Safety isn’t sexy. Anglers never clamor over the latest color in a personal-flotation device. Boaters don’t compete to see who’s first to use digital selective calling. I mean, do you ever show off your EPIRB? Marine VHF radios are made for the saltwater environment and put anglers in direct touch with emergency help. Yet, just like a seemingly calm dog can turn vicious, so too can the ocean grow violent. Not that we should fear all pups or trips offshore, but don’t be naive or choose ignorance.Case in point: the use of cell phones versus VHF radios for distress calls.Boaters and anglers “have too much faith in [cell phones] as the sole means of communication on the water, especially in emergency situations,” U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer First-Class John D. Miller writes in a recent press release, ...![Sport Fishing Mag]()
