Lighting while in a boat

[homerun]

What's everyones opinions/experiences when lightning pops up while in a boat?

Offshore? Inshore and cut off from launch? How close does one wait before moving? etc.

Everyone can learn

[eman]

Lightning doesn't just pop up. thunderstorms can be seen from many miles away. especially on open water. Don't hang around long enough to let it get close .
If you don't have time to make it back to the launch .Run parallel to the storms to get away from them.
Always check weather report and radar before launching. We have a few folks here on the site that were very excited about going to get some snapper. they didn't look at weather and radar. And if they are honest about it. will tell you they are Lucky to still be here.
No fishing trip is that important.

[Cappy]

In all my 60 years I aint neva heard of some one killed by lughtnin while fishing. I knew of a fellow cappy who's boat got struck while crossing Barataria bay it played merry hell with the electronics but no one was hurt. Not saying sit in the middle of a lake but Use common seance. Personally I got lots of other things to worry about than lightnin like eman said use ya head and look around. Far as inland ya aint near the tallest thing around so ya PRETTY SAFE,

[DeeCee]

A few years ago a fisherman was killed in the old black bayou near Freds.

[jchief]

Man killed in Hackberry a few years ago on a dock

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[Natural Light Kid]

Man killed by lightning in lacassine a few years back too.

[mr1bienvenu]

A guy that worked with me at PPG was killed by lightening 5 or 6 years ago. Don't be stupid and stay far away from it. Storms can develop over water very quickly so always keep an eye out. If you don't believe me watch the satellite radar next time we have afternoon popup showers or storms developing off the gulf. The average lightning strike is 300 million volts. It will leave a mark.

[cajunduck man]

I have been in a few situations when lightening was present. When I was 10 I was with a buddy and his older brother on Lacassine Bayou (1970) when a thunderstorm came up...lightening hitting the trees as we made our way back to Loraine Bridge (14 ft. boat with a 9.5 Evinrude and 5 people between 10 and 16 years old). Said a few Rosary's on the way back. In high school...fishing in Lacassine...rod tip buzzing...I physically my best friend from the back of the boat to get out of there...lightening hitting the levees. Now I have 4 weather aps on my phone so I can make the call...I ain't 10 ft. tall and bullet proof any more...now day there is no excuse for "I did not know what the weather was going to be..."

[papap]

Had lighting hit close enough to us on big lake years ago. It shocked everyone on the boat hard. Scary

[Broke Down]

Stubbornness will get you hurt, more than likely....some one else. If you can see it move, I would rather be risk free. We had someone local hit a while back in a Jon boat, didn't kill them but hurt them bad.

[homerun]

Ive been told and don't know if true . If get caugnt offshore by pop ups everywhere to get near a rig so it will strike it and not the boat. Any truth to this?

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by homerun

What's everyones opinions/experiences when lightning pops up while in a boat?

Offshore? Inshore and cut off from launch? How close does one wait before moving? etc.

Everyone can learn

I am scared of two things - cockroaches and lightning. I dont play with either. Just google lightning injuries and see for yourself

Think we had a poster here that got struck by lightning a few years back, cant remember his name though

[rardoin]

Keep in mind, lightning can and will emanate quite a distance from the area of rainfall in a thunderstorm. It is best to give a thunderhead several miles of berth if at all possible. Radar apps with lightning strike detail is your best friend.

[jpeff31787]

Originally Posted by homerun

Ive been told and don't know if true . If get caugnt offshore by pop ups everywhere to get near a rig so it will strike it and not the boat. Any truth to this?

I can see how it could be true since lightening will normally strike the tallest object. I have no data to back up that statement though lol

[mr1bienvenu]

Originally Posted by jpeff31787

I can see how it could be true since lightening will normally strike the tallest object. I have no data to back up that statement though lol

It's true.

[jchief]

On an overnighter with a guide when some storms came up we did tuck in rig to hide from wind and lightning

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[Elbert Chamblee]

I was in the cut close to LNG about 20 years ago and had anchor rope in my hands. I was watching a storm off toward the jetties and was going to reset anchor and was shocked. I didn't hear any strike but i felt the jolt and i threw the 20# anchor in a bucket and haul azz to the dock wide open.. The guy with me still had 2 lines out when i tied up and went for the truck. Scared me pretty good... I don't mess around when i hear a storm coming and have a lightning app on my phone.

[Elbert Chamblee]

youtube ... Lightning Bolt Strikes Fishing Pole While Fishing

[biggun]

Eveyone should have "weatherbug" Iphone on there phones.. Best lightning strike app on the market..

[Average Fisherman]

Better safe than sorry. Lightning can strike in the clear air ahead of, and especially behind the storms. I had lightning strike 40 miles after the rain ended a few weeks ago. I'm not making this up. It had cleared out, and absolutely jarring thunder happened. Checked the app, and it was right down the road. I'm in Alexandria, and the rain had cleared Bunkie. I'm a meteorologist, and I occasionally chase tornadoes. I take pics from the car with windows up, because I don't fool with lightning. I can stay a safe distance from a tornado. Lightning is a different animal.