lightning in front of both edges but more frequent behind them. Just then the marina got a call from a boater with engine trouble — “Can someone come get us?” they asked — and the dockhand explained they’d have to throw out the anchor and wait out the storm while he called a towing service.
It seems there is always a predicament worse than your own, so remember to keep a positive outlook in such situations.
As for our outing, we came to the conclusion that the day of fishing was indeed over and that we needed to get mentally prepared for a 20-minute run through the storm. The water was fairly flat as we skimmed across, but occasional slaps of the hull sent gushes of water splashing at the riders. When the rain intensity increased and began stinging or pelting our skin, one lady angler asked, “Is that hail?” No, thankfully it was not — rather it was large drops of rain reminding the veteran boaters of past storms that have been unpredictable.
There is nothing wrong with a little adventure while fishing, and if you haven’t fished in the rain before, you probably need to try it in order to experience the calming effect it has on the water’s surface. Don’t worry about the fish — they’re wet all the time! But if you do see strange weather approaching, why not make a retreat to a location nearer to your take-out point and fish a bit more while keeping an eye on the weather.
Boating accidents related to weather are not that common, but it makes sense to remove as much chance from the situation as you can. I liken it to climbing out of your treestand during deer season when an afternoon storm rolls through; sure, the deer might walk right after the rain, but sitting in a metal stand holding a stainless steel gun is iffy.
Fish all you can during summer, and each trip on the water will help build your experience and confidence for when you have to make a judgement call about safety — knowing that weather can be unpredictable.
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