Paddling at night?

[sup_romer]

Any of you guys go paddling at night? I live between the gulf and the intracoastal. The water is usually nice and calm at night and it looks awful tempting. I'm just a little concerned about toothy creatures. How bout it, any night paddlers that have survived to tell the tale?

[Fog City Rider]

We paddle at night pretty often with our Meetup group in the Oakland estuary in the Bay Area, CA - there is decent lighting around, though, so it's not pitch black. 

Coast Guard requires that each paddler have a white light with them after dark.  Generally it feels pretty safe. 
 
Not sure I'd venture too far from land after dark, though.

[SUP616]

Had some great paddles on Lake Michigan and other inland lakes over the last few years.  Luckily we don't have to worry much about "toothy creatures" in the Midwest.  Safety gear is still a must...can have lots of boat traffic.


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[NoogaSup]

Couple of us paddle pre-dawn hours here on the Tennessee River.  Have done it for years (first in marathon OC-1, now SUP).  We actually don't use lights as we find it easier to see without them - lots of light bouncing around from downtown, the moon, etc.  We are a lot more cautious in cold weather or when alone, but still get out.  Only wildlife to worry about are large fish (actually had one hit me when in a canoe so hard it lifted the boat up a bit).  Not much boat traffic early, some rowers out and there is the occasional tug with barges, but then we generally stay out of the channel.

[stoneaxe]

I usually get out a few times at night each year. Full moon paddles are awesome. I don't usually venture too far out though. 1st time was by mistake...Christmas eve 2008 I got caught by some sudden heavy offshore winds...didn't get in until 8:30 or so...wife was not pleased.

The CCBC launch happens in the dark...pre-dawn anyway with just a hint of light on the horizon. We gave everyone glow necklaces one year...

My wife got me the Nocqua 2000 lights for my board last Christmas....haven't used them yet but I will be shortly. Going to try some night fishing with them too.

[SUPflorida]

Pretty healthy Bull shark population on the Gulf coast of Fl. New Symerna has the record number of bites, but gulf coast bulls don't nip, they bite. Check out the guys that are tracking the great whites...they have two or three big bulls tagged over there swimming about.

[Rail_Banger]

Turns out it is called Glow Paddling and someone is making a business out of it here on Oahu. 
Makes me think next is giant stadium lights on boats out at Pops for night surfing all to yourself and friends ( on top of water) if the crowds come out you just turn the lights off and move to 3's

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/05/22/dnt-glow-boarding-hawaii.khon&video_referrer=

[IRideYellow]

Yea there some that surf at Cowells and up to Indicators when the waves are big enough yet not too big.  There is enough ambient light to see from the pier and streetlights. Need to wear a light of some sort or else a light colored top otherwise you will get plowed into.   

[Caribsurf]

I think I would be more wary of the drunk boater than the toothy shark…