Baja - swell - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Spinal Tap · 08-13-2007, 12:57 AM

Man that kelp bed looks close. Makes me want to just swim out from shore.

aguachico · 08-13-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tap

Man that kelp bed looks close. Makes me want to just swim out from shore.

The divers that do that kelp are local. There are unmarked gill nets here so be careful.

madscientist · 08-13-2007, 08:58 AM

Just to add, the orange yak in the middle of that pic is upside down!

That one required a local diver to rescue. Me and two other guys were still outside the surf zone while this carnage was occurring. Those two took a panga ride in, I gambled with the surf. Got in but had to turn around and paddle for my life 6 or 7 times to avoid a big one. The bad news is that the launch had been fine that morning, this swell just rolled in while we were out there. Scary sheeet.

Tman · 08-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Good advice...another option when the sets roll in is to do a Superman.
Hold on to the back handle and let nature take its course. The added weight in the back (you) keeps the bow up.
Have had to do that a couple times...

tylerdurden · 08-13-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

Good advice...another option when the sets roll in is to do a Superman.
Hold on to the back handle and let nature take its course. The added weight in the back (you) keeps the bow up.
Have had to do that a couple times...

In some spots that might not work. You might go over the reef and get banged up, or the undertow can pull you right back out. On these beaches the waves often break in water >6' deep. Look out.

I was still out when that pic was taken
I took a panga ride in

esdees · 08-13-2007, 11:08 AM

Panga through the surf! That was fun.

At least on that day, if you were not paddling to shore you were not getting any closer. That upside down kayak sat there for over half an hour getting beat up by the surf and then sucked back out. Our diver friend had to swim out and drag it in, along with the kayaker.

rastrev · 08-13-2007, 11:18 AM

Yeah, the crazy thing about that break is it was a fairly easy(by baja standards) launch at high tide, but at low tide the reef on the outside was breaking making it very tricky indeed. It's really important to pay attention to how a break changes through out the day. Baja will definitely improve your surf launching and landing skills whether you want it to or not. This is still one of my favorite Baja pics.

Ojos_raros · 08-13-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

Good advice...another option when the sets roll in is to do a Superman.
Hold on to the back handle and let nature take its course. The added weight in the back (you) keeps the bow up.
Have had to do that a couple times...

Better yet, when a set wave turns your kayak parallel to the white water, try submerging your paddle blade as far as you can. keep the flat part of the blade facing the shore. this keeps the wave from flipping you. its a bumpy ride but you get in without flipping. ive done this in headhigh surf on the sea of cortez in sit inside kayaks without gear. its a pretty common surf technique.

either that or you invent a massive 2 ft retractable skag

08-13-2007, 08:58 AM	#3
madscientist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,906	Just to add, the orange yak in the middle of that pic is upside down! That one required a local diver to rescue. Me and two other guys were still outside the surf zone while this carnage was occurring. Those two took a panga ride in, I gambled with the surf. Got in but had to turn around and paddle for my life 6 or 7 times to avoid a big one. The bad news is that the launch had been fine that morning, this swell just rolled in while we were out there. Scary sheeet. __________________

08-13-2007, 09:16 AM	#4
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Good advice...another option when the sets roll in is to do a Superman. Hold on to the back handle and let nature take its course. The added weight in the back (you) keeps the bow up. Have had to do that a couple times... __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

08-13-2007, 12:57 AM	#1
Spinal Tap Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 132	Man that kelp bed looks close. Makes me want to just swim out from shore.

08-13-2007, 11:08 AM	#6
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	Panga through the surf! That was fun. At least on that day, if you were not paddling to shore you were not getting any closer. That upside down kayak sat there for over half an hour getting beat up by the surf and then sucked back out. Our diver friend had to swim out and drag it in, along with the kayaker.