You've heard Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. When it comes to fishing lines and nets on boats, I have an amendment: Anything that can snag, will snag. A second amendment applies to crew members: Anyone who can trip, will trip. I call these the Hendricks’ Laws, and they often impose themselves at the most inopportune times, like in the middle of a hot bite. For this very reason, on my boat I am a fiend about eliminating any possible snags or tripping hazards. Not only does this practice improve the odds of catching fish, it helps keep crew members secure and injury-free. Here are 10 tips that I have learned to minimize snags and improve deck safety.TIP 1: Retractable CleatsIf your boat has standard cleats, consider replacing them with pop-up or pull-up cleats from companies such Accon Marine or Attwood Marine ...![You'll land more fish by clearing the boat deck.]()
