if you knew you were going to be stranded at sea on a life raft for an
extended period of time (lets say, 30 days) with no help of outside aid
and had plenty of water but no food whatsoever, what equipment would
you take with you given that it was something you would have to be able
to carry with your hands? a rod and reel? what type of lure? a net?
dynamite would be a possibility if you want to be silly, but only so
much as you can carry. fish finders would be allowed, but only with as
many batteries as you can carry again. The emphasis here is not on
morals or ethics, but on surviving purely off the ocean.

I've read quite a few accounts of people on life rafts at sea for long
periods, and once water is taken care of, food seems to be the biggest
problem. They try things like knives on poles, gaff hooks (if they are
lucky) but a lot of them simply rely on catching fish with their hands
or the fish jumping into the raft! does nature truly supply for the
needy? there must be a better way!

Thanks,
Shaun

The way I catch fish....I'd want cyanide tablets.

Line, hooks, weight and lures. Forget the Fishfinder, you'll be fishing
wherever you happen to be, not searching for the most likely looking spot.


"imagineero" wrote in message
ups.com...
if you knew you were going to be stranded at sea on a life raft for an
extended period of time (lets say, 30 days) with no help of outside aid
and had plenty of water but no food whatsoever, what equipment would
you take with you given that it was something you would have to be able
to carry with your hands? a rod and reel? what type of lure? a net?
dynamite would be a possibility if you want to be silly, but only so
much as you can carry. fish finders would be allowed, but only with as
many batteries as you can carry again. The emphasis here is not on
morals or ethics, but on surviving purely off the ocean.

I've read quite a few accounts of people on life rafts at sea for long
periods, and once water is taken care of, food seems to be the biggest
problem. They try things like knives on poles, gaff hooks (if they are
lucky) but a lot of them simply rely on catching fish with their hands
or the fish jumping into the raft! does nature truly supply for the
needy? there must be a better way!

Thanks,
Shaun

no bites for the net? it seems everyone favours their chances with a
line, but how many professional fishermen do it this way (i mean guys
who make their living selling fish every day at the markets etc). do
you really think you can catch enough fish with just a line and lure to
live off indefintely? any specific weight of line? anyone prefer a
wire leader?

imagineero wrote:
no bites for the net?

IMHO the surest way to survive would be to bring along a very fine mesh
net (a nylon stocking will do) and pull in plankton. It's yucky, but
it'll keep you alive. Drinking water is a bigger problem, which can be
addressed by either a solar still or a hand-pump RO unit.

Fair Skies
Doug King

imagineero wrote:
: if you knew you were going to be stranded at sea on a life raft for an
: extended period of time (lets say, 30 days) with no help of outside aid
: and had plenty of water but no food whatsoever, what equipment would
: you take with you given that it was something you would have to be able
: to carry with your hands? a rod and reel? what type of lure? a net?

If I "knew" (as you state), I'd bring 10 pounds of beef jerky. Then I
wouldn't have to worry about fishing for food.

b.