Introduction to Saltwater tubing
Part 1
It was a very cold December evening, as I floated in the blackness of the night. The only light around was the one on my forehead and the one slowly approaching me from my right side. I was trying to tube my way out to the Long Beach Break wall, alone at 2:30am. The light approaching me was a boat driven by an older man with a look of disbelief on his face he said these very words to me.” Are you insane!!!?” I have heard those words uttered to me way to often during my tubing days. I’ve tubed salt since the early 80’s. I’ve tubed all the bays, Catalina Island, Palos Verdes, and some nameless kelp beds along the south coast. I don’t recommend some of the more extreme things I have done, but I do believe I have spent enough hours tubing salt to feel confident about putting my name on this article.
Don’t fool with Mother Nature!!! Words that could one day save your life. So let’s say you just got your very first tube, or you own one but have yet to hit the big lake called the Pacific Ocean. The thing I want you to consider first is not the fish, but how you will safely be able to fish the body of water you are considering. Randomly fishing places is not something I do myself. I usually target specific fish. If it’s Bay bass, Halibut even shark they all need a specific game plan with safety being at the core.
(Fishing the Bay Masters Classic in 2009)
Here is a checklist you need to consider before jumping in.
Is my tube seaworthy at this time?
If you think you can take chances in the ocean please think again. Leave that “I can do anything” ego on shore. If your tube has been
crumpled up in the back of the garage for 6
months it needs to be checked out prior to launch. I’ve had Tubes with only 2 trips under their belt go flat while fishing 60’ deep water at night during a ripping current all alone. Let’s just say it was not fun. So, be 100% sure your tube is seaworthy.
Which new tube should I purchase for the salt?
I’m not here to debate which tube is best. What I do want to inform you of is which tubes I prefer for saltwater use. I have fished a lot of brands and styles and for salt I like The Outcast Fish Cat and Super Cat as well as their new model the Trinity. ODC makes a great product as well.
Look for a very well made outer skin, quality bladders and also be able to sit as high as you can, the only issue I run into is storage space. I have yet to find a tube with the storage I need.
Do I have the equipment I will need to fish saltwater?
Personal opinion again applies here. We all agree pfd’s are #1 when it comes to safety do not enter any body of water without one. I use the Co2 auto-inflate models. Be sure you have whatever model best suits your preference and be familiar how it works.
When it comes to saltwater tubing your fins are king. I use commercial scuba diving fins that have the power to fight currents as well as allow me to move quickly enough to avoid some drunk in boat coming my way. Again personal preference is In effect here. Just be sure they are quality made, durable and comfortable.
Waders are a must. Again personal preference is up to you. I’ve used both the neoprene and standard waders. Both work fine for me, but I must say I do like the neoprene better. It makes me feel a bit more aerodynamic.
(Saltwater Tubing offers lots of great opportunities to catch bigger fish)
The following equipment is with me whenever I fish saltwater.
Compact air pump (in case my tube starts to lose air)
A good patch kit
Head lamp with spare batteries. (I actually bring a spare headlamp just in case)
Handheld marine radio
Energy bars and water
Whistle
First aid kit
Tow Rope
Before your first attempt to fish in saltwater I also recommend asking yourself this question. Am I in good enough shape to do this? If all you know is freshwater tubing, you will not know what to do when a strong current hits you at the end of the day when you are tired. Then the wind kicks in and what seems like a 20 minute kick to shore can turn into a scary and hours long ordeal. When dealing with our harbors and bays where sometimes the current can get unbelievably strong you need to learn how to split the tides. It’s easy, just check your tide tables for the day and area you’re fishing and plan your travels accordingly. Go out with the tide and then return with the tide.
Never be too proud to ask for help!!! If you do get caught in a bad situation I will wave down a passing boat if I have to. I will use my marine radio and call harbor patrol. I’ll do anything to stay alive and fish again. I suggest you do the same if an emergency occurs.
Entering and exiting the water
This subject can also stir up some debates. My personal preference is launch anywhere you want as long as it is safe. But since this is meant to be an instructional article for newer tubers I will recommend launching from any sandy shoreline or public launch ramp. I do not
recommend open ocean beach launches. To be frank if you are new, don’t consider open ocean tubing until you get the experience you need. Stick to the sheltered bays. I will be covering specific locations in part 3 of this article.
(Great example of an easy launch site. Lake Perris CA)
Splitting the tides.
This is very important for multiple reasons. First off it will allow you to fish without having to fight the current the whole day, and it helps to know when the fish will be most active.
2:13 am
7:15 am
1:45 pm
9:13 pm
Looking at the tide table above we see the following information. First high tide of the day is at 2:13am at 3.6 feet above normal tide height. First low is at 7:15 am at 2.3 feet above normal height. That is a swing of only 1.3 feet this will be a very weak current and will actually be barely noticeable. Good for tubing bad for fishing. I prefer a 5 foot swing or more. In my experience fishing is a lot better on those stronger swings. But with the strong swing comes a swift current. So let’s take a look at the second high and low. 1:45pm @ 5.2 High 9:13pm @ 1.0 Low that’s a 4.2 swing and will create a swifter current. So I will launch and fish towards the inside of the bay going with the current and return as the tide changes to low tide.
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