Boating anglers aren t immune from a wet spray or cold hands, either. Dress accordingly with layered clothing topped by a waterproof, windproof shell. Neoprene gloves with all-important liners can also be a necessity even on a sunny day. Pack a thermos of hot coffee or soup. Leave the toddy til the body is in a warm, dry place.
Alcohol only lowers the human body s resistance to cold.
Most of all, both surf and boat anglers should call it a day at the first sign of reddened or painful skin, no matter how good fishing the flow may be. The affected area can turn to a serious case of frostbite quickly in wind-chill conditions. Smokestacks rising above a tranquil winter landscape probably aren t what folks had in mind when they spoke about progress with a gleam in their eyes so long ago. George R. Scocca is founding publisher of Nor east Saltwater, a weekly sportfishing magazine dedicated to the local Long Island fishing scene. He is also the founding President of the Coastal Conservation Association New York, a state chapter of a national conservation group dedicated to restoring our marine resources, and he is New York States representative to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Weakfish Advisory Panel.