USCG EMERGENCY FISHING KIT
 

Today at work we went and met up with a company that certifies life rafts. They replace what is expired and re-pack them so they will deploy in a emergency. The guy brought out a Coast Guard approved emergency fishing kit. Well since Im in the Coast Guard and love to fish I figured I should check it out. How would you do if you were stuck at sea and had to use this kit?

I thought they used to pack them with a bucktail in there? Can't say I've ever seen one so it's possibly just something I heard through the grapevine.

Never had to survive in a life raft. But wouldn't it be nice to have a Cuban YoYo in there to handle the line better. I would think you won't want to cut your hand on the line. Also something to help you handle the fish when you pull it into the raft. Would hate to puncture a hole in there as well.
When they set up the raft how long do you think a person would need to survive in it??? we also know that some had to live in a raft for months.

They would need to last as long as it takes to be rescued. The life rafts have water and some nasty form of food that taste like card board. Depending on the size of raft the food and water changes. The 10 person raft today had enough for about a week, but this raft was for a yacht.

That looks like you could catch many fish with that kit. Remember you would have lots of time to think about what to do and how to do it. You would be pre planning as soom as you got into the raft, if not sooner.

Good point Bob, I know I would want this job just to keep
Me busy. Time goes slow while waiting for a rescue.

Thats a great point. You could pull up mad fish if you had one of those in the KIT.

Just got to be very careful with sharp hooks around inflatable raft.

I'm assuming these rafts are heavy pvc material. Not so easy to puncture. A Sabiki would be #1 on my priority list of emergency fishing equipment.

wheres the 2 speed reel and mirage drive.:D

No tarter sauce? Butter? Wait.... No GARLIC SALT?!?! The originator of this kit must not have had much faith in actually catching something!

Pre planing, and thinking through possible problems serve a couple purposes, keeps your mind busy making time pass faster AND it lets you figure out ahead of time the steps you would need to take if things get worse. And that might save your life. And keeping your mind busy and positive you help ward off depression, which can be deadly in a survival situation.

I've got a small six person survival raft. They need to be re-certified(re-fit) every two-three years, maybe four years. Not cheap to do this! But if the time comes well worth the expense I'm sure. If I ever had to jump ship I would take a gaff with me, as dorado swim right along side the raft (depending upon where you are of course).