Chapter 16

Sea Survival

THE OPEN SEA

Helpful Fishing Hints

16-59. Your fishing should be successful if you remember the following important hints:

• Be extremely careful with fish that have teeth and spines.

• Cut a large fish loose rather than risk capsizing the raft. Try to catch small rather than large fish.

• Do not puncture your raft with hooks or other sharp instruments.

• Do not fish when large sharks are in the area.

• Watch for schools of fish; try to move close to these schools.

• Fish at night using a light. The light attracts fish.

• In the daytime, shade attracts some fish. You may find them under your raft.

• Improvise a spear by tying a knife to an oar blade. This spear can help you catch larger fish, but you must get them into the raft quickly or they will slip off the blade. Also, tie the knife very securely or you may lose it.

• Always take care of your fishing equipment. Dry your fishing lines, clean and sharpen the hooks, and do not allow the hooks to stick into the fishing lines.