Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge - View Single Post

GregAndrew · 06-08-2017, 04:01 PM

The real answer is that it depends not only on the wind speed and swell size, but which direction they are coming from and for how long. Very large swell sizes can have little impact on beaches that are protected or more parallel to their direction. On the other hand, a couple of smaller swells from different directions can create some nasty breakers at times. The swell interval can also be a big issue. The first swell swamps you and takes away your momentum, and the second wave takes you backwards.

Higher wind speeds (10mph - 20mph) can be fished, but you will probably want to pick a location that is protected from at least the wind swell building (not too much distance between you and the nearest wind break up wind). The longer time and distance the wind stays coming from a particular direction (even at lower speeds) the more the wind swell is going to build. While off-shore winds are better for keeping the wind swell down, they are worse for safety when it gets above 20mph. On-shore winds are not much worth fishing when they are over 15mph. Especially when the regular swell is in much of a different direction (washing machine conditions).

All of this being said, predicting the wind is every bit as difficult as predicting the weather. It seems to me that the forecasters err towards the higher speeds, the further out the prediction. And tomorrows forecast will look very much like today's results (short of new weather moving in).

So, for your original question, the swells are mixed and building at LJ. The wind appears to be up and consistently out of the West for the weekend (day and night). Not good conditions if the forecast remains the same (sloppy at least). The good news is that the forecast will change between now an then (often). So make your decision when you have to, or have a backup plan for one of the bays.

06-08-2017, 04:01 PM	#12
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	The real answer is that it depends not only on the wind speed and swell size, but which direction they are coming from and for how long. Very large swell sizes can have little impact on beaches that are protected or more parallel to their direction. On the other hand, a couple of smaller swells from different directions can create some nasty breakers at times. The swell interval can also be a big issue. The first swell swamps you and takes away your momentum, and the second wave takes you backwards. Higher wind speeds (10mph - 20mph) can be fished, but you will probably want to pick a location that is protected from at least the wind swell building (not too much distance between you and the nearest wind break up wind). The longer time and distance the wind stays coming from a particular direction (even at lower speeds) the more the wind swell is going to build. While off-shore winds are better for keeping the wind swell down, they are worse for safety when it gets above 20mph. On-shore winds are not much worth fishing when they are over 15mph. Especially when the regular swell is in much of a different direction (washing machine conditions). All of this being said, predicting the wind is every bit as difficult as predicting the weather. It seems to me that the forecasters err towards the higher speeds, the further out the prediction. And tomorrows forecast will look very much like today's results (short of new weather moving in). So, for your original question, the swells are mixed and building at LJ. The wind appears to be up and consistently out of the West for the weekend (day and night). Not good conditions if the forecast remains the same (sloppy at least). The good news is that the forecast will change between now an then (often). So make your decision when you have to, or have a backup plan for one of the bays.