A Dumb Move and a Smart Move

1st Mate Joined: Aug 22, 2007 Posts: 77

I went out yesterday to bottom fish with a few friends. It was rougher than expected but we anchored anyway. After catching 7 sharks in 15 min we decided to go to a new spot. Put on the anchor ball and we were ready to go.

Dumb Move - I ran over the anchor line and it wrapped around my engine. It was like anchoring from the stern. In order to raise my engine, I had to drop the transom. We then began taking on water.

Smart Move - We cut the anchor line. It easily came off the prop.

Our forward momentum under power quickly drained the water overboard.

While I am not very proud of my experience, I am posting this as a reminder to everyone - be safe, smart and careful out there. Take a minute to think of the mistakes you may have made in the past that could have cost you dearly. It may save your life tomorrow.

By the way. Our feet got wet too and it was a long, cold ride home!

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject:

hate to hear that, you have to be carefull with the anchor ball. the wet feet will make you feal numb all over.
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Robby

Level-5 Fishing Team

23ft Seafox

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject:

Smart Move...

Screw the Anchor, the rope and the ball...cut the rope!

On the starboard stern I use a SMALL rope (breaks easy if stressed too much) with a clip on it.

As I run around the rope....I clip it with the rope.

This makes it impossible for the rope to go under the boat and into the motors.

Same clip I am using here!

http://fryingpantower.com/content-6.html

Dave
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Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450

Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject:

Captain Joined: Jan 29, 2005 Posts: 299

If you fish much, we've all done it at one time or another . Just takes more guts to admit it. I did it once when I was running outboards and it wound the rope so tight in the prop housing we had to pull the prop to get the rope out. Packed it so tight we couldn't even cut it out!!!

Like Capt Dave said, if you going to drag anchor, take the time to hitch it up at a stern position to keep it out of the water and away from under the boat. Also, pay attention and don't circle back on it!!!
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Fish On Capt Butch www.yeahrightcharters.com www.southchathamtackle.com www.powerbuoy.com www.bluewatercandylures.com www.precisionautoreels.com www.islandtacklehardware.com www.irtreels.com www.life-safer.com www.boneyardbaits.com

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

Carrier Cooler,
Like Butch said, those of us that have fished enough have made a mistake or two. Glad you are OK, and think you did a good thing posting this to help keep others from getting into the same situation!!!

Robby,
I don't know if this is exactly how Dave does his, but here are a few pictures of how I do it. The small rope will break before the anchor line and serves 2 purposes: 1.keeps the anchor line out from under the boat, and 2. will break if you fly the anchor into something that grabs it so the force will be transfered to the bow, and you don't pull your transom under. Hope this helps,
Midnight

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 5:58 am Post subject:

One more thing I forgot to mention. I think it's a good idea to write your contact info, or your boat reg number on your anchor ball.
Might could be a safety thing, but also might help get it back if lost. I have found and returned 3 in the last several years.
Good Luck...............

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:35 am Post subject:

Midnight,

That was what I was talking about. I do mine off the stern on the starboard side.....but it is the same idea. The small rope is stort enough that the anchor rope can not go under the boat.

Dave
_________________
Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450

Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!

Ol'Salt Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 1041

I do it like Dave, have the securing rope off the starboard stern and short enough it can't get in the engines, turning around off the rope someone holds it and lets it get pulled out of their hand, I use the starboard side to keep the anchor rope on but it depends on which side you drive from and or can watch the rope come along esiest.

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:37 am Post subject:

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

Ol'Salt Joined: Dec 10, 2008 Posts: 102

Great info. Thanks for posting all of this useful information!
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Cheers, JACK B
Nautic Star 2110 Bay w/ Yamaha 150 4-stroke

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject:

You guys are absolutely a wealth of information! Thanks!!
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Jay
\"J-Hook\" - Cobia 260 W/A

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

I edited my ealier post to include a link to the article that I left out....

DUH!

http://fryingpantower.com/content-6.html
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Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450

Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:41 am Post subject:

I do the same thing that Dave is doing use a rope off the stern cleat. start off at an angle to the rope and use a gaff to pull the anchor rope to the boat, then put it on the stern cleat rope. With the big boat I always use the port motor if the rope was on the starboard side, that also helped keep it out of a prop
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210 Kencraft 150 hp yam 2008
2010 218 dlv (sold)
Pursuit 2870 offshore (sold)
twin 200 hpdi
Y-Knot
Capt John

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject:

Grouper fishing about 20 yrs ago off Clearwater FL I watched a headboat team ski their anchor behind the boat moving around a hardbottom area several times. They moved three or four times until the "correct" spot was located. No anchor ball used but they were giving anchor line WIDE berth.
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There I was 40,000 ft one burnin and one turnin

1999 24 Albie-16 Tracker-12 jonboat-17 Mohawk

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:25 pm Post subject:

I bet that was a sight to see. I do not think I would try it off a headboat but I have done it many a time off of a 56 foot sportfish.

Dave
_________________
Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450

Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!

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