Launch a Clean Vessel

Whether you plan for a day of recreational fishing fun or a trip that means several days at sea, preparation can mean the difference between a pleasant, successful trip and a dismal failure … whether or not the fish are biting.

Start your fishing trip with a clean vessel. There is little more satisfying for a boater than welcoming friends aboard a neat, clean vessel. Guests also feel safe and at ease when they board a well-maintained boat.

There are lots of products out there that can help you spiff up your vessel. Heller Glanz offers every product you will need to prepare your boat for a day at sea or a season of fishing fun.

At the trip's end, also give your boat a quick washdown to remove traces of fishing slime and make the next trip more pleasurable.

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Check updated marine weather forecasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association warns of dangerous weather conditions through major organizations such as the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Information is updated every 1- to 3-hours and the broadcasts are repeated continuously. If a weather emergency or danger presents itself, special alerts and warning information is broadcast.

NOAA weather reports can be found on one of several VHF high-band FM frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 megahertz (MHz) ... specifically, Wx-1 162.55, Wx-2 162.4, Wx-3 162.475.

• Make sure your radio is in good working order and that it meets Coast Guard regulations. For example, according to the US Coast Guard, "the power output of your radio must not be more than 25 watts.
• You must also be able to lower the power of your radio to one watt or less.
• Your radio must be able to transmit on 156.8 MHz (Channel 16), 156.3 MHz (Channel 6) and at least one other channel.
• Your radio must be type accepted or certified by the FCC. You can tell a type accepted radio by the FCC ID label on the radio.

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Radio Channels and Use

Marine VHF channels are divided into categories that are determined by the type of messages broadcast. The most commonly used channels include:

• Channel 16 - DISTRESS SAFETY AND CALLING - To get the attention of another station (calling) or in emergencies (distress and safety).
• Channel 6 - INTERSHIP SAFETY - For ship-to-ship safety messages and for search and rescue messages and ships and aircraft of the Coast Guard.
• Channels 96, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 794, 804, 677 - NONCOMMERCIAL - Messages must be about the needs of the ship. Usually, messages concern fishing reports, rendezvous information, and repair and berthing information. (Use Channels 67 and 72 only for ship-to-ship messages.)
• Channels 13 and 67 - NAVIGATIONAL - (Also known as the bridge-to-bridge channel.) Messages must be about navigation with other ships. Messages must be short. Power output must not be more than 1 watt. This is also the main working channel at most locks and drawbridges.

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• Inspect life jackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs). Stock at lease one for each passenger aboard.
• File a float plan with someone ashore. Providing emergency personnel with an itinerary can dramatically increase the chances of being found trouble on the water.
• Check flares to make sure they are in working order.
• Check the bilge and test the pump. If the bilge needs cleaning, consider one of the premium brand cleaners available. (Heller Glanz also carries an excellent bilge cleaner.)
• Fill the fuel tank and bring spare fuel in safe containers. (Return to Top)
• Stock up on liquids (other than alcohol) to avoid dehydration.
• In addition to the food and drink planned for the outing, bring extra water and easily stored foodstuffs such as crackers or energy bars.
• Stow fishing knives and other sharp objects in a secure area to avoid accidents.
• Don't forget the sunscreen and insect repellent. Sunburn and insect bites can ruin a fishing trip within hours of launch. One particularly impressive brand of insect repellent is a new product called GreenHead Fly & Insect Repellent. The relent contains the highest concentration of DEET allowable by law and its formula mimics that used by the United States military. Greenhead is also the relent of choice for the Atlantic City Lifeguard Patrol and other lifeguard groups.
• Encourage your guests to wear hats or other head coverings to prevent sunstroke.

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Fishing License

• Check fishing regulations for the areas where you plan to fish. If heading for fresh water, be sure that you and your passengers have appropriate licenses for that state. License requirements differ by state. For example, states such as Florida and Alabama, require fishing licenses for saltwater and freshwater. In fact, anglers must possess both licenses or a "combo license" even if they fish in estuaries where fresh and saltwater commingle. Other states do not require saltwater fishing licenses.

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