Fishing Alone

It’s been a while since I fished the Gulf of Mexico alone but after a recent day out there, I reflected on the pros and cons of solitary fishing and vowed to do it more often.

Thanks to my patient and saintly wife Amy, who also loves fishing and has won tournaments, I have a reliable fishing partner. However, when she’s busy in the studio, I usually find a buddy to join me for some guy time. On this latest trip, I went solo.

The first part of the day was a good reminder of the numerous reasons why it’s nice to have a fishing partner, beginning with launching the boat—especially on weekends when there are 30 cars in line and you’re blocking the ramp. (Best aim for the weekdays, when ramp traffic is slow.)

Alone, anchoring can also be tricky. If you anchor the old-fashioned way (at the bow), you have to be quick and nimble-footed enough not to trip over something during anchor duties. This was underscored recently when, a few hours after launching, a fast-moving thunderstorm with rain and lightning had me seeking refuge under a bridge with 7-foot clearance. Nice and snug under there, but wind gusts of 30 knots soon hit and the anchor began to drag. It was run to the bow to pull anchor and then back to the tiller to goose the boat away from pilings, before re-anchoring out in the rain and then paying out enough rope to keep the boat under the bridge. There was no room for error.

When the rain backed off a few hundred yards, it was pull anchor again and bolt for the boat ramp, tying to the dock in choppy water. The car was only 40 yards away and it was time for lunch.

Hours later, anchored under blue skies and landing eleven nice redfish in ice cream conditions, I pondered the positive aspects of fishing solo.

From a personal perspective, being alone with my thoughts—away from the clamber of social media and city life in general—was good therapy. Similar to “forest bathing” (which has nothing to do with soap and water, but hiking), recent studies have shown that being in the elements is a good way to slow down, letting the wind, water and tide reconnect with our senses. Which may help explain why, when fishing solo, I’ve noticed that new fishing ideas and techniques surface more readily.

Fishing alone allows me to move the boat to a new spot or run offshore a couple miles without discussion. Without time restraints, either. There’s nothing more annoying than fishing with someone who waits until you’ve made that first cast before announcing he “promised the wife” we’d get back by midday. (I had a friend who did that often and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t his wife he was rushing home to.) When alone, there’s also no one to spit tobacco juice, light up another cigarette, vape a big cloud of smoke while you’re driving, or blow their nose, claiming they’re “almost over” that latest Covid variant.

Another reason: My gear is exactly where it’s supposed to be and as minimal as possible—no extra clutter from an extra cooler or a guest tackle box with six trays or four extra rods. Just exactly what I need.

With all of that said, boating novices should plan to bring a partner until they really get the hang of things. Two pairs of eyes are always better than one when it comes to navigating, troubleshooting, watching for hazards or spotting fish.

The same is true for wade fishing alone, which is contemplative and pleasant. When fishing the surf, it’s a good idea to stay within yelling distance of other waders. There are hazards out there and you might need help. Unpleasant scenarios include sharks tugging on your stringer, unseen jellyfish with a powerful sting, stepping off into a deep channel and getting swept offshore on an outgoing tide, or getting snagged by a treble hook and unable to swim back from the third sandbar.

On the boat, the most important thing to remember when alone is to wear a kill-switch when driving, in case you topple overboard. This doesn’t only happen to “old guys” who stroke out. Wearing a self-inflating life vest that inflates on contact with water is obviously a good idea and can be a life-saver. And if you fall overboard while relieving yourself and no dive ladder, who you gonna call? Boats are sometimes found running in tight circles, proof that someone passed out and toppled overboard, sadly found days later. Bring that P-bucket and stay in the boat.

Curious what others think of solo fishing, I asked a couple of buddies to weigh in on the subject. They’re both kayakers, who obviously fish alone.

Al Clements, 77 years old, says he’s adopted a hybrid approach. “Do I fish alone? Yes. Launch alone? No.”

Al uses a tricked-out kayak that is heavy with gear. Without a trailer, he makes sure he has another kayak buddy nearby and they launch and meet up again at the ramp. “You should always have someone you can call,” he says. Instead of cell phones with unreliable service, he uses a handheld VHF radio.

“I used to launch and fish alone, but with today’s extra equipment options (he uses side-scan sonar and a 3-horse electric motor), my kayak is too heavy to launch alone. I always have a serious kayaker or two who wants to go. We usually fish out of sight of one another, and don’t get in each other’s way. We don’t even see each other, but I can call my buddy a mile away with the radio and let them know what’s going on, what the fish are biting on, water temp and clarity, etc.

“I love fishing alone. Nobody tells me what to use. You know what you’re doing and why and don’t have to explain. It’s quiet; I can listen to nature. No radio, no talking, nothing. I don’t have to entertain anyone or worry if they’re comfortable.

“If someone calls with a problem, I’ll answer. (Recently he brought extra water to a fishing buddy who didn’t bring enough.) I’m a fishing nerd and take it seriously. I stay out as long as I want. Gone from the house from dark to dark. But I have a lot of fun, meeting new people at the marina after cleaning fish. I give them advice where the fish were biting today, but tell them I can’t predict tomorrow.“

Another fishing buddy, John Byatt, fishes a lighter low-tech kayak by himself, frequenting shallow water shorelines and out a ways, and he’s had some real workouts when the wind shifted. He wears a self-inflating vest and recently bought a small 6-watt VHF radio for safety. Says he can hear other boats talking back and forth.

“Sometimes you just want to go exploring without the perceived pressure of catching fish,” says Byatt. “I can try a new technique and if it doesn’t work out, there are no witnesses. Fishing for me has to be enjoyable. It’s nice fishing with people you get along with; there’s nothing worse than fishing with someone who’s grating on the nerves. Also, sometimes I wake up in the morning and say, ‘You know what, I’m going fishing today.’ When you don’t have to organize anything but yourself, it’s nice.”

While our approaches to solitary fishing may be different, we do agree on one thing: be sure to provide a float plan with someone onshore, no matter the size of your boat crew.