So I went out today about 17 miles and bottom-fished a couple of reefs. I didn't get a single bite. Other boats were out there complaining on the radio that they weren't catching anything. A guide captain spoke up on the radio and said that the cold front and storms from the previous day had mucked everything up
I left the boat ramp at sunrise. I had never launched a PWC before and didn't realize I would be getting wet feet to launch it. I was not prepared for that. I ended up wearing scuba boots all day with cold wet feet. 55 degrees F or 12.7 C is what the water temp was. The outside temp was 57 F or 13.9 C when I left and 67 F or 19.4 C when I got back. I also made a mistake and left my gloves and thermal ski mask in the foot well. Those were now wet. I wore wet gloves and didn't wear my thermal ski mask.
I learned a couple of things.
1. I must use fenders when docking. PWCs are much lower than a boat.
2. Reversing is not the same as a boat. It is backward.
3. You can go MUCH faster on a PWC than in a boat in the same wave conditions for the most part.
I had an amazing time. I am so glad that I just jumped right in and went for it. 17 miles offshore on my first trip out alone was pretty fun. I wasn't nervous. The seas were rougher than expected. 4 foot swells at about 8 seconds apart. I ran in Eco mode on the way out at about 30-31 MPH. I fished for a couple of hours and then headed back in. I ran in Sport mode on the way back in. I was doing about 41 MPH on the way back. Once I got back into the waterway I hit the 2-hour mark on the engine and I was able to go 56 MPH. I put a little over 2.5 hours on it today and went 57 miles total. I LOVE this and can't wait for warmer weather when the fish bite starts up.
Unfortunately, I didn't get any quality videos. I had a knock-off GoPro on my life vest but the mic got muted and I didn't notice it and it was very bouncy being attached to my life vest.
Can you folks give me some advice on mounting an action camera and how you are doing your filming?
Thank You from Up Above,
Aaron
Newbie PWC fisherman with a 2024 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy from North Carolina, United States