Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us Being safe offshore in the summer | Outdoor Board
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Being safe offshore in the summer

Posted on 5/29/25 at 7:04 pm
Posted by freshtigerbait
Somewhere
Member since Oct 2023
659 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 7:04 pm
All,

I have made many runs out into Breton sound, chandeleur sound, Bay Eloi, black bay, during prime storm season (June, July, August) and typically anytime I see dark clouds form, I haul arse back to the launch because f***k getting a wet arse/ dealing with big waves in a small boat. Normally (depending on how bad the low pressure system is), typically get ran off at around 12 or 1 pm


For those that go offshore, and you see nasty weather out in the distance, what do yall typically do? If you even see rain in the forecast, do you even go offshore?

I’d assume you’re a lot further out than I would be (and have zero protection for miles) if I’m say, by the MRGO rocks or the marsh at deer island at black bay for example.
This post was edited on 5/29/25 at 7:09 pm
Posted by CP3
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
7551 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

For those that go offshore, and you see nasty weather out in the distance, what do yall typically do?


Use radar or XM weather to see if you can get out of its way. If not then just park under a rig and wait it out (doesn’t sound like an option for you)

quote:

If you even see rain in the forecast, do you even go offshore?


Yup. Unless it’s supposed to be really bad.


But I can’t help answer your case really. I guess I would probably lower my antennas and put rods in bottom of boat, then try to find somewhere to tuck and cover lol

Posted by freshtigerbait
Somewhere
Member since Oct 2023
659 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 7:43 pm to
We have a bigger boat now. i've taken a flat out into bay eloi and MRGO on calm days, but kept a very close eye on my surroundings. I have been caught in a freak thunderstorm in the flat boat before. Winds picked up to about 30 mph and stinging rain in my eyes. i was terrified, to say the least. Prayed the hail mary the entire way back to hopedale marina. we made it back safe and sound.

We have a bigger (24 ft deep v hull with plenty of transom and gunnel height) boat now. we have radar on it as well.
This post was edited on 5/29/25 at 7:46 pm
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
40736 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 8:37 pm to
I once fished so many days in a row in Delacroix that we went to buy shrimp one morning and the bait guy said, “Are y’all crazy? There’s a tropical storm coming inland in a couple of hours.” This is before smart phones and we didn’t have internet or TV. Drove back to New Orleans and Cindy hit. This was about a month or so before Katrina.

Looking back, I have no idea but it was 8+ days we’d been there…
This post was edited on 5/29/25 at 8:38 pm
Posted by freshtigerbait
Somewhere
Member since Oct 2023
659 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 9:15 pm to
Gotta go to know!
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71581 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 9:15 pm to
quote:

For those that go offshore, and you see nasty weather out in the distance, what do yall typically do?


Depends. I dont like having ugly shite between me and the land so if its north of me, im probably going to bail. As long as its not between me and the launch, I'll keep fishing. Of course if I have cell service, I'll make a decision based on the radar. I do my level best to make sure there's no chance of lightning between me and the trailer.

quote:

If you even see rain in the forecast, do you even go offshore?


Yes, my decision to leave the house or not is almost entirely dependent on wind. We always check the radar a few times before we get to the launch and again before we get out of service. We've had to turn around at the pass, accept that it had gotten shitty for no reason, and load the boat back up and go home. Did that twice I think. Unfortunately when you have a 24' single screw bay boat you just have to accept your limitations.
Posted by sonoma8
Member since Oct 2006
8118 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 9:36 pm to
But did yall catch bruh???
Posted by freshtigerbait
Somewhere
Member since Oct 2023
659 posts
Posted on 5/29/25 at 10:39 pm to
This happened last summer

We woke up at 3:00 am. Checked the radar. Saw this, said screw it, got Waffle House
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
16783 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 7:40 am to
It’s not going to make the rain go away but if you are worried about accidentally sinking the boat and being stranded maybe think about a plb?


LINK
Posted by Galactic Inquisitor
An Incredibly Distant Star
Member since Dec 2013
18452 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 7:50 am to
quote:

Unfortunately when you have a 24' single screw bay boat you just have to accept your limitations.


I have a 23' cat and still don't play around with rough seas. Even if the boat can handle it, that shite is miserable. I've been caught in a squall in a 28' cat and it sucked.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71581 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 7:55 am to
I can tell you from experience a 280' boat feels small in the middle of the ocean when the weather starts blowing up.

You are absolutely right. Being out when it feels like someone is punching you in the kidneys and spraying you in the face with the washdown hose for hours on end is not fun. If the marine forecast isnt 1 foot or less, im probably not going.

Unfortunately those dead calm hot as hell 1 foot or less days are when you turn around to see that 1 single white poofy cloud turned into a big purple arse kicker while you had your back turned.
Posted by TopWaterTiger
Lake Charles, LA
Member since May 2006
12121 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 8:02 am to
quote:

This is before smart phones and we didn’t have internet or TV. Drove back to New Orleans and Cindy hit. This was about a month or so before Katrina.


As I first read this I say no way. Then looked it up. Damn time has flown.


Side note. My best tuna trip out of Venice was about two weeks before Katrina hit.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71581 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 8:07 am to
quote:

XM weather


Yall find this works well? I've kicked around getting it for a couple years but I dont know anyone who has it. Good substitute for real radar? Is it live?
Posted by bearhc
Member since Sep 2009
5784 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 8:20 am to
I have a 19ft bay boat that handles rough water pretty good, but I always keep on eye on the weather. During the late spring and summer months, I will venture out into the waters around Comfort Island and other small islands in that area. If really bad weather gets between me and the launch I will get on the lee side of an island and sometime pull up on land. I had a really bad experience several years ago when several waterspouts popped up around us. All of a sudden a very cool strong wind started to blow, and my friend and I decided to head in. We got caught in torrential rain and heavy winds. We made for the nearest protected water but the waves were really bad. The key is to get the bow into the waves and go slow and steady. When we made it back to la Loutre, terrible lightning also kicked. The bad weather lasted all the way back to the launch. We put the boat on the trailer, and got out of the rain just around the high rise.
Posted by OGhunter777
Member since Mar 2012
907 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 11:02 am to
Don't mind rain or seas while offshore fishing. Hate the lightning, though. Typically fishing our of a 34' for Tarpon either on the east or west side of the river or close platforms for red snapper. Hate the summer time squalls because most of them have significant lightning.
Posted by freshtigerbait
Somewhere
Member since Oct 2023
659 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 11:09 am to
That is what i was thinking. fish close rigs for snapper during summer. just out of port eads. if i was at mc-109 and saw squalls i would be terrified
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
47393 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 11:11 am to
quote:

XM weather Yall find this works well?
saved my arse many a time offshore. Many a time
Posted by CP3
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
7551 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 11:11 am to
It’s pretty good. I want to say weather updates are in like 10 minute intervals at least as of a year or so ago. If it’s not live it’s within like a 10 minute delay, but it does show forecasted radar too I believe.
It’s definitely worth it if you want weather away from land.

Although if I did it again, I’d probably just get a starlink mini instead and have WiFi offshore and use phone app.

I think my XM music + weather package was like $70/month. Maybe a little less because I had bundled with truck XM.





This post was edited on 5/30/25 at 11:13 am
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
40736 posts
Posted on 5/30/25 at 11:23 am to
quote:


But did yall catch bruh???


The trout bite was straight fire and got better each day leading up to the storm. It was my friend's dad's camp and we were out for the summer at LSU with nothing better to do.
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