Coast guard or 911

[badfish88]

When you call 911 for a water emergency, the dispatcher Fwds you to us anyway. Quicker to hail us on 16. Or. Cell phone call the station @ 732-899-0130

[dfish28]

Originally Posted by badfish88

When you call 911 for a water emergency, the dispatcher Fwds you to us anyway. Quicker to hail us on 16. Or. Cell phone call the station @ 732-899-0130

Good info- I think that's the manasquan station right, do you have the other numbers handy, it would be a good thing to store all on our cells?

[Madgriffer]

Barnegat Light station is 609-494-2661.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Some more on the subject from our Fishing Saftey and Etiquitte article above under the Article drop down menu.

VHF radios are a must even if you plan to stay inshore. Don't leave the dock with out one. Besides being able to radio for help the coast guard and most towing companies are equipped with radio direction finders. They can use your radio signals to help locate you. Cell phones are a great back up but coverage can be spotty inshore and nonexistent off shore.VHF radios are also handy to be advised of any changing weather conditions.

Channel 16 is used for emergencies. Keep this channel clear of all idle chit-chat. Once you establish communications with assistance on 16 switch off to another channel. If you can't raise the Coast Guard on channel 16 you are likely out of radio range. Your best bet now is to switch to a channel that most boats in the area monitor. High 60s and low 70s are good bets here in NJ. Once you make contact with another boat see if they can contact the Coast Guard for you since they might be inshore of you and be with in radio range and act as your relay. They might also have a single side band radio which is much more powerful then VHF and should be able to contact the Coast Guard no problem.

There are 2 types of distress calls you should be familiar with Pan-Pan and Mayday. Pan is used to report a possible problem and Mayday is to be used if your boat is in immediate need of assistance due to sinking or fire. If reporting a mayday turn your radio to channel 16. Here is an example of how you'd do it:
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
This is the fishing vessel Off The Hook, fishing vessel Off The Hook, fishing vessel Off the Hook.
Fishing Vessel Off The Hook approximately 3 miles SE of the Ambrose Tower.
Struck submerged object and taking on water and do not believe we can stay afloat for more then 1 hour. We are a 25 foot white hull with a hard top and 4 persons aboard.
Maintaining watch on channel 16
This is the fishing vessel Off the Hook over.
Repeat until someone responds

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

When you vcall a Mayday everyone is responding in YOUR direction with Direction finders. FORGET THE CELL PHONE. Cell is back up.

Also any boat in your area can respond. Unless you know everyone's phone number... youre digging yourself into a deeper hole. And SOL!

The Cell is LAST RESORT.

Exactly.... If you are in serious trouble VHF is your best chance of getting immediate help.

[NoLimit]

If you need assistance right away dip your net in the water and start screaming "Keep the tip up - Loosen the drag"

Repeat that three times and you will have five boats around before you can say it a fourth time.

[shrimpman steve]

That's funny!

[Gilligan]

What about boats that don't have names. How do you address yourself in that situation ?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Just say leave of the boat name.

[badfish88]

Originally Posted by dfish28

Good info- I think that's the manasquan station right, do you have the other numbers handy, it would be a good thing to store all on our cells?

Yes. That's manasquans direct number