Fishing on extended trips, whether from a head boat like the Continental Shelf or from a smaller private vessel, is fun and cooler-filling, but doesn’t come without its challenges.
Showers and beds are absent from most head boats, which makes for some dirty and weary anglers, but Capt. Dave Tilley said it has never been a problem on his extended trips.
“We have plenty of bench and floor space for napping, but nothing saves the day for a sore and tired angler like a good beanbag like an E-SeaRider beanbag,” he said.
Allen Double of Newport, who fished with Capt. Tilley on last fall’s 48-hour trip, said he uses Wet-Ones to keep himself relatively clean throughout these trips.
Another challenge, always present when more than one rod is in use, is line tangles. It’s unavoidable, but a few tips can save a lot of trouble.
“When anglers get tangled, the best thing for them to do is keep their line tight and let one of the mates untangle them. We do it every day and there is a bit of a science to it,” said Joe Dowell, first mate on Continental Shelf. “Also, when you drop your bait to the bottom, let it rest on the bottom, but don’t let your bait drift or it will drift back to the next person’s line and tangle every time.”
When an angler near you hooks up to a big fish, reeling your line in will decrease the chance of getting tangled while he battles with his fish.
Sunscreen, hats and good polarized shades are must-haves for these trips, and anglers are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, but the Continental Shelf does operate a galley with hot dogs and hamburgers, a variety of snack foods, and plenty of cold drinks.
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