“As a senior and a veteran surf angler, use your acquired knowledge and experience to good advantage.”
If you are lucky in life, you get older and live to experience your senior years. As an elder, you can fish smarter, safer, and successfully if you can manage and adapt to the wrinkles associated with aging.
There are factors that influence your fishing abilities when you get older, both physical and mental. Almost all of my fishing is done in the surf; but whether by boat or by beach, it’s always important to play it safe. Respect late-season cold and wind that can trigger a medical emergency if you have pre-existing health conditions. Remember to take all your medications before heading out to fish. Carrying a cell phone with you onto the beach or a boat gives you a lifeline should a medical emergency pop-up. Use life experiences to your advantage.
Dress for the Weather
The biggest threat to any angler’s health and well-being is extreme cold, but the summer sun provides its own dangers to anglers of every age. Summer necessities are basic: some kind of hat, strong SPF sunscreen, plus clothing and high-quality sunglasses that provide reasonable protection from harmful ultra-violet rays. Staying hydrated during the summer heat is essential for many reasons, especially if you are taking certain medications.
Cold weather coupled with strong winds are a very serious threat to all anglers but more so to seniors, especially when high winds magnify the wind-chill effect. Wear more clothing than you anticipate needing: you can always take layers off if you are too warm. If you underdress for the cold you are going to have an uncomfortable – and perhaps even a physically threatening experience – whether fishing from a boat or from the shoreline. Waders are valued during cold weather surf fishing because they not only keep you dry, they help to keep your body warm. Wearing several layers of clothing topped with a slicker helps to keep your body both warm and dry as well. Warm hats may not always look manly but they surely keep you warm.
Seniors with heart or respiratory issues should also wear some kind of face or mouth shield to somewhat warm the cold air being inhaled in order to protect blood vessels associated with their lungs and hearts from constricting, which can trigger a medical emergency. Body warmers work wonders in combatting extreme cold for anglers of all ages during arctic cold conditions; small hand warmers inserted into fishing gloves help to keep your fingers comfy. Bring a change of clothes with you whether you will be fishing on land or on the ocean in case you somehow get drenched from precipitation or take a spill in the surf.
Also, make things simpler and more manageable. Use lightweight but strong rod and reel combos; carry just what you need onto the beach or boat to put less of a burden on your body and to reduce the drain of your energy reserves. When surf bait-fishing, use your bucket as a make-shift seat while waiting for fish to find your bait rigs; when working lures, carry a small plug bag with a minimum number of lures. When fishing from a boat, take breaks inside the cabin from the action to refresh your senior body, especially during very cold weather.
As a senior and a veteran surf angler, use your acquired knowledge and experience to good advantage. Follow the marine weather broadcasts so you can select a day good for fishing that also accommodates your physical capabilities and limitations. Pick your days; be smart enough to sit out (or sleep in) days when either you are not up to the task of fishing or Mother Nature is going to exact a steep toll on your body while you are fishing. Observe all the safety rules applicable to anglers of all ages, plus others that are age-appropriate.
If you are a senior and can still fish, consider yourself lucky. But be smart, too. You will never be 21 again – when you were able to fish all kinds of weather and put great demands on your body – so be kind to the veteran body that you have.
Accept your Age
You are what you are, whether you are 65, 75, or older. Respect your surf or boat fishing accomplishments over your career. Fishing is not a sprint; it is a marathon, done over a lifetime. Savor every day you can have sand or structure under your feet or calm seas under your keel.
Know your Limits
Fish with friends whenever possible. Join one of the many fishing clubs that are found throughout the state so you can share elder tactics with other senior anglers. Know what you can do, and what you should not do. Always make safety your first priority. Respect the water; it can be your friend or a deadly adversary. Remember, it is better to fish with restrictions and cautions than to not fish at all.
