Just when I thought I was safe - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

walrus · 07-01-2012, 10:10 AM

First I'd like to say I'm really glad you got out of this O.K.

After reading this I was thinking about what I would do. That in turn started me to thinking about other close call stories that I've seen posted here and elsewhere. They always seem to be solo kayaks.

It boils down to this, if you solo (which I do) you must focus on safety and unexpected emergencies. Which would be hard for me to do when fishing.

Maybe I should consider a partner as part of my safety gear?

Just thinking.

yaky yak · 07-01-2012, 10:45 AM

I am glad your alright. You'ed of been one of those mystery at sea story's. The snickers would of washed out and no one would of known what happened.
I go out by my self 90% of the time. Iv'e been out 12 miles off dana before looking for tuna a few years ago. When you go out by your self even the smallest mishap can end your life. The best you can do is be prepared for most misadventures. Just know when its your time to go, Death has more ways of taking you then we have ways of preventing it.
I had my splash pants get knock down around my ankles, then wrap around my legs while in the surf. I just took my vest off, in 10 inches of water. Next thing I know i am under water and my legs are tied. Another time I was baiting some rock cod hooks, I had a big heavy jig on the end. As I am putting bait on the last hook a mako hit the jig that was just barely dangling in the water. I shudder when I think about what would of happened if one of those 6/0 hooks had went in me.
Again glad your ok. We have to be prepared, but we can't live in fear.

steveooo · 07-01-2012, 02:43 PM

Wow Ross. Scary stuff

Glad you are OK brother.

GregAndrew · 07-01-2012, 03:27 PM

Glad you are ok Ross. Doesn't sound like a buddy would have helped in your situation with the bad fog. If you had to prepare for every conceiveable scenario each time you went out, you would need a pretty big boat to carry it all plus the staff. Cell phone call to 911 and tap in the morse code for "SOS"? Then hope for a record breaking locating and response time.

rossman · 07-02-2012, 06:15 AM

Thank you to all of you well wishers. I don't think this episode will change my methods or procedures when it comes to kayak fishing. Other than I'll be a little more careful eating while on the water. I find comfort in the probabilities game in these situations. Nothing like this has ever happened to me and at age 65, the odds of it happening again to me in my lifetime is very slim and incalculable. Back in the early 70s I had a job that required me to fly quite bit. I was once working in Huntsville Al. and finished my duties and was going to fly back to my office in Atlanta in the evening. I was at the airport and had my boarding pass when I was paged and asked to return to the job site. The plane that I was to board flew into a hail storm, crashed and killed all 86 souls on board. I am now the most relaxed flyer because of the probabilities of it ever happening again. Reminds me of a comedian that I once heard say that whenever he flies, he tries to smuggle a bomb aboard the plane because the odds of having two people with a bomb on the same plane cannot be calculated. I always like that reasoning.

Thanks again to y'all

lamb · 07-02-2012, 06:45 AM

Glad to hear it all ended well.

One thing you should generally do in these situations - raise your hands! I don't know how, but that opens up your breathing passages. I learned that recently; it happened to me in the middle of the night - I woke up choking, grasping for air. My wife woke up and yelled at me to raise my hands. Once I did, whatever got stuck in the wrong tube was gone, and I started breathing normally. Tested, it works!

She learned that what you're supposed to do during the 1st job she had when we came to the US; she worked for a small child care place in Michigan. That was something they taught her as a part of a formal training for a job.

bigbarrels · 07-02-2012, 08:44 AM

Wow, glad you are ok. Some scary stuff right there. May have to go with a puree Snickers in the future otw

07-02-2012, 06:15 AM	#5
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Thank you to all of you well wishers. I don't think this episode will change my methods or procedures when it comes to kayak fishing. Other than I'll be a little more careful eating while on the water. I find comfort in the probabilities game in these situations. Nothing like this has ever happened to me and at age 65, the odds of it happening again to me in my lifetime is very slim and incalculable. Back in the early 70s I had a job that required me to fly quite bit. I was once working in Huntsville Al. and finished my duties and was going to fly back to my office in Atlanta in the evening. I was at the airport and had my boarding pass when I was paged and asked to return to the job site. The plane that I was to board flew into a hail storm, crashed and killed all 86 souls on board. I am now the most relaxed flyer because of the probabilities of it ever happening again. Reminds me of a comedian that I once heard say that whenever he flies, he tries to smuggle a bomb aboard the plane because the odds of having two people with a bomb on the same plane cannot be calculated. I always like that reasoning. Thanks again to y'all __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

07-02-2012, 06:45 AM	#6
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Glad to hear it all ended well. One thing you should generally do in these situations - raise your hands! I don't know how, but that opens up your breathing passages. I learned that recently; it happened to me in the middle of the night - I woke up choking, grasping for air. My wife woke up and yelled at me to raise my hands. Once I did, whatever got stuck in the wrong tube was gone, and I started breathing normally. Tested, it works! She learned that what you're supposed to do during the 1st job she had when we came to the US; she worked for a small child care place in Michigan. That was something they taught her as a part of a formal training for a job. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

07-02-2012, 08:44 AM	#7
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	Wow, glad you are ok. Some scary stuff right there. May have to go with a puree Snickers in the future otw __________________ The shorter you are, the bigger your fish appear

07-01-2012, 10:10 AM	#1
walrus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baja fish camp Posts: 478	First I'd like to say I'm really glad you got out of this O.K. After reading this I was thinking about what I would do. That in turn started me to thinking about other close call stories that I've seen posted here and elsewhere. They always seem to be solo kayaks. It boils down to this, if you solo (which I do) you must focus on safety and unexpected emergencies. Which would be hard for me to do when fishing. Maybe I should consider a partner as part of my safety gear? Just thinking.

07-01-2012, 10:45 AM	#2
yaky yak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Riverside, calif Posts: 130	I am glad your alright. You'ed of been one of those mystery at sea story's. The snickers would of washed out and no one would of known what happened. I go out by my self 90% of the time. Iv'e been out 12 miles off dana before looking for tuna a few years ago. When you go out by your self even the smallest mishap can end your life. The best you can do is be prepared for most misadventures. Just know when its your time to go, Death has more ways of taking you then we have ways of preventing it. I had my splash pants get knock down around my ankles, then wrap around my legs while in the surf. I just took my vest off, in 10 inches of water. Next thing I know i am under water and my legs are tied. Another time I was baiting some rock cod hooks, I had a big heavy jig on the end. As I am putting bait on the last hook a mako hit the jig that was just barely dangling in the water. I shudder when I think about what would of happened if one of those 6/0 hooks had went in me. Again glad your ok. We have to be prepared, but we can't live in fear.

07-01-2012, 02:43 PM	#3
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	Wow Ross. Scary stuff Glad you are OK brother.

07-01-2012, 03:27 PM	#4
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Glad you are ok Ross. Doesn't sound like a buddy would have helped in your situation with the bad fog. If you had to prepare for every conceiveable scenario each time you went out, you would need a pretty big boat to carry it all plus the staff. Cell phone call to 911 and tap in the morse code for "SOS"? Then hope for a record breaking locating and response time.