Fishing season in South Florida is available nearly all year long, so it is always time to get your yacht ready for fishing! When you make the needed preparations, your time on the water will be more productive, which is what every fisherman wants. While you may not have the skills and practice needed to perform quite like the professionals, you can increase your chances for fishing success – whether just for fun or in a tournament – with these tips for getting your yacht ready for success.
Pre-Fishing Preparation
Whether you are heading offshore or staying inshore for your fishing excursion, you want to plan well so, well, you can focus on fishing when you reach your selected “fishing hole.” All the yacht preparations should be done before you leave the dock. Take the time to perform this simple pre-fishing checklist on your yacht before you head out:
- Engines and fluid levels
- Batteries
- Bilge pumps
- Safety gear (For additional safety, consider having your crew and your guests, have a small light source (like a chemical light stick) and whistle in their pocket.
- Electronics and lights (for night fishing)
- Ground tackle
- Spare Parts (belts, fuel filters, water-pump impellers, etc.)
Next, check the rods and reels, every outfit which will be used on your fishing excursion. You don’t want a chafed line or a knot to spoil your big catch. Inspect all lines, guides, and leaders, testing and setting drags. See that your hooks are sharpened, and ensure you have the needed hardware – weights to swivels – and everything in between. Another great way to prepare is rigging lots of baits beforehand. Doing so will increase your chances for fishing success, as will having spare rods ready.
Practice Fishing
If you are inviting friends for a fun fishing excursion or entering a local tournament, take a least one practice run beforehand. It can help you scout the area, test your equipment and your technique, find productive locations, and more. You’ll also want to check water temperatures, fishing reports, and current movement to enable you find the fishing hot spots.
If you are fishing offshore, you’ll want to add a check of offshore conditions to that list. Keep in mind that deep-water structures and currents create rips, eddies, and other turbulence which collects bait and the larger predators which feed on them. If you are participating in a tournament, be sure to attend the captain’s meeting to get acquainted with the rules and be made aware of any changes. Know the requirements regarding sport fishing in your location.
The Marina at Lighthouse Point Yacht Club
With these tips you and your yacht are ready for fishing, and Lighthouse Point Yacht Club is the ideal starting point for your next excursion. At the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club, you will find a marina that is professionally staffed and maintained with fixed wooden docks featuring 100, 50, AND 30 AMP slips.
As a members’ only property, members can obtain permanent dockage or live-aboard status, but the club welcomes traveling yachtsmen and women. As a five-star marina, the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club promises premier service to permanent and transient yachters.
Conveniently located, Lighthouse Point Yacht Club offers mobile fueling services at competitive prices, as well as a parts concierge program featuring local marine suppliers, in-slip pump out, and high-speed WI-FI. For special cruises, the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club culinary experts promise delectable party platters featuring hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.
The Club’s marine management team and select vendors ensure the best experience for members with long-term maintenance programs and expertise. With an incredible club, staff, technicians, and divers, Lighthouse Point Yacht Club is the ideal locations for you and your yacht to begin all your adventures.