Patience - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

lterrero · 04-02-2014, 08:59 AM

Chucky, 45min of waiting is too much when the YT are out there waiting for you!! anyhow good luck amigo in the way back going out.

jruiz · 04-02-2014, 09:06 AM

Paddle + Pedal + Jump out in knee deep water

Don't forget to have your drive bungeed so it retracts when you stop pedaling

WildernessWanker · 04-02-2014, 09:25 AM

I've primarily surf launched, only a handful of times have I gone out in the harbor. The one thing I try to keep in mind is that every time you have to be on point and not get lazy. This means leashing or stowing everything on launch, even if you don't roll or tip, breaking through waves will pass a wall of water over your yak and you can lose gear. One of the first times I went out I had my lunch sitting in my tankwell next to my crate. My crate was all secured but my lunch was just sitting there, and after a couple hours I went to grab a snack only to find no lunch sack. It's safe to safe that on launching it was swept off the yak since that was the only real adventure I had up to that point.
I agree with what everyone has said though, it's all about patience and picking your timing. I've never waited as long as 45 minutes, but I've never showed up and just raced out. I always take some time to look at the sets and where they're breaking, it's always easier to launch with the right timing and in the right part of beach.
As far as drive goes, I always launch with my drive out, just what I was taught when I went out with more experienced kayakers. I find I have more immediate control of the yak with my paddle and better holeshot on speed. I always put my drive in immediately past the breakers then will use both to get me a little deeper quicker. A lesson learned from Malibu when I thought I was past the breakers and started situating gear on the kayak only to have a huge rogue wave build and break with me right in the zone. After I got to my feet and righted my kayak the dragged myself to shore, I logged it a lesson learned. I take the drive out on the way in, if something were to happen I'd hate for the kayak to get out of my hands with the drive in if the fins came loose and were down in only a foot of water. I try to be as careful as possible, partly because I don't want to get hurt but mostly because the cost of replacing broken gear draws from my "saving for a PA fund."

Dannowar · 04-02-2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildernessWanker

As far as drive goes, I always launch with my drive out, just what I was taught when I went out with more experienced kayakers. I find I have more immediate control of the yak with my paddle and better holeshot on speed. I always put my drive in immediately past the breakers then will use both to get me a little deeper quicker. A lesson learned from Malibu when I thought I was past the breakers and started situating gear on the kayak only to have a huge rogue wave build and break with me right in the zone. After I got to my feet and righted my kayak the dragged myself to shore, I logged it a lesson learned. I take the drive out on the way in, if something were to happen I'd hate for the kayak to get out of my hands with the drive in if the fins came loose and were down in only a foot of water. I try to be as careful as possible, partly because I don't want to get hurt but mostly because the cost of replacing broken gear draws from my "saving for a PA fund."

You will be utterly shocked at how much easier it is to launch with your drive in

Bungee
Waist deep water
Release rudder
Release fins
Find your moment
Keep straight

Fish

GregAndrew · 04-02-2014, 11:02 AM

Some good advice here. I would add that what works for one person may not work for another (especially with a different kayak). Also, after learning how to remount your yak, you should go out bare bones and play in the surf. You will be amazed at what you can get over and through. For larger surf, a lack of speed coming in can be much harder to deal with. You are better off to be running out in front of the wave than to get sucked back up to the peak (just like surfers). And, the best landing advice ever, never get caught leaning toward the beach.

WildernessWanker · 04-02-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Some good advice here. I would add that what works for one person may not work for another (especially with a different kayak). Also, after learning how to remount your yak, you should go out bare bones and play in the surf. You will be amazed at what you can get over and through. For larger surf, a lack of speed coming in can be much harder to deal with. You are better off to be running out in front of the wave than to get sucked back up to the peak (just like surfers). And, the best landing advice ever, never get caught leaning toward the beach.

It's amazing what kayaks are capable of when you push them. I took mine out in 4-6' surf to practice unloaded and was actually doing pretty well at getting through all the waves, with only getting wet as my outcome. Then show up at a beach to waves 3' and question launching my kayak with all my gear because I'm afraid of rolling. You want to find the fine line between over-estimating one's abilities and under-estimating the kayak's abilities. That's just my $0.02.

