FISHING THE BAY

I want to go up and fish the bay this spring I have a 16.6 ft alumacraft escape with a 20 hp wants your thought about it being big enough iam thinking as long as it not overwelling windy i b ok  do i need to have flares on board and or any speical regs for the boat for the  bay and want launch would b good thanks
 

Flare gun,fire extinguisher B class, coach whistle,life jackets,throw cushion. You should be good Your boats 16' or better,you don't have the wear life jackets while fishing under 16" you do. The bay is relatively safe for small craft boating of course common sense comes into play. Early season Panfishing is normally done at the head of the bay,S,SW, W winds are favorable but not necessary. I've seen the bay plenty rough,but light winds even up to 10-12 mph are very doable even in 12-14" car top boats. I fished for years out of a 14" car top aluminium boat,that I'd drag from the first parking lot, fish are very close from there. As to putting in I suggest Niagara launch for a boat of 16'. I'll be there Monday,it's going to be winter again but the bite was to good pass up. I hope there still biting but the weather might change things,that's why it's called fishing not catching.

Most ordered sum smoke flares via internet till I saw a few reviews saying they got flares with less than 50% life expectancy remaining. Said nopey to that idea. Prices varied widely also.

Look like the next trip to WallyMart I'll be checking date stamps on the flares.

As for botor moating between sunup and sundown (correct me if I am wrong) a distress flag is all that's required. Also a "marine radio" is no longer needed? I might just got me one of those handheld just incase some important spotburn info becomes available.


Big Tuna it is not likely I'll be heading to the big pond this week but sure will be in the near future. I'll let you know when I plan on going so you will know what day you may want to stay home. Otherwise, you can by the beer......10-4?😆


Thanks again for your help.

Treesparrow likewise, thankyou for the headsuup on the date stamp.

I'd likely save mine for firestarters in the man cave. The orange smoke coming from the chimney should keep my Amish neighbors at bay. 😏


PS. You can buy the beer too.😊

GeeeWhiz Captain I thought I was doing really good when I found what, is now required but now yinz tell me I gotta know where and when?

So I now need be looking for ifs, and, or, butts?


Great now I do need a beer, thank you very much..... you buying?😏

With the exception of the VisualDistressSignals for Lake Erie all other requirements are the same for PA waters.  As for the VDS exceptions in Presque Isle Bay I guess the following could be considered just that; if the Bay is less than two miles wide and/or, your craft is less than 16 feet.
 
 
 
 
According to U.S. Coast Guard navigation rules/emergency preparedness, boat operators are required to render assistance to a boat in distress to the extent they are able. When operating on federally controlled waters, boaters must carry VDS devices. This includes vessels navigating on federal waters such as coastal waters, the Great Lakes (including Lake Erie), territorial seas and bodies of water connected directly to any of these up to the point where the body of water is less than two miles wide. In Pennsylvania, VDS devices are required only for boats operating on Lake Erie. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise, boats less than 16 feet in length must carry VDS suitable for use at night. Boats 16 feet and over in length must, at all times, carry devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use or devices suitable for use both day and night. Approved day-use-only devices include orange smoke (hand-held or floating) and orange signal flags. Flares are approved for both day and night use. If flares are selected, a minimum of three must be carried. Three day/night signaling devices meet both requirements. All VDS must be USCG approved, have legible approval numbers, be in serviceable condition and be readily accessible. VDS are not acceptable if the expiration date has passed.
 
 
VHF RADIO AVHF (very high frequency) radio is used to communicate with other boaters,the CoastGuard, commercial vessels, draw bridge tenders and lock operators.  VHAF is not required to be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Recreational boaters are notrequired to carryVHF radios, butthey are highly recommended on larger waters, such as Lake Erie. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatestheir use. Recreational boatslessthan 20 metersin length are NOT required to have a station license to operate a VHF radio unlessthey travel to foreign ports or transmit to foreign stations. Use of aVHF radio is enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. There are many channels on theVHF, but recreational boaters are given accessto only a few.
 
SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES Motorboats less than 65 feet in length must carry some mechanical means of making a sound signal. This device may be hand-, mouth- or power-operated. An athletic coach’s whistle is an acceptable device for small motorboats. Operators of unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards) are required to carry a device capable of sounding a prolonged blast for 4-6 seconds that can be heard by another boat operator in time to avoid a collision. An athletic coach’s whistle is acceptable.
 
 Motorboats 26 feet or more in length are required to carry Coast Guard-approved hand portable fire extinguishers. Motorboats less than 26 feet in length, powered by an outboard motor and not carrying passengers for hire are not required to carry fire extinguishers unless they have one or more of the following conditions: • Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored. • Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or not completely filled with flotation material. Note: Open boats such as jonboats where an after-market solid wood or metal floor is installed and is not completely sealed to the hull are not required to carry a fire extinguisher. • Closed living spaces. • Closed storage compartments in which flammable materials are stowed. • Permanently installed fuel tanks.
 
 
Life Jacket AND THROWABLE DEVICE Requirements: • All boats must have a USCG-approved wearable life jacket on board for each person. • Life jackets must be the appropriate size for the person intended. Check the life jacket label to ensure it’s the appropriate size for the person wearing it. Also, make sure the jacket fits. See page 10 to learn how to check for proper fit. • Life jackets must be appropriate for the activity for which they are worn. See the USCG approval label for information. • Wearable life jackets must be “readily accessible.” This means they should be stowed where they can be easily reached or in the open, ready for wear. Throwable devices must be “immediately available,” which means that the life jacket shall be within arm’s reach of the operator or passenger while the boat is operated. A life jacket that is sealed in its original packaging is not readily accessible or immediately available. • All life jackets must be in good and serviceable condition and legibly marked showing the USCG approval number. This means the life jacket must be functional, free of tears or defects in the material, and all buckles, straps, zippers and other closures must be operable. • In addition to wearable life jackets, boats 16 feet and over must have a throwable device (ring buoy, life ring or buoyant seat cushion) on board. Canoes and kayaks, regardless of length, are not required to carry a throwable device. • A throwable device may not be used as a substitute for a wearable device.
 
 
I don't know if this information will be of help to anybody butt  after looking at the regs.............I need a beer!
 
 
 

Big T, 
Did you try any gulp 1" or 2" minnows?  They have usually worked on crappies for me and may be a nice alternative to bait up on the bay if you could get them going....
 
Sounds like you had a good time...