Planning a Sea Duck Trip

Before heading out on the ocean when chasing sea ducks I always like to have a plan A and plan B. Weather, wind, and tides all play a factor. I obsessively check the wind. I like to choose a natural funnel that will keep us out of the direct wind. In a perfect world I like the tide change to happen just about legal shooting time. Birds will be coming in just after daylight to feed on the mussel beds and an incoming tide is preferable to me. It’s also easier to pull the longlines in with the water rising if you are hunting from a ledge. If you are hunting from a ledge you either need someone to run the tender, chasing cripples or you park the boat on the the ledge out of sight of incoming birds. If you park the boat I recommend anchoring off the bow and stern. Leave a fair amount of scope to accommodate the ever moving tide and check on the boat every 15 minutes or so. A vhf radio is an absolute must. I like to have one on the boat and a handheld unit with at least one person on the ledge.