Safe Salty Dog Radio Etiquette

[corrirod]

Let's all agree that when we're out sharing the same water with other Salty Dogs or Ifishers that we make our presence known over the radio. The reason I say this is because I've heard many people talk about the fact they heard me on the radio but I never knew they were out there because they just listened.

The only reason I want to know you're there is just for safety, both yours and mine. If we are out on the water lets check in and check out as we come and go. Doesn't have to be anything formal just something quick. Could go something like this:

"Hey this is Corrirod on 78, any Salty Dogs or Ifishers out here?"
"Corrirod this is Pilar on 78"
"Hey Pilar, I'm out here at the N. end of the Rockpile fishing for salmon, I'll let you know if I find any."

And then later if I want to leave I would say:

"Pilar, this is Corrirod on 78"
"Go ahead Corrirod, this is Pilar"
"Pilar, I think we're going to head in now, how much longer are you going to be out here?"
"We're going to hang out here for another hour or so but no later than 5pm"

Now Pilar knows the time I started to head in and I know the approximate time Pilar wants to head in. If one of us doesn't make it to the dock we at least have some history as to what the plan was and where to start looking.

If you don't let us know you're out there then we won't know if your in trouble.

We've got to help each other out there because that's all we've got.

[Hawg Caller]

Good idea,I often just listen,don't know why,but that is a good habit to get into.Ill start checking who's out there more often.

[Mark Mc]

Along the same lines....folks are often asking for or exchanging lat / long locations. At times folks are giving the seconds to THREE decimal points. This is so not necessary, and makes it harder for the listener to remember / write it down. For tuna waypoints (and usually salmon too), all you need to give are degrees & minutes, like 44 deg 55 min X 124 deg 49 min. One minute west up here is 0.7 miles. If you say 124.49.2, now you are accurate to .14 seconds, or 1/8 mile. This is as detailed as you'd ever need to get for salmon or tuna. If you say 124.49.253, now you are adding useless digits. I've listened to people ask 2 or 3 times for someone to repeat all those numbers, because they just couldn't remember them well enough to write down or plug into their GPS. The only exception would be (1)if someone was lost in the fog, and those last 2 digits might matter (but a salty dog would never get lost in the fog, right?) and (2) you were sharing a very exact waypoint for a small pinnacle.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Corrirod, this is Sea Lion. I copy and understand. Monitoring on 78, out...

[WP]

Rod and all,
I agree that communicating is a good way to be safer and "connected". I try to talk to everyone who is out in the area I am fishing. Some don't seem comfortable with chit-chat so even a brief contact and communication to maintain contact is a good thing.
As an addition to Mark's comments, if you are all in the same general area, you don't need the degree numbers either. They will be 44 or 45 and 124 or 125. I find it easier for tuna to just give the minutes and sometimes the seconds. Common would be 56 top and 57 bottom for 44.56.*** by 124.57.*** . Some times I give the first digit of the seconds such as: 56.4 and 57.5. If there is confusion it can easily be cleared up. The less transmitted, the less chance for error or miss hearing. Being hearing challenged, I appreciate the suscinct version. The seconds and tenths will change quickly anyway, and the degrees don't change much at all!
Just a thought, WP

[Tacklebuster]

Good post and great idea