The recreational cod fishery is in full swing with expanded opportunities to go out on the water over previous years, and a master mariner cannot stress enough the importance of checking the marine weather – not just the land forecast.

Some people who hop in a boat and drop a line may not have the savvy of an experienced fisherman, and could find themselves in trouble if the weather suddenly changes.

The marine forecast looks at things such as swells, wave height and currents whereas the land forecast concentrates more on temperature.

Kris Drodge, a master mariner at the Marine Institute, says conditions on the water can change in a hurry.

“When it comes to boating safety, it’s the wave height’s going to be the issue, the swells. It might be fine in the harbour but as soon as you go around the headland, you’re dealing with a meter or a meter-and-a-half of swell and that could easily capsize a boat,” says Captain Drodge.