I fish the Maryland and Delaware offshore waters in an older 23 foot wellcraft for tuna and dolphin. I typically venture 30 to 50 miles offshore. Safety equipment should be at the top of your priorities anytime you leave sight of land. I carry a hard wired GPS as well as a backup handheld unit. I have a hard wired VHF radio and a handheld backup unit. I am lucky enough to have fished with many of the Ocean City Fishing Center charter capts. that I always have someone in the area I am fishing that I can count on for help. Try to use the buddy system and fish with someone near you to assist if you need it. Your boat should be adequate to fish the area you are talking about. Get the latest weather and wave reports from NOAA bouy reports in your area and dont exceed your operating expertise. Todays boats can usually handle worse conditions than the operators of the boats so it is easy to get in trouble if you venture out in iffy weather. The number one concern on any offshore venture is fuel capacity, figure the amount of fuel needed to reach and return from your fishing area, the amount you will spend trolling, and allow an additional minimum of 25% for reserve. Also the most important advice I can give is to enroll in a Sea Tow service such as TowBoatUS. The $150 a year is a bargain compared to a $750 tow bill. Good luck and Good fishing.
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