Wave swell and duration and fishing?

Question

forcast is for swell 6ft at 10 seconds wind waves 2'. Is this kind of rough for a 19 foot fishing boat? Besides flat, what would be the limit for safety while fishing

Answer 1

Its do-able, but a bit rough, depending on what type of boat you're on and your boating experience.  I.e. this would probably be an O.K. day for a 18' Boston Whaler with a knowlegeable crew.  The swell at 6' and 10 sec states the height and time between each wave (as usually determined by a buoy in your area), and a 2' wind wave is the extra chop due to wind.

In general a 10 sec swell is a fairly long rolling swell, but 2' wave chop is significant and can be uncomfortable at high speeds (i.e. a bumpy ride).  In general things won't get hairy for a seaworthy small craft until you hit a 6-7' wave height and a tighter wave frequency, i.e a 5' swell at 5 secs is a general rule of thumb my fishing buddy uses for bad/unsafe boating weather (he is a park ranger at a local bay here on the west coast).  MOST importantly, check your local "Small craft advisory", which takes into account wind, waves, and weather.  ALWAYS check it before going out, using a forecast like the the National Weather Service at the following website:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/

Here's another weather link: http://www.weather.gov/om/marine/cwd.htm

Just click on the map to get the weather in your area (I'm not sure where you are at).

The Coast guard also has some good small boat safety gouge here:

http://www.uscgboating.org/

If a small craft warning is in effect, stay home or go check out a nice lake.

Also, always double check your fuel, have a spare radio (i.e. a handheld), tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.  Know your basic navigation rules (i.e. right of way/underwater obstacles/treacherous currents etc.) and try to sail with someone who has already been to where you are going. And always wear your life vest.

Be safe, and happy boating.

Answer 2

Six foot swells at ten seconds is adventurous enough without the two foot "chop" on top of it.  You are basically falling 6 feet in five seconds and rising six feet in five more seconds.  You also have a chop involved which is the 2' wind waves.  I would not fish in that on a 30 foot boat.  Safety cannot be measured by me but rather what you feel comfortable in.