Eyes in the Sky

One of the many great things about fishing is that because you are usually away from everyday goings-on, you often see things you would otherwise miss. That can be nature - kingfishers fishing and porpoises playing are two of my favourites - or out-of-the-ordinary events with a human connection. Today while I was fishing about 8 miles off-shore I was used as a marker by a very fierce looking Navy helicopter on some test or other, which was entertaining while it lasted.

Then I was buzzed by racy-looking surveillance plane piloted by someone who had obviously been brought up on Biggles, because he came round again and did a series of low passes (and I mean low!) while he had a good look. Those two events were more memorable than the pesky little tope that seemed to be queuing up for bait that day.

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Damage Control Kit

Seafish, the organisation responsible for much of the safety training for commercial fishermen, has launched an initiative to help prevent an emergency on board turning into a disaster. Apparently most fishing boat losses are as a result of swamping. Seafish have developed a "Damage Control Kit" which is simply a box containing useful stuff that could help prevent a boat that is filling with water from actually sinking. The official list is obviously for bigger craft than most of ours - it contains a tarpaulin, saw, axe, etc. but it did make me think the idea would be useful on a smaller scale for the average angling boat. I have known two people who have very nearly had boats sink under them just because water was going through a broken hatch in the splash-well: simple enough to fix if only you had the necessary!

Here are my suggestions for a small boat damage control kit, to fit in a small lidded plastic box: a square of heavy duty polythene or a rubble sack; assorted stainless jubilee clips, assorted cable ties; self-amalgamating tape for fixing plumbing leaks: insulating tape, gaffer tape; string or strong cord; "instant metal" resin bond; squares and wedges of wood. If you had this and a well-equipped tool box you could fix up quite a variety of problems and get home.