Staying Calm Saved My Life

[zimmy]

Thanks. It is important for us to hear these kinds of things,, which happen any night. Glad it was a positive outcome.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Rockfish9]

anyone that spends enough time on,in or along the water will eventualy have an "incedent"... most of us have and dont speak about it often... in these times... you have to be like a good quarterback.. the "game " must slow down... calm "underfire" can save your life.. and in this instance .. it proves it.. glad you are alive and no worse for the wear...

[Canalman]

Scary stuff man, glad you're alright!

I've had my own run in sort of like that, minus the hook in the arm, but I was in waders being pulled out into heavy current. Not fun at all. Staying calm is definitely the key to staying alive. The other key is getting right back on the horse before that fear sets in and lives in your brain.

Surfcasting is more fun than I can put into words--it's dangerous too--bad things rarely happen. But just like power tools, you have to respect and become intimate with that danger--the minute you lose all of your fear is the minute you should stop and remember stories like this one. I'm not saying we should let fear run our lives, but having just the right ammount of it, will keep you safe and keep you surf fishing for a long, long time.

Again Chef, glad you're alright. Well written story too.

-Dave

[american spirit]

glad you are okay. probably a good time now to plug any bags with clips that secure the flap, like the aquaskins bags. i can't see any wave squeezing a clip off. hopefully you got one now for the next wetsuitn trip.

scary story though. again glad you're alright.

[Pete_G]

Reminds me of my "one hook in the bicep, the other in a 28" bass" incident...

Glad you were able to stay focused and get through the situation.

I also agree with Rockfish - it seems most eventually have some sort of incident, no matter how safe they are, and sharing stories like this does help others avoid potential situations or get through one should the occasion arise.

[striper50trout]

Scary story Chef. Glad you are ok.

I was washed off the rocks by a rogue wave at Hazard last year. I was wearing waders and had a plug bag on my belt. I had to ditch the bag and belt. My waders filled up in seconds. My buddy also was washed off trying to grab me. Luckily there was a guy there who called 911.

My buddy panicked and tired within minutes of falling in. I stayed calm and swam to him to keep him up. About ten minutes went by before the firefighters arrived and threw out a life ring. I grabbed it and swam to my friend who was barely able to stay afloat. I hung onto him and the ring until the rescue boat arrived about a half hour later.

If I panicked we would both probably would have drowned.

The next morning I wanted to shake off the whole incident and went out with my back up rod and reel, because I lost my other set up when I was washed off. First cast that morning my rod snapped in half. I hope someone was not trying to tell me something.