Your Worst Day of Fishing

[Gerry Zagorski]

Well some wanted it so here we go...

We had a 25 Carolina Classic we bought new and it was cursed from the start. 5 Engines in 5 years and every time we took it out you were just waiting for the next shoe to drop.

I took my Son Brain and his Buddy Edgar and his young son out fishing, his son couldn't sleep the night before he was so excited to go. We get out of the marina, I go to bring the boat up on plane and all of a sudden I hear some loud knocking and the boat fell off plane. We barely managed to limp back into the marina and at the dock we sat fishing for snappers hoping to catch something for the kid, but not a sniff.

There is however a happy ending. While up on land and just getting ready to throw more money at it for repairs, along came Super Storm Sandy. Thankfully we were insured and I remember celebrating when I got the call from the insurance company to let me know it was totaled and put an end to our misery.

Thank you State Farm...

[Duffman]

I’m 53, fishing since I was in diapers and literally have been sea sick once in my entire life. 1982-83 ish on the Royal Flush outta wildwood. Nite blue fishing trips that ran 8 hours back then from 7 pm til 3 am. Started puking when we cleared the inlet and it kept up until we docked. My father forcing water on me to at least keep a little hydration going. I swear I’d rather be dead than go they that again!!!!!:D

[AndyS]

By far the worst day fishing was on a small charter boat on the Great Lakes near Oswego for salmon with Duffman and Raymond. Trolling in the morning produced nothing. As the warm August day wore on the thunderstorms with cloud to lake lightning became numerous followed by big waterspouts all around us. I asked the captain his game plan at this point, he said if it gets worse we will lay a course to go further out on the lake. I told the captain, uh, no, we need to lay a course for port, which he did as I was ready to punch him in the face. Took us almost an hour to get to the marina in the white chop. On land all the power was out due to lightning strikes. Never went up there again after that.

#2 Was on a large party boat for tuna. It was my brother in laws first tuna trip. We departed in a stiff NW breeze. Sun came up and you could barely stand up. Took us 12 hours to get back to dock as the captain had to throttle back on many of the large waves. Needless to say it was my brother in laws LAST tuna trip !

[Ol Pedro]

Early July 1986. I was a charter guest on the Pacifica out of Long Beach. My friend Carl and I made the drive from San Diego and got to the dock in time to see them get in from their last trip. They offloaded some nice Longfin and Skippies. We shoved off When everyone showed up in the evening then pulled up to the bait receivers. The capt. hated the pinhead anchovies and called the baitboat to see if what they had wrapped was better . So off we went to the seiner. They picked up 50-60 scoops of decent anchovies from the net and off we went to what we thought was the Tanner Bank for Longfin and Skipjack.
The Capt. changed plans when he got a report from his sistership that the Bluefin Tuna were going nuts on the west side of San Clemente Island. The seas were calm, it was clear, and peaceful. Around dawn she hit the Island going fullspeed!!! Now all 65 foot of her was part of the island. The bow was touching a sandstone bluff!!!
I had just got to sleep when I was slammed into the front of my bunk. Physics suck when your the egg hitting the wall. I stumbled on deck, fell, and hit the side of the bait tank. I couldn't stand or see from my right eye, my abdomen hurt like hell, and my legs felt like I was beat with a bat.
They moved me to the cabin deck. Carl kept pressure above my right eyelid to stop the bleeding. I realized that my front teeth were shattered when I couldn't get that copper taste of blood out of my mouth. I could only feel stumps where my teeth once were.
I laid there for what seemed to be an hour when we could hear a copter coming. You could feel the thumping as it hovered above us. I could hear the boots of the EMT as he was lowered on the bow deck and walked to the stern. He checked my vitals, taped me up, and moved to the other two injured passengers.
They lowered stretcher for me, loaded me in, and carried me to the bow for extraction. The EMT told me to keep my eyes closed, my arms crossed, and don't move. Just after the lift started the stretcher clipped the bluff and I started to spin. Before I had a chance to get scared the Crew Chief was pulling me in the door. He gave me a headset and a chalkboard to write answers. He asked where it hurt as I wrote he sent down the basket to pick up the cook. I could hear the whole rescue. The last thing that I heard was the Pilot saying that we were going to Scripps Hospital.
I came to when the copter landed. I could see a male nurse in white over me. He said that it was going to be bright outside and ignore the camaras.
The ER story is another adventure. When my wife took me home I had 46 stitches in my face, two shattered teeth, couldn't stand on my own, had the spins for days, and a sore unit from the cathidor. The ships Cook had a messed up ankle and had to take a bus back to LA.
I went to Dentists/Oral Surgeons for two years and had to sue the boat when they Lawyered up and didn't pay any of the bills. The Captain and Second Captain both lost their tickets for six months. The Second ultimately lost his forever a year later. Stuff happens when you fall asleep at the helm. The Pacifica was floated, repaired, and was back fishing the next year. She is still fishing.
God truly blessed us that day. Thank you Coastguard for coming to get us and for all you do. My wife had a feeling that that trip would turn to sg?t and it did. She reminds me every time there's a swell or it blows over 20kt.

