Up here in Qld we don't have any option but to cross a bar whenever we want to have a fish outside.
Had to learn real quick how to read the water and conditions. Have also learnt to never become complacent when running a bar also, no matter whether coming in or out. I been pushed up the beach, lost a guy over the side and been airborne higher than I'd ever want to go in a boat in my most darkest nightmares.
Getting wet sometimes is part n parcel of crossing a bar. Waves are unpredictable simple. There is no such things as a rogue wave or a freak wave. These two references refer to the same thing.... a BIG wave which catches you off guard.
We fish around a lot of bomby areas when the depth can go from 30m to 2.5m in a verticle motion. The water has to go somewhere and that somewhere is up and eventually over. You'll be surpised at how fast waves move as well. When coming in a bar at times, I can't stay on the back of waves and I'm doing 30km/h or more, they are moving that fast. So trying to judge a wall of water moving that fast can be difficult.
By far the hardest waves to judge and navigate are pressure waves which are most common on out going tides on most bars, you also get these over shallow reef areas when the current is roaring. They can pop up and dissapear in an instant.
If the surfs big and looks dangerous, turn round & go home.
Outside I've never come across a big breaking wave, apart from on a shallow bomby.
Awsome to watch they are.
If confronted by a big wave if you have no other choice turn into it or try and out run it over the shoulder if you are able and hang on! I've seen blokes deliberatly beach their boats as they have made a run for it & not been able to make it. Then been confronted with a wall of whitewater and they have no choice but to put the boat on the beach.
These 2 pic were taken approx 6km off shore, and yes, that is a boat on the other side of the wave in the 2nd pic.