Sent from my SPH-L520 using Tapatalk

GregAndrew · 04-03-2014, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildernessWanker

It's amazing what kayaks are capable of when you push them. I took mine out in 4-6' surf to practice unloaded and was actually doing pretty well at getting through all the waves, with only getting wet as my outcome. Then show up at a beach to waves 3' and question launching my kayak with all my gear because I'm afraid of rolling. You want to find the fine line between over-estimating one's abilities and under-estimating the kayak's abilities. That's just my $0.02.

Sent from my SPH-L520 using Tapatalk

There is definitely a difference between bare and loaded, just like between dry and just after taking on a lapful of water. You will require an extra stroke or two to get up to speed when loaded. But you will also have more inertia on your side for penetration. I agree that the risk factor does go up with lots more money on the line.

Another point that should be clarified is that "straight out" does not mean perpendicular to the shore, but to the swell direction. The most effective way to get through a wave or whitewater is by making your profile as small as possible. You accomplish this by hitting it square on. With multiple swell directions, sometimes you may have to steer back and forth between a couple or a few directions to keep your small profile. With short intervals it can be very tricky, or you may have to just pic the best (hopefully) happy medium.

ChristLike · 04-02-2014, 11:06 AM

Anyone interested in my helicopter service(DKOTPter) Dropping the kids off at the pool. Picks you up on the beach drops you off pass the breakers.

$150 round trip

04-02-2014, 11:06 AM	#8
ChristLike Catch and Release(#2) Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 77	Anyone interested in my helicopter service(DKOTPter) Dropping the kids off at the pool. Picks you up on the beach drops you off pass the breakers. $150 round trip __________________ Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me *Caddiyak PA14*

04-02-2014, 08:59 AM	#1
lterrero Leo Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 482	Chucky, 45min of waiting is too much when the YT are out there waiting for you!! anyhow good luck amigo in the way back going out.

04-02-2014, 09:06 AM	#2
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	Paddle + Pedal + Jump out in knee deep water Don't forget to have your drive bungeed so it retracts when you stop pedaling

04-02-2014, 09:25 AM	#3
WildernessWanker WildernessWanker Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 345	I've primarily surf launched, only a handful of times have I gone out in the harbor. The one thing I try to keep in mind is that every time you have to be on point and not get lazy. This means leashing or stowing everything on launch, even if you don't roll or tip, breaking through waves will pass a wall of water over your yak and you can lose gear. One of the first times I went out I had my lunch sitting in my tankwell next to my crate. My crate was all secured but my lunch was just sitting there, and after a couple hours I went to grab a snack only to find no lunch sack. It's safe to safe that on launching it was swept off the yak since that was the only real adventure I had up to that point. I agree with what everyone has said though, it's all about patience and picking your timing. I've never waited as long as 45 minutes, but I've never showed up and just raced out. I always take some time to look at the sets and where they're breaking, it's always easier to launch with the right timing and in the right part of beach. As far as drive goes, I always launch with my drive out, just what I was taught when I went out with more experienced kayakers. I find I have more immediate control of the yak with my paddle and better holeshot on speed. I always put my drive in immediately past the breakers then will use both to get me a little deeper quicker. A lesson learned from Malibu when I thought I was past the breakers and started situating gear on the kayak only to have a huge rogue wave build and break with me right in the zone. After I got to my feet and righted my kayak the dragged myself to shore, I logged it a lesson learned. I take the drive out on the way in, if something were to happen I'd hate for the kayak to get out of my hands with the drive in if the fins came loose and were down in only a foot of water. I try to be as careful as possible, partly because I don't want to get hurt but mostly because the cost of replacing broken gear draws from my "saving for a PA fund."

04-02-2014, 11:02 AM	#5
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Some good advice here. I would add that what works for one person may not work for another (especially with a different kayak). Also, after learning how to remount your yak, you should go out bare bones and play in the surf. You will be amazed at what you can get over and through. For larger surf, a lack of speed coming in can be much harder to deal with. You are better off to be running out in front of the wave than to get sucked back up to the peak (just like surfers). And, the best landing advice ever, never get caught leaning toward the beach.