Counting me there is five of us in our office with over 75 years of professional working experience as a whole. That being said, we have our fair share of stories of places we’ve been, things we’ve seen, and things we’ve done. The other day we were sitting around talking about being out in rough weather and pretty much just death and destruction on the water. We have sunk boats, we have been on boats that were on fire, we have fallen out of boats, we have been out when we didn’t know whether or not we would make it back in, and sadly we have helped recover people from the water that did not. Things happen to the best of us, more things happen to the unprepared. Many of you spend a lot of time in boats and have a wealth of experience, but all it takes is one bad day or one mistake and any sense of safety while on the water you may have had will be shaken to the core. Texas ranks fourth in the nation in terms of boating accidents and deaths with an average of about 150 injuries and 25 deaths each year. However, all things considered boating is extremely safe – there are over 600,000 registered boats in the state with untold millions of boating days each year. Be prepared, do not be a statistic. Most recreational boating accidents can be attributed to alcohol. I am not going to harp on the illegality of this, but don’t drink and operate a boat. If anything as the boat operator you owe it to the people on board with you and to the other people on the water to be alert and in command of you’re craft. Simply, do not drink and drive a boat – period.

You must have required safety equipment to operate a boat. When I see Game Wardens on the water they are always checking to see if the required equipment is there. The cost of a ticket could pay for most of what you need and more importantly having it could save you’re life, you only have to need it once for it to be the best investment you ever made. Some people call life jackets PFD’s, but I insist on calling them life jackets, because that is what they are – a jacket for saving your life. Before I go on let me get on my soap box. Many people opt for the inflatable Type V life jackets, and I hate them and believe them to be worthless. The inflatable life jackets only work if you are conscious when you hit the water and they are a chore to maintain properly, once again folks we are talking about a LIFE JACKET, something that will help keep you alive in a bad situation. This is what you must have:
• All children under 13 in boats under 26’ must wear a life jacket while under power.
• All boats must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V wearable life jacket for each person on board. 
• All boats 16’ and longer, excluding canoes and kayaks, are required to have at least one Type VI throwable floatation device in addition to the required life jackets for each person on board.
• Boats 39.4’ and less in length are required to carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound to signal intentions and position.
• All boats when not at dock must have and exhibit at least one bright light visible all around the horizon from sunset to sunrise and during weather with restricted visibility.
• Navigation lights if underway at night.
• Boats less than 26’ in length, of open construction, not carrying passengers for hire, are not required to carry a fire extinguisher. However, a fire extinguisher is required if any of the following conditions exist: 1) Fuel is stored in a closed compartment, such as under seats or thwarts. 2) Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with floatation material. 3) Closed living spaces. 4) Closed compartments in which flammable materials are stored. 5) Permanently installed fuel tanks. 6) Inboard engines.

Texas also requires that anyone born on or after September 1, 1984 must complete a TPWD-approved boater education course to operate any boat over 10 horsepower, sail boat over 14’, and all personal watercraft (i.e. jet skis). Statistically it has been shown that states that require boater safety courses fare 6 times better in terms of reduced boat accidents and fatalities than states that do not.

Once again, boating is a safe and enjoyable activity overall. However, you should always be ready for the worst. Keep your boat and gear in good working order to increase your chances of an enjoyable and safe trip. Be sure to tell someone where you plan on going and when you should be back. As always, if you should have any questions concerning this article or have any other fishery questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at 409-384-9572. Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Dan Ashe is a fisheries biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He has worked out of the Jasper, Texas field office since 2005 helping to manage east Texas reservoirs including Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. Dan has also worked as fisheries biologist in Puerto Rico, California, and Alaska but now calls Texas home.