radio check protocol?

When I launch, I usually do a radio check on ch. 69 and usually get a response. But, what do you do if you get no response? Are there other channels that can/should be used for this? I'd like to know my radio is working before I might need it...

In Santa Cruz CH 11 is best.  Ch 9 you can use, it's the harbor people, but they are not always awake when we go out.....It's OK to use ch 16 coast Guard, after all it is a safety precaution.

IN SC, though 11 usually works best.  try it 3 or 4 times and someone will usually answer because I'mgetting obnoxious.

HMB and Monterey use 19 for general sport fishing rather than 11.

Bushy

Thanks Bushy,  good to know

Talked to a guy a while back, said he always radio checked on 16, and he got in trouble. The CG chewed him out for just radio checking. 

Each port has a channel that the sport fleet utilizes.  Out of Trinidad it's 78.  Eureka and Shelter Cove 68.

I've seen over the years that kayakers sometimes say, "let's use 69" or another channel, but I say it's best to be on the local channel.  You want to be able to hear local traffic - especially when powerboaters are trying to speak to kayakers.

Knowing the local channel makes a radio check a no-brainer - anyone at all who's active that morning will answer.

Thanks Bushy and Eric. I was recently wondering what channel most PB anglers use, and didn't realize it was different out of each port.

I guess I'll set my VHF for tri-watch of 16, 19 and 69 when I'm out at HMB.

How about Marin? I just looked at the Coastside website and they say 9 is Bodaga and 67/68 are used near the Golden Gate?

HMB 16; or 72 for non-emergency harbor patrol..

I've been wrestling with this, too. More often than not I fish solo off the Marin coast, but there are always power boaters in the area. Some days (especially when everyone is grumpy about slow fishing) I have a real hard time getting a response. I've even gone as far as approaching a fellow salmon troller and asking them if they're hearing my radio checks. They tell me yes, they are... They just didn't bother responding.

In more than one a few instances when I've been fishing in a tight fleet (a time when it's especially important for boats to be able to communicate) I've actually heard my own voice coming from the radio of a nearby boat.   

So why the funk is no one responding?!?

Is it that dumbass mentality of "someone else will do it"? The same mentality that leads people not to call 911 in an emergency because they assume someone else will?

Rant over....

I checked ch69 in SC last time.. Never got any response.    It was a calm day. If it were mildly rough Id be concerned.

So why the funk is no one responding?!?

It's a powerboater arrogance issue, IMO.  I've seen it too.  At Shelter Cove where I've been kayak fishing for 16 years I don't have a problem getting a response.  There are definitely a significant percentage of powerboaters there that don't seem eager to associate with us kayakers, but I can't get a radio check - I attribute it to time spent there, my tournament, and the fact that I do have some level of local ties to the community there.  Out of Eureka it's similar, but Eureka is actually known as one of the friendliest ports on the west coast on the VHF.  Out of Trinidad it can more tight lipped, but the guys at the boat launch will respond if no one else.

The powerboater arrogance is based on something like this:  "kayakers don't belong out here".  It rears its ugly head in other ways too, such as the discussion regarding safety flags.  I've always maintained that I don't need a flag, and the point I make is that I'm in a 14 to 15 foot boat with both ends of a paddle regularly flashing up and down as well as a large net.  ALSO, I point out that a powerboat should be operating at a level of awareness where they'd be unlikely to unknowingly run over a crab buoy, and I'm probably 200 times the size and visibility of a crab buoy.

The longer we're out there showing that we're very aware of our limits and the need for safety contingencies, the more respect we should garner from the powerboater community.

Then again, if they're not answering and there's no way they could tell the radio check call was coming from a kayaker then may just be assholes!   

Then again, if they're not answering and there's no way they could tell the radio check call was coming from a kayaker then may just be assholes!   

That's what I was going to say!!  A radio check can come from anyone, they don't know I'm a yakker. If they are just bieng jerks and not answering cause they think they're salty dogs, wait 10 minutes, and call out "What is the size limit for white sea bass?"  that will usually get a response and then you know you're radio's working.

As far as CH 16 and CG... 16 is the designated CG safety channel and my initial radio check is a safety practice.  Any CG gives me shit, I'd refer them to their own regulations.  16 is also known as the "Hailing Channel." Everyone has to monitor 16, so hailing another boat on the water you can use 16 to be SURE they will hear you. (If they are listening).

I'll always use other common channels 1st for a radio check, but if no response, I will use 16.  CG never sleeps.

"The Federal Communications Commission established VHF-FM channel 9 as a supplementary calling channel for noncommercial vessels (recreational boaters) at the request of the Coast Guard. A  ship or shore unit wishing to call a boater would do so on channel 9, and anyone (boaters included) wishing to call a commercial ship or shore activity would continue to do so on channel 16. Recreational boaters would continue to call the Coast Guard and any commercial facility on channel 16." 

16 is NOT constricted to emergency calls only, but concurrently is not to be used for chat or extended conversations. Even CG will ask you to switch to another channel after contact (In Monterey Bay/SF it's usually 22Alpha)

"The purpose of the FCC regulation was to relieve congestion on VHF channel 16, the distress, safety and calling frequency. FCC regulations require boaters having VHF radios to maintain a watch on either VHF channel 9 or channel 16, whenever the radio is turned on and not communicating with another station."

Most all vhf's sold now have a scan capability.  So, scan 16, 9, whatever the PBs use in your area, and of course 69 for us kayakers.  We use 69 as an 'off" channel so we don't bug the PBs with our chatter. I also scan some other channels I know PB anglers might use in my area including 19, 66, 68,69, 72, and 88.

Remember if you are scanning, so are others. They might hear you but aren't looking at their radio display. When you call out on the radio, it's helpful to include in your hail the channel you are currently using.  Like this:

"NCKA< NCKA< NCKA, Bushy on 69"

Bushy

My two cents..

I like to hear Position when I radio check or respond to another radio check. Let's say someone asks for a radio check...I respond and  with my general position...like of a certain point or maybe location to a buoy etc. I don't get so crazy as GPS location because it takes up too much radio talk. Sometimes I'll ask the sender their location...that gives me an approximate distance my radio is transmitting.

Good point.  Me too.

Thanks---lots of good info here.

Interesting that every locale uses different channels...