- faq's -
Do I Need to Bring Identification?
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A valid picture I.D. is required by the U.S. Coast Guard on all trips, for all passengers – including minors. Be sure to bring your driver’s license, school I.D. or other such documents. Valid documentation for a minor can be a school I.D. or birth certificate. Documents presented must not be expired.
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Do I Need a Fishing License?
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Yes, all passengers who are fishing, must purchase a California fishing license. Please see Licences & Permits page for further information
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Is a Passport Required?
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While many of our trips fish in Mexican waters, a passport is NOT REQUIRED unless we are fishing near the Mexican coast or near any of their offshore islands. During the summer months, most of our trips are scheduled to fish OFFSHORE (well outside of 12 miles) where a passport is NOT required. If a trip is operating within 12 miles of the Mexican coast of any of their islands, a Mexican Tourist Visa (FMM) and Passport are required on the trip you have chosen.
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Personal documentation requirements have become standard for both domestic and international travel. While the vast majority of our trips do not require a Passport, AWOL recommends that for the most flexibility and whenever practical our customers obtain a valid U.S. Passport Card or Passport Book.
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What should I Wear?
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For any outing we recommend a hat and sunglasses as protection from the sun. Use a sunscreen rated at a minimum of 30 SPF – you can get sunburned even on a cloudy day. It can get cold on the water so bring something warm… a coat, sweater or sweatshirt, a windbreaker if you have one. Dress in layers so you can adjust to conditions. Wear non-slip shoes. Short rubber boots are great for fishing, tennis shoes work well too. Pack your things in a soft bag or back pack.
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Are We Restricted by Weather?
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AWOL's Captain have years of experience fishing the coastal waters and offshore banks of Southern California and Baja Mexico. If for any reason your trip is terminated early due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, we will provide you with a wind check/rain check to return another day when conditions are more suited for your outing. It is our mission to provide you with a safe, fun, and productive experience each and every time we head offshore.
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What About Motion Sickness?
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The first step in dealing with any ailment is understanding what is wrong so that you can mentally deal with the problem. This is very important in dealing with sea sickness. To cure seasickness starts with the inner ear, your balance center.
Even though your head aches, you are sick to your stomach and basically feel the worst you have ever felt, you are not really sick, just out of balance. At times your skin is actually green. No question about it, you feel bad, but you must remember you have no disease, just a motion problem. YOU can do a lot to cure yourself, and very quickly.
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A good analogy might be; you turn around in a circle until you fall down and.throw up. If you stop turning, you feel better very quickly. Your balance center was just out of whack.
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Some things to remember: Fresh air is good but you want to stay low and to the stern of the boat. That is where you will encounter the least motion. The bow of the boat pounds through the waves, up and down the stern drags through the water. The ride is much smoother. The boat rocks from side to side. The higher you are the more movement you encounter.
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Think of a flagpole in the wind. There is very little movement at the bottom while the top may, sway severa1 feet. So, you want to be low and to the stern. Look at the horizon and try to get your balance. Take some deep breaths. Rock your shoulders back and forth. Realize that your body is probably tight and stiff. Try and roll with the boat instead of, sub-consciously, stiffening up and fighting the motion. It’s called getting your sea legs. Sometimes it takes awhile. Sometimes a nap will help. Try to take your mind off how bad you feel and focus on something else. Remember, the first step to controlling seasickness is to realize what is wrong with you and deal with that, not concentrate on how sick you are.
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Medications:
There are several good medications on the market. The best is probably the scopolamine patch by Transderm Scop. It is still a prescription medication but usually easy to obtain with a simple call. to your doctor. Dry mouth is usually the only side effect. but that is true with most all sea sickness medications.
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There are several over the counter medications but the one we like best is Bonine. Drowsiness is the side effect but less so with Bonine than with other brands. To be effective you should get this medication in your system 8 hours before you board the boat. If possible, sleep on it and take more when you board the boat and you tend to be less drowsy. That way, it’s in your system and working when .you wake up.
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Smooth Sailing is a ginger drink that many people say works quite well especially to settle your stomach. Combining smooth Sailing and Bonine can work well also. Wristbands can work for some people but are not generally considered the best remedy.
Severe sea sickness can be treated by using a combination of both the scopolamine-patch and Bonine almost never fails. But you should check with your doctor. The side effect is hunger and more drowsiness.