[Merle31483]

2 years ago a southern taug trip.
Forecast was NW 15 to 20 gust to 25.
Seas 6 to 8 feet. On a 90 foot head boat no problem. Was greated at the grounds by a sustained 30 mile per hour gust and 8 10 footers and building. Never been so sick in my intire life. Texted my wife and said I loved her and good bye cause didn't think we were making it back. Finally felt good fished for 10 minutes heard a pop boat started swinging port side. Starboard anchor line exploded and was lost. Horn blew we all went inside deckhand said our starboard anchor is gone and we are heading back in. I said Thank God!!!! Got back to dock a full refund was given and that was that.

[NJ219bands]

Went fishing with my 65 year old neighbor Gus when the dolos were being installed on the Manasquan Inlet north jetty. He walked out on the jetty to near the end, cast out his line into the ocean, sat down, then died from a massive heart attack.

[CODCHALY]

I told my Wife about this Thread, and both agreed, never a worse Day. BUT
Kat said tell them about Your Funniest.
I trailer boated from Philly to Leonardo, a 17' BOSTON WHALER, 1993.
Grown Man I took with me, had his 19 year old GF call me @0100hrs
wanted my Insurance INFO, cause he was headed to ER, for Sunburn, I caused

[CODCHALY]

I been on Boats that broke down, two that sunk, but FACT I'm here typing, I just can't think of worst Day. I'm alive !!! Guess it's love of Sea.
PIC, my Mom's Home town, St John Newfoundland

[JMo1986]

Pedro wins. That's crazy.

I cannot recall one day specifically but I used to get seasick in anything over 2-3' swells. Had about 2 years of going down to the shore fearing death and sleeping all day to avoid puking my guts out. Thought about selling all my gear and sticking to freshwater but I kept at it and tried different combos of diets, medications, etc to figure it all out. It became very mental but I finally got over it in most fishing situations. Seasickness is no joke.

[CODCHALY]

Old Pedro is a Trip. Legendary, like Bat Matterson of Fishing.
I never even heard of that Trip He Posted.

[Ol Pedro]

Old Pedro is a Trip. Legendary, like Bat Matterson of Fishing.
I never even heard of that Trip He Posted.

Charlie, surviving a long time and being a legend are two different things. You told me that I could write a book. That was the short version of what happened. It would take two chapters just for that incident , what led up to it, and what happened afterwords. I keep telling myself to write it all down in a book now that I'm retired.

[Duffman]

Holy **** Pete that’s gotta be the craziest shit I’ve ever read!!!!

Just curious…. Who pays for the air lift ? Your med ins ? Theirs? That’s shit can’t be cheap !!

[Ol Pedro]

Duff, the Coasties don't charge for rescues. In the begining my work insurance covered part of it. It didn't get me far. On my third visit to an Oral Surgeon he informed me that " My insurance was tap city" and I would have to pay cash to continue treatment. I called my sister Sylvia who was a lawyer and she gave me her lawyers ph#. I called him, he came to my house, took my case, made one call to the Surgeon , and I was set to go back. He also said that he had all the medical personnel that I needed and he would set me up if I chose. I should get to healing and not worry about a thing. I called the Surgeon and told him that his services were no longer needed and to send my records to my Lawyer. Two days after the wreck the boats insurance co started calling the house. I couldn't understand why the Capt. or anyone other than a lawyer ever even tried to contact me to see how I was doing. I saw 25-30K in hospital bills that I passed off to my Lawyer. I also had Dental/Oral. Surgeon work for around two years. Ultimately we settled out of court and I got 46K after everything. Their fault they pay.

[BigRock44]

Took a vacation to the Cayman islands a while back with my wife, daughter and friends. Decided we would rent a boat and spend the first half of the day all together, then me and Al (my wife's friend's boyfriend) would drop all the girls/women off and spend the 2nd half of the day fishing. Boat was a 26 foot center console and VERY expensive to rent - this guy i think was the only show in town so he was getting top dollar, but we figured what the hell, let's do it. Spoke to guy on the phone and set it all up, and was told we would be responsible for any damages. Wasn't too thrilled about that but figured I'd be careful driving the boat and what could go wrong? :rolleyes:

Had a nice day out with everyone and soon enough it was time to go fishing! Dropped off all the girls/women. Been waiting for this moment for days now and off we went out past the barrier reef and the drop off, into the blue water. We cut the engines and drift. 15 minutes into fishing and Al boats a nice spanish mackerel. I've got my line in the water waiting for something to hit and turn to Al and he's not looking too good. Looks pale and says he feels like he's gonna toss his cookies. Dammit! I can't believe this, we just got out here and there goes our fishing trip. He says he'll try to tough it out, but not wanting to torture the poor guy, I make the decision to head in. Go to start the engines and when I turn the key the whole key ignition falls back into the console. WTF?!!! Finally able to fish it out, got the boat started and we head back in. Getting closer to the dock and we hear a bang come from the back end of the boat. Another WTF moment. I throw it in neutral and we go to the back of the boat to take a look and see the swim ladder is still down. Must've just banged against the transom as we were running we thought, so we put it back up and throttled back up but one of the engines was revving real high. Hmmm, that's weird. Ah well, we were almost back so I throttled that engine down and we eventually tied up to the dock.

