Sip and Dip at Red Marlin on Mission Bay
Next time you're at the marina, enjoy some of these great summer days by drinking in the sweeping views of Mission Bay, the marina and the Pacific Ocean with your favorite libation and appetizers at Red Marlin's all-new Happy Hour, offered daily from 3 to 5 p.m.

Guests can enjoy the sunset and get cozy next to the new fire pits on Red Marlin's terrace while sipping $5 cocktails and wine, as well as $3.50 domestic beers.

Delicious appetizers from the Bar Menu such as Seared Tuna Tataki, Beef Yakatori Skewers, and Crispy Fried Calamari are 20 percent off. Additionally, items from the Sip and Dip menu will be offered "2 for 1" featuring a selection of bites including Grilled Garlic Jumbo Shrimp and BBQ Spiced Chicken Wings and dips such as Roasted Garlic Aioli and Mango Chutney.

Red Marlin is located at 1441 Quivira Road in San Diego. For further information, call 619-221-4868 or Click Here.

I talked to him just before he left, and he told me the general vicinity where he would be fishing but it kind of went in one ear and out the other. This was on Wednesday, and that Friday we found out his wife was admitted to a local hospital. - Nothing life threatening, but she was still in the hospital. She asked me if I could get a message to him and let him know about the situation.

I knew the 25 watt VHF on our boat doesn't have the power or antenna height to reach 60 miles south, so I gave a call to the Coast Guard. "Was it a life or death situation?" It wasn't, so the standard procedure was that they would do their best to hail him on the radio. I provided them with the boat name, make, color, length, and his estimated location.

Well - my friend never got the message. Later I found out that his radio was off; his cell phone was out of range; and he had turned his satellite phone off.

I'm happy to report that he did get home and all is well, but there's a moral to the story that we should all heed.

You never know when somebody might really need to get in touch with you when you're out there on the blue. You probably paid a pretty penny for all of your fancy electronics, so why not leave your VHF radio on. I know channel 16 can be irrigating at times, but when you are being hailed you will not get the message if it's turned off.

If you have a satellite phone on board, make sure people have the number and leave it on. It too is useless if nobody knows the number or it's in the off position.

Most importantly, leave a copy of your intended boating plan with your family, your marina, your yacht club, or a friend; if the need arises they will have a written plan and not have to rely on a past conversation.

Float plan forms can be downloaded from the Coast Guard Auxiliary's web site and many other boating organizations. Also, many vessel towing services offer a float plan watch program where you leave them your plan and if you don't call them to say you arrived on schedule, they start calling you. This is a great safety net. If you have a towing service, ask them if they have a float plan watch.

A good float plan needs to include a description of your boat, who is on board, a description of the safety equipment you are carrying, where you expect to be, and when you expect to be there. Instruct the person holding the float plan to notify the Coast Guard or other appropriate agency if you do not return within a reasonable time after your scheduled arrival (taking into account weather, etc.).

When you arrive at your destination, or if your plans change, notify the person holding your float plan to avoid unnecessary worry and possible waste of search and rescue resources.

One final note - the Coast Guard will not accept float plans, but they will lead the effort to find you if necessary, and if somebody does have your float plan, it will greatly aid them in their search for you!

It's like everything else in life - if you file a float plan, you probably won't need it; if you don't - you might. Why take the chance?

See you on the water!

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