Solo offshore fishing is not for everyone. It's a lot more work, with some additional risks. And it's often not the most effective way to fish.

But we have to admit that we enjoy being offshore alone. For a few brief hours, we're isolated from the madness of life on shore - no cell phone, no e-mail, not even a shipmate's conversation. Sometimes even the radio is silent. We get a chance to be alone with our thoughts, and being alone heightens the rush we get when a gray whale passes by the boat, or when we get to be the sole witness to a foamer a hundred yards across. These types of events make us realize how insignificant we are compared to the ocean, and being alone really underscores that fact.

We also like the challenge of having to do everything ourselves. It's a form of the "one armed paper hanger" syndrome, and gives us a real sense of accomplishment when we've landed a nice fish.

Is solo fishing offshore for you? Only you can answer that question.

But if you are at all interested in trying it, we hope you found this article useful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail us or post them on our discussion forum.