Sea Dog question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Harry Hill · 10-18-2015, 06:28 AM

Yesterday fishing near the bait barge in Newport Harbor we had to deal with a couple of real aggressive sea dogs. One kep coming up alongside my kayak and blowing water on me and then swimming under my yak and bumping it. Not real hard but enough to move the yak some. Anyway, I got to thinking that in order for me to get to the back of my kayak I have to sit sideways and hang my feet over the side while I grab stuff. Has anyone heard of anyone getting bitten by one of the dogs? I know they have excellent sight and can pull an anchovy off of a hook without getting hooked so they know how to be careful but on my first mackerel the dog came in under the boat and grabbed it as I was pulling it out of the water and I got to thinking that could be my foot hanging over the side. So while the dogs were around I didn't hang my feet out but I was still wondering if the dogs knew the difference.

Zed · 10-18-2015, 08:39 AM

Not on the yak but surfing a long time ago there was dogs messing with with my (and others out) feet. They would gently mouth and tug. Not a chomp anyway. It was scary AF the first time then funny then annoying. I think they were just playing. Adolescents just testing boundaries. Never again after that though.

Dail14 · 10-18-2015, 11:11 AM

If they stay that close a good thrust with your paddle should get them to move a few feet away. Worst case scenario tie on a heavy weight and slam it in the water near them. It doesnt have to hit them but it scares them away. This is for if they stay within 10 feet of you or constantly bump you.

King Saba · 10-18-2015, 11:44 AM

Did you have any bait in the water? I had ONE greenie in my bait tube at DPH and damn seal followed me for an hour. It wasn't until I released that thing and paddled away that it stopped following me.

maquinapescado · 10-18-2015, 12:49 PM

In the marina at Ensendada, there was a huge sea dog that was notorious for being really aggressive and had attacked several people. I was carrying a couple surfboards and my bag while getting off my friends boat and he lunged at me. I dropped all my shit and got a good scare. I heard a couple years later someone finally put a bullet in him.

I suggest that you always be cautious around those bastards. I've been surfing my whole life and have been startled by them and heard a couple attack stories but nothing I can confirm.

If it were up to me I would say that there should be a hunting season for them and give out tags like deer tags. That way we could decrease the population some without getting out of hand. They are literally devastating the steelhead and salmon population in some places.

Superduper · 10-18-2015, 02:56 PM

Sling shot and a bag of marbles always works for me

10-18-2015, 06:28 AM	#1
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	Sea Dog question Yesterday fishing near the bait barge in Newport Harbor we had to deal with a couple of real aggressive sea dogs. One kep coming up alongside my kayak and blowing water on me and then swimming under my yak and bumping it. Not real hard but enough to move the yak some. Anyway, I got to thinking that in order for me to get to the back of my kayak I have to sit sideways and hang my feet over the side while I grab stuff. Has anyone heard of anyone getting bitten by one of the dogs? I know they have excellent sight and can pull an anchovy off of a hook without getting hooked so they know how to be careful but on my first mackerel the dog came in under the boat and grabbed it as I was pulling it out of the water and I got to thinking that could be my foot hanging over the side. So while the dogs were around I didn't hang my feet out but I was still wondering if the dogs knew the difference.

10-18-2015, 08:39 AM	#2
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Not on the yak but surfing a long time ago there was dogs messing with with my (and others out) feet. They would gently mouth and tug. Not a chomp anyway. It was scary AF the first time then funny then annoying. I think they were just playing. Adolescents just testing boundaries. Never again after that though. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

10-18-2015, 11:11 AM	#3
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	If they stay that close a good thrust with your paddle should get them to move a few feet away. Worst case scenario tie on a heavy weight and slam it in the water near them. It doesnt have to hit them but it scares them away. This is for if they stay within 10 feet of you or constantly bump you.

10-18-2015, 11:44 AM	#4
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Did you have any bait in the water? I had ONE greenie in my bait tube at DPH and damn seal followed me for an hour. It wasn't until I released that thing and paddled away that it stopped following me.

10-18-2015, 12:49 PM	#5
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	In the marina at Ensendada, there was a huge sea dog that was notorious for being really aggressive and had attacked several people. I was carrying a couple surfboards and my bag while getting off my friends boat and he lunged at me. I dropped all my shit and got a good scare. I heard a couple years later someone finally put a bullet in him. I suggest that you always be cautious around those bastards. I've been surfing my whole life and have been startled by them and heard a couple attack stories but nothing I can confirm. If it were up to me I would say that there should be a hunting season for them and give out tags like deer tags. That way we could decrease the population some without getting out of hand. They are literally devastating the steelhead and salmon population in some places.

10-18-2015, 02:56 PM	#6
Superduper Junior Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	Sling shot and a bag of marbles always works for me