Firearms to Carry while Fishing

[2-Skinny]

Well I was reviewing California firearms law which indicates that it is legal while hunting to carry loaded firearms upon your person so long as you are a licensed fisherman/hunter and can legally posess such weapons.  My question: does anyone do this?  I would think a gun in a cross-draw holster across your chest, rigged specifically for resistance against salt water would be the perfect shark stopper.  Moisture sealed ammunition, rubber grips, stainless finish- maybe a .45 with hollow point bullets and a not to powerful charge would be great to shoot into water.  This same gun could be taken on a hip holster into the woods for camping and high alpine trout fishing, or even on a river troll- never know when a militant shore-fisher might attack.  Thoughts anyone?

PS:  I am serious, not joking.

[MolBasser]

I think the odds of ruining your gun, or accidently shooting yourself/boat are emmensly greater than the odds of ever using one on a shark or human aggressor.

(besides, with my strict rules about alcohol and firearms I would not be able to drink beer while fishing with a gun on my person, and I would rather drink beer than be paranoid about sharks).

MolBasser

[Mooch]

I have a low tolerance for "idiots" on the water ....I'm better off without a gun....I may just run out bullets in one fishing session 

IMO: A flare gun is a better alternative "officer, I dropped my $300.00 Gloomis rod and so I needed emergency help (to retrieve my rod)...I fired my flaregun but UNFORTUNATELY, this JETSKIER  - who's been making high speed passes 5 feet away from my kayak - got in the way 

[bsteves]

Note to self... stay off the water if you see that guy "2-Skinny" out fishing.

[Mahi]

Sometimes just because the law says something is okay to do, it might not be a good idea. Like there is no law that says you must wear a PFD if you are in your yak on the ocean, but it is a real good idea to wear one.

Additionally, if you haven't seen the size of the California penal code, health and safety code, vehicle code, welfare and institutions code, fish and game code, business and professions code, government code, harbors and navigations code, and the others that I have left out, you might have second thoughts. The main reason is because you just might find the one officer who just doesn't know every single law on the books and decides to take you to the poky for carrying a loaded firearm in public. Yes, you will likely be released later without charges, but would it have been a situation that could have been avoided?

Just my opinion, but I think you would be better off with a cell phone.

Good luck, and don't shoot your eye out.

CHEERS!

[ScottThornley]

It's my humble opinion that the reward/cost ratio for packing is too small here in CA. I actually did pack a stainless .45 Colt revolver for two weeks in AK, but even then, I didn't wear it in while in the 'yak. I'd put it on first thing when coming ashore. I used .44 magnum level handloads with hard cast bullets, and if you really were trying to defend yourself against sharks, would recommend the same. You're looking for water penetration, not expansion.

You'd be hard pressed to win a case that you had to use deadly force against a shore based angler. 10 seconds of paddling, and you are out of their casting range.

For the money involved, I'd go with an electrical shark repeller, over a stainless handgun. One is proven technology that is always on, the other is questionable as to effectiveness, and needs to be operated correctly, while in a highly charged situation.

I don't think there is any real defense against crazed boaters. Just stay upright if possible, record their hull #'s, and if they are truly running you down, stay away from their prop/hull. If you have a VHF, put out a distress call. Immediately notify the CG and/or local LE when you get ashore.

Regards,
Scott

[sackyak]

I never felt the need.

[Sin Coast]

What would the recoil from a .45 be like while on your kayak? Might tip over and end up swimming with the shark...
This electric shark repeller sounds interesting, I haven't heard of such a thing. Sounds cool though.

PK

[jmairey]

I am putting in a row of 16lb-ball cannons, 4 to a side. just cut the gun ports with my dremel!

I got a rifled 4lb-ball bow chaser and an 8lb swivel gun on the stern.

I'm pretty much covered, but am wondering about appropriate hammocks for the crew below.

note: I am completely seriously crazy! 

J

[sackyak]

J,

What about some depth charges for the landlord?

[Frankfishing]

Ryan,
Carrying and then operating a weapon in a Kayak, in swells, is an accident just waiting to happen.Try to find information first about attacts to  Kayaks, which I believe are only a bump. But like most bumps in the night my imagination is way bigger than that walnut that just landed on my roof.
Relax and go out with those who demonstrate common sense rather then a wild imagination.
Ex carrying  .45 colt combat commander carrier. Did not carry for fish:}

[Zee]

Shark repellant? Geez, that's beyond paranoid 2 skinn. I've been surfng dam near 20 years and seen 'em but that's all. They're perfectly peaceful 99.5% of the time.. we're the dumb trespassers anyway! Accept the risk or just don't go in sharky waters. There's just no good reason to have a gun on a yak.

Z

BTW on a very cool episode of "Myth Busters" on Discovery, they have an episode that proved even MASSIVE guns can't penetrate more than a few feet underwater.

[chetbango]

A 45 strapped, locked and loaded for shark? I agree that the risks far, far outweigh the benefits in this. First of all, a GW shark usually attacks from below. Second, the odds of hitting a shark mid attack are extremely low. Also, has there ever been a shark attack on a sea kayak? I could maybe see one mistaking a 8 foot surf yak for a sea lion, but a 15 foot long 30 inch wide sea kayak? I doubt it, you look more like a log than food to a shark.
 The risks are many, and think how you'll look. I mean imagine the standard California resident, left leaning person out enjoying a day on the beach, and here comes a guy in a kayak, fishing poles, yak all decked out, with a goddang cannon strapped to his chest like some kind of wanna-be navy seal. Heck, I enjoy shooting guns as much as the next guy, hell I own some ridiculously useless weapons. But I also realize that many of the same people I depend on to keep the areas I like to paddle in free from development by voting for parks and against urbanization are the same people I would freak out by showing up with my kayak with an AR-15 strapped to the side. Add to the likelihood of alienating almost any group of fellow watergoers the risks of accidental discharge, exposure of harsh conditions to the weapon or losing it overboard, running afoul of the multitude of laws and regs, etc. I'd say spend that money on a sweet new rod and real combo, top class GPS, or heck, round trip tickets to Maui.

[ScottThornley]

Freedom 4 shark shield:

http://www.sharkshield.com/detail.php?Product=2

[sackyak]

sounds safer than a gun.