Captain Jim Wormhoudt
Cleansweep Charters

Fishing with your family or with buddies is a great way to spend the day sharing old fishing stories, enjoying a picnic on the water with your favorite beverage and of course the competition of who catches the first, most and largest fish. That being said, stalking and catching fish alone provides a certain stimulation I liken to finding an arrowhead in the woods or getting an unexpected check in the mail.

Hemmingway’s Santiago didn’t have a boatload of help with him when he battled the massive marlin, just he in a small boat and his prey. There was no cell phone or digital camera to record the action. His trophy of course was only a mangled skeleton upon his return. Fishing from shore, from a kayak or small boat is often done alone and a story about an angler being towed around Nassau sound atop a surfboard by a sizeable tarpon a few years back comes to mind because some of your best and most memorable catches seem to occur when fishing alone.

Offshore angling by yourself brings a whole new set of dangers and excitement because you have no help in case of an emergency. A ”SPOT” locater or an EPIRB, a motor kill-switch lanyard plus all the required safety equipment, including one or two VHF radios and a cell phone are strongly recommended. Give those at home a float plan and a time you should be home so if you are unable to contact them in the event of an emergency, they will know approximately where to send help. Those who are new to fishing and boating, or unfamiliar with the area should not go it alone. Sea Tow is also a good investment.

Managing lines while trolling alone designates that fewer lines be deployed and when that inevitable solo doubleheader happens you’ll need to leave one rod in the rod holder with a loosened drag until you can bring the first fish to gaff, while driving the boat at the same time. Taking pictures with all this going on is a challenge but necessary if you don‚Äôt wish to end up like Santiago, with no proof of your accomplishments. Fishing alone isn’t for everybody, but it is a great way to relieve stress, clear your head and enjoy quiet and solitude at its best.

If fishing solo doesn’t appeal to you; I will happily be your guide.
Captain Jim Wormhoudt
Cleansweep Charters
904-753-0882

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