Fishing in Thunder and Lightening

[Gerry Zagorski]

Last few posts about the weather forecasts always being wrong brought up a memory when they were right for once...

Me and brother Joe decided to head out even though the forecast had some scattered thunderstorms in it. We stayed close and fished the Hook just in case. The afternoon came around and so did the storm cells. Although they weren't big widespread storms, we had a small but intense cell pass close to us. Not a lot of wind or rain but some pretty loud cracks of thunder an lightening. We stopped fishing for a bit since we figured it wouldn't be smart having 7 foot lightening rods in our hands and took cover under our hard top to wait it out.

Joe says to me "Your hair is standing straight up" and I look over at him and say "So is yours"... Then we start hearing this strange crackling and hum noise coming from the hard top and see this wild looking blue and orange glow ball the size of a beach ball at the base of the VHF antenna mount. It's the weirdest thing I ever seen and looked like something out of a Sifi movie.

As a precaution, we kept low in the boat, turned all the electronics off, did not touch anything metal and other than having to change my underwear the storm passed uneventfully. Later after doing some reading, I found out we got really close to taking a lightening strike with all the static that was in the air and the blue glow which has been know to happen on boats and planes.

Here's a good article if you ever get caught out in a storm https://www.boatingmag.com/surviving...ile-boating-0/

[LotsobitesBB]

When in doubt don't forget to pray.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by LotsobitesBB

When in doubt don't forget to pray.

Yes some of that going on too!

[Broad Bill]

Two stories I remember involving lightning strikes or close encounters. Was fishing years ago on an evening trip out of Sandy hook, can't remember what boat I was on. Thunderheads came through and we're fishing right across the channel from the TC Buoy. Looking right at the buoy, huge flash and the buoy took a direct hit from a lightning bolt. Loudest sound I've ever heard and when all was said and done smoke was actually coming off the top of the buoy. Absolutely crazy scary.

Second time like Gerry I was down in Manteo North Carolina. Thunderstorms were coming through and I made the mistake of going outside and across the street to a dock to take a closer look at weather conditions. My hair went straight up. No blue light or glowing balls or anything like that but you're just waiting to get hit. If you ever have the misfortune of it happening to you, it's one of the strangest feelings you'll ever have.

When I saw the TC buoy get hit, I don't see how anybody ever survives a lightning strike. The damn thing looked like it was on fire there was so much smoke coming off the top. Something to keep in mind when you get these hot dog days of summer followed by cool evening weather like we're going to have tomorrow. No time on the water is worth that risk.

[shrimpman steve]

Bring me my brown pants.


Maybe st Elmo’s fire or ball lightning

[PortlyRedhead]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

Bring me my brown pants.


Maybe st Elmo’s fire or ball lightning

100% St. Elmo’s fire

[Gerry Zagorski]

Saint Elmo's Fire is what I read some other people calling it that had the same experience...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo%27s_fire

For what it's worth my brother has never been the same.. He hasn't caught a fish since, can't grow figs, has an overwhelming desire to write bad checks and refuses to keep coolers clean

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Two stories I remember involving lightning strikes or close encounters. Was fishing years ago on an evening trip out of Sandy hook, can't remember what boat I was on. Thunderheads came through and we're fishing right across the channel from the TC Buoy. Looking right at the buoy, huge flash and the buoy took a direct hit from a lightning bolt. Loudest sound I've ever heard and when all was said and done smoke was actually coming off the top of the buoy. Absolutely crazy scary.

Second time like Gerry I was down in Manteo North Carolina. Thunderstorms were coming through and I made the mistake of going outside and across the street to a dock to take a closer look at weather conditions. My hair went straight up. No blue light or glowing balls or anything like that but you're just waiting to get hit. If you ever have the misfortune of it happening to you, it's one of the strangest feelings you'll ever have.

When I saw the TC buoy get hit, I don't see how anybody ever survives a lightning strike. The damn thing looked like it was on fire there was so much smoke coming off the top. Something to keep in mind when you get these hot dog days of summer followed by cool evening weather like we're going to have tomorrow. No time on the water is worth that risk.

That'll certainly get your attention...It's not like you're safe in a marina either. One of my boat neighbors antennas got struck and it disintegrated it and worked it's way through the boats electrical system and wiped out all his electronics. Thankfully he was not on board at the time but had some very costly repairs.

Seems like there's no rhyme or reason to what get's stuck as there were several sail boats in the marina with a lot taller masts and antennas than his.

Lightening looks to ground itself so if you think you are in danger of your boat taking a hit, the best thing to do is not become a ground. Stay away from anything metal on your boat that can conduct electricity. This includes steering wheels, out riggers, top supports etc and hopefully the ground path it takes to the water does not include you...

[gypsy]

Saint Elmo's Fire, were you after the white whale ??

[Capt. Debbie]

And making promises to God for your safety you know you're never going to keep? I have more than once at sea.

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Yes some of that going on too!