More than one angler has had that thought before they suddenly find themselves taking an unceremonious plunge over the side of a boat. The truth of the matter is that man overboards occur a lot more often than you might think.
Here are links to some such events that I found documented on the Internet during a recent Google videos search:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0n1Zuo1-Qo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSCxHE3jjvQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkqWTK1iaNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MonEgqyDC4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBaNXAOqL7E
There are many reasons for falling out of a fishing boat, including but not limited to colliding with objects, losing balance, slipping, or lunging for something that gets knocked overboard. Here are some things to consider in case you take an unplanned trip over the side of a fishing boat:
Learn to swim. If you're comfortable being in the water, you're less likely to panic if you unexpectedly go overboard.
Get wet fully clothed. It's one thing to be in the water when you're wearing a bathing suit. However, chances are that, if you fall in while fishing, you'll be wearing clothes and shoes or boots. It's hard to swim in gear like that, as well as heavy wet clothing, which weighs you down. If you jump into a pool sometime with your fishing clothes on, you'll have a better idea of what it feels like. Better yet, practice getting back into your boat with fully wet clothes.
Get wet wearing a PFD. Few people ever have practiced swimming with a PFD, with or without being fully clothed, to make sure that it fits right and that they can move in it. Of course, you have to be wearing it when you go into the water to do any good. Reentering a boat while wearing a PFD is much different than doing it without.
Stow a change of clothes in your boat. It comes in handy if you or someone else goes over when the air or water is cold. This can help prevent hypothermia.
Consider wearing a survival suit if you regularly fish in cold water. Survival suits provide warmth and flotation and are used by all rescue and Coast Guard personnel.
Always use the ignition safety-cutoff switch (aka "kill switch") anytime the outboard motor is running. This shuts off the motor, preventing the boat from circling back and running over you. Attach the lanyard from the switch securely to your PFD.
Be especially careful after dark. It's easy to get disoriented under these conditions.
Don't lean over the gunwale to take care of normal body functions if you can't swim, the water is rough or cold, or you're near objects in the water. Use a bucket instead, then dump the contents overboard.
Kick off your boots if you have to swim, especially if they're waders. They are hard to swim in and will drag you down.
Adjust your PFD if you're wearing it. A proper fit means that the PFD is snug on your body and does not rise up around your neck and face.
Stop a moving boat immediately. If the person in the water can't get to the boat, maneuver it to him, approaching from an upwind position and keeping the person in the water away from any motor.
Toss out a rescue buoy if the situation is dire. Boats over 16 feet are required to have a Type IV throwable lifesaving ring or buoy. Toss this to the person in the water if the circumstances warrant (e.g., the person overboard is hurt, weak or unconscious).
Hold onto the boat while a companion maneuvers it to shallow water or shore. The easiest reentry is from a stable location like a dock, shore or shallow water.
In deep water, have a companion assist you with reentry. A person getting into a boat can be helped a great deal if one or two companions grab their belt buckle and pull them up, being careful not to tip the boat and cause themselves to go overboard or the boat to capsize.
In deep water by yourself, if the boat does not have a ladder, use the outboard motor for reentry. The transom sits lowest in the water, and the way to get in from the transom by yourself when the motor is off is to step on the anti-ventilation plate (just above the propeller), pull yourself upright, and step on or flop over the transom.
Use the Man Overboard function on your GPS if necessary. Many anglers have a GPS unit with a Man Overboard (MOB) key that can be used to pinpoint a specific location, which is especially useful at night, in rough water and in bad weather.
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