Night fishing MA10: Safety measures

Hi,

I'd like to get outfitted for night fishing in MA10. My reason for night fishing is threefold:
(1) I have read that salmon are most active at night,
(2) I'm pretty busy during the day,
(3) I hate traffic.

I think that night fishing in a kayak introduces or exacerbates risks not encountered day fishing. To the best of my accounting, those risks, and my plans to counter those risks, are:
(1) Harder for other boats to see you.
      - Run a stern light
      - Announce position on radio every 30 minutes or so
(2) Fewer people on the water, so if you get into trouble, you'd better be able to get yourself out of trouble, or at least summon help.
     - Use dry suit & PFD
     - Keep radio, flares, water activated strobe, and cell phone on person at all times
     - Run minimal gear, being sure to keep all lines organized. This is to prevent me from getting tangled in my gear should I go overboard or capsize.

So... Am I overlooking anything? If you have experience with night kayaking on Puget Sound, I'd like to know your experience & what you did to feel safe. If you think this night kayaking is crazy, I'd like to hear that. I'm trying to get the most out of Puget Sound and not endanger my life while doing so.

Salmon are most active during the sunrise/sunset and tidal exchanges. If they feed really well at night you'd see the commercial troll fisheries on the coast fishing at night, which they don't. Or even here in the Sound with the sport fleet. I've definitely caught them with no sunlight, like 4am, but it's definitely a lot slower. I really don't think the fishing is good enough to warrant the safety risks.

Night fishing for salmon can be productive.  It's easier, for us yakers, since they tend to travel higher in the water column and into shallower water, closer to shore.  You have the right mindset with safety placed first and foremost in priority.  You've listed out most of the critical safety equipment with other obvious items such as bilge water removal, quick access to a knife, and perhaps self rescue lines for retry (with easy access not buried in the hull you cant get onto).  Lighting is critical and more is better for others to see you.  However,  the downside is you may loose some of your own ability to see into the dark as you add more lights to your boat.  I've added a spotlight to the front of my bow for better visibility, further.  It could also help for being seen if I put my bow light towards any oncoming traffic, better than my headlamp anyways.  Lastly, use the buddy system as it significantly reduces risk.  But if you must go alone, have a float plan discussed with someone on shore.  Good luck out there and LMK if you want some company sometime.  I'd make a trip up there if the fishing is good! Tight lines to all.

workhard -- Sounds like I'm misinformed, thank you for clearing that up. Night fishing is still pretty enticing, as it would allow me to get a lot of water time without having to deal with traffic or endangering work deadlines.

Amateur Hooker -- Thank you for your pointers. I've never carried a bilge pump (all my previous boats had no hull access), but I agree that I should now invest in one. I failed to mention that I have a safety knife on my PFD. I like your suggestion to add a forward facing light on the bow - I can imagine plenty of scenarios where a running light on the stern light does not adequately announce my position.  I agree that the buddy system is ideal -- I think I need to get better at coordinating with other people. Float plans are another thing that I absolutely need to employ. Thank you for your suggestions, they will undoubtedly make my experience safer

workhard -- Sounds like I'm misinformed, thank you for clearing that up. Night fishing is still pretty enticing, as it would allow me to get a lot of water time without having to deal with traffic or endangering work deadlines.

If the fishing at night was good you'd see 1,000's of boats out there doing it. I think it'd be cool if you figure something out though. I've caught diurnal species at night like California halibut, but under heavy lights. If your heart is set on night fishing out there I'd first try under lights, which should attract baitfish as well.

bring some squid jig, so if salmon don't not bite you switch to squidding. They are pretty zummy, just talk about it make my hand itching to go after them.

when i was young, stupid and reckless i'd do overnight yak fishing trips in lake michigan for kings and coho salmon/steelhead/browns, and we always did better at night than during the day. it's not something i'd recommend, and in hindsight we were playing with fire.