[tarheell85]

Hey sorry if this has already been answered but im new to kayak fishing and i was trying to find out what safety equipment you have to have. I KNOW that you have to have a life jacket more along the lines of whistle, flare, ect. Thanks for the help.

 

[skooteri]

Required to have PFD, kids under 13 must wear PFD. Have to have a whistle and white light. Flares not required.

 

[tarheell85]

Thank you very much.

 

[wartmanrp]

Also most dams require you to wear a pfd within a few hundred yards.

 

[dbeam]

Since the question has been brought up, what are the requirements for coastal waters, I have heard signal mirrors, flares, etc.? and what areas are covered. What about for a boat?

Thanks
Darrell

 

[bweave09]

I hate to be a thread bumper, but dbeam's exact question just came up in conversation at work. I read on Great Outdoor's website that flares are required in Coast Guard waters. Is this true and what constitutes CG water?
I am planning on fishing Queen's Creek or Bear Island (maybe Morehead, who knows) this weekend and don't want to get a ticket!

 

[wartmanrp]

I feel like flares and a satellite phone, if not legally required, would be a good idea on open saltwater. Too much can go wrong out there.

 

[dbeam]

I am pretty sure Io will NEVER need a flare from my yak, if I did I couldn't get it out of the hatch unless the water was shallow enough and dig it out while standing on the ground.

I guess I should actually send the question to Marine resources to see if we could get a good answer on what it Coast Guard waters.

Darrell

 

[mikeski]

I believe all the answers are here -> http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF

mikeski

 

[dbeam]

Thanks Mikeski,

So it looks to me like, Albemarle Sound, and Pamlico Sound are USCG waters, but what about Bogue Sound and the waters behind Surf City and Topsail?

Darrell