I have only been fishing salt for a couple years total. Been an interesting journey. Had 100’ plus out in 30’ of water and had a big wave sneak up on me and break OVER the outboard. That was an eye opener for sure. The ocean does not really care about your ‘feelings’!!! 😳🤯😄
The whitecaps on Lake Washington are ‘cute’ compared to the ones I have encountered in the sound or on the coast. Tide changes are a whole different animal to get used to.
When whitecaps are coming towards the stern I toss the anchor line around a rear cleat, faces the boat into the waves 1/4 away. Boat planes to one side in the current though, but you can pick a side to plane too.
Easy to yank the line off the cleat too, the boat swings around facing the current.
I dunno if that'd be safe or not in the salt, depends on the current and if the stern is burying in down into the current.