Guys come with trailer to get boat and Al says he'll go back and settle up with them while I pack the stuff from the boat on the dock into the car. Before I know it he comes back in a panic and says they found something wrong with the boat and we need to go back there immediately. Get there and the owner says the lower unit on one engine is severely damaged. Oh crap. Trying to negotiate with the owner the cost of repairs I sense Al getting tense/nervous and before I know it Al bursts out and says "Can we just give you a thousand dollars and call it a day!" In disbelief he blurted that out and before I could get another word in the Owner says "Sure!"

Turns out we hit a coral head. Ended up costing us two thousand dollars that day for rental/repairs. :(

[Gumada]

Back when I was a young buck, a few friends and myself played cards drinking homemade wine all night. One of the guys gets this great idea to jump on a party boat out of belmar to do some fluking. Get there, get on and out we go. There was a slow significant swell that day, nothing crazy. We fished, I didn’t feel my best as I would expect. It was the Big Mohawk I believe that gave free hotdogs to the fares. Well once I got a whiff of those hotdogs I projection puked the rest of the day, never have I hurled like that until then or since. Only time I ever got sick at sea. Hit the dock felt fine and stopped at the diner on the way home.

[Capt Sal]

Back when I was a young buck, a few friends and myself played cards drinking homemade wine all night. One of the guys gets this great idea to jump on a party boat out of belmar to do some fluking. Get there, get on and out we go. There was a slow significant swell that day, nothing crazy. We fished, I didn’t feel my best as I would expect. It was the Big Mohawk I believe that gave free hotdogs to the fares. Well once I got a whiff of those hotdogs I projection puked the rest of the day, never have I hurled like that until then or since. Only time I ever got sick at sea. Hit the dock felt fine and stopped at the diner on the way home.

Big Marie S was the hot dog boat.

[Pennsy Guy]

Charlie, surviving a long time and being a legend are two different things. You told me that I could write a book. That was the short version of what happened. It would take two chapters just for that incident , what led up to it, and what happened afterwords. I keep telling myself to write it all down in a book now that I'm retired.

Pete, WRITE IT--Key West, San Diego, here. Everything! That'd be a volume and a great read. Learned so much from you and you never realized you were teaching!!!

[Ol Pedro]

Pete, WRITE IT--Key West, San Diego, here. Everything! That'd be a volume and a great read. Learned so much from you and you never realized you were teaching!!!

It's a two way street Chuck. We feed off each other. You have a goldmine in your journals. You could print them. My grandson Chris is helping me get the right program and a way to print/store it.

[Pennsy Guy]

It's a two way street Chuck. We feed off each other. You have a goldmine in your journals. You could print them. My grandson Chris is helping me get the right program and a way to print/store it.

But mine have some fantasy or a mixture of various trips in them and written out of boredom when the snow flies...some are all fantasy... You have lived it all!!
I just go on "Word" with a blank page, start and see where it leads...print it and file it with the others..At any rate, have fun with the memories. ;)

[beachwhistle]

Last Friday!

[Gumada]

Big Marie S was the hot dog boat.

Thanks Capt Sal, knew it was Big something..🤣

[stugots]

Fished the Resor a few years back during a hot August daytime chunk yellowfin bite. Went 0 for 8 on solid yellowfins. As good as the action was, hands down worst day of fishing due to coming home empty.

[jmurr711]

any day with this guy

[kurtisb]

A couple years ago I got invited to do a January tog trip on the Steel Leader by T. The owner had moved his boat from Brielle to his home somewhere around Silverton. We headed south early only to find that the 37 bridge is not manned after 1/1, you need to call 6 hours ahead, if you need the bridge opened. We turned around and headed north to the canal. 4 guys climbing like monkey to take down the out riggers and antenas, so we could get under the bridges. So-so day of fishing and we headed back to Barney, because the captain now had the bridge master's phone number. And we run aground on a sand bar. After some negotiations from 7 captains on board that have coverage with TowBoat USA they agreed to help us. They were docked 200 yards away. After an hour, they got us free and the bridge guy had hung out for 3 hours to let us back under. 22 our tog trip, home to home

[baseballman]

I don't want to name names...but years ago, we took a party boat out of a Southern NJ inlet for stripers/blues in late Oct. and an inexperienced captain (boat still operates, with a great reputation, but the capt. is different) drove us all the way up to the Flynn's Knoll area of the Raritan Bay. The boat caught exactly 2 bluefish and spent most of the day beyond the 3 mile line. It was a 3/4 day trip, but thanks to our sightseeing cruise, we got back to the dock at 6pm.

The only reason I am inclined to give this person/boat any slack is I think it was early in the season, the year following Sandy. Things were weird and the fish were scarce (particularly in his backyard), but at some point I think you just have to make a call that it's not happening for you instead of chasing a bite 30+ miles away.

Runners up:
- Snapping a new surf rod on my first fish (8 lb blue) on it last year
- Multiple early spring Raritan Bay surf trips where the fish had lock jaw and I lost many, many lures.