My La Jolla nightmare - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakDout · 05-17-2020, 09:06 AM

Take your kayak down for a morning of 3-4 ft surf with no gear and practice launching and landing over and over and get the feel for the outback without all the expensive stuff on it.

I have an outback now but I used to have a PA 14 and been very close to capsizing due to taking waves over the bow and water not draining out of the scuppers fast enough. Water would pool in the hull and the kayak got extremely slow, heavy, and tippy. Know when to bail off the side and grab ahold of the yak and start over.

As others have said, watch the surf for a few minutes before you launch to see what’s going on so you can time the sets. Sometimes there’s a sneaker set that will get you, it’s gonna happen. Have to know when to charge through it, with everything you have, or pull the plug.

I’ve never flipped on a surf launch yet and been out in 5’ surf. But I have flipped in open water and it’s not fun. Keep at it though. When you get good and start catching good fish it’s a great feeling.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

stevie951 · 05-17-2020, 11:55 AM

Sorry to hear this.. On top of my sober nightmare launches (6 footers at Deer Creek in Malibu - Ended up with me driving to Urgent Care in Riverside cause I jacked my Knee) I have lost plenty of stuff out there while drinking also

Shimano Torium paired with a brand new saguaro lined with 50 lb braid

It hurts a lot to thank about but like all the others here are saying.. Let it be a lesson and not deter you.. Get back up on that high horse buddy and catch a big fish off that kayak!

(P.S. swell interval was 3-4 feet at & seconds the past couple days, that's far too short for my liking as you experienced, 3-4 is not bad but at every 5-7 seconds..) Just make sure to do due diligence researching conditions beforehand

kevbeer · 05-17-2020, 02:58 PM

My son and I went out today and snorkeled the area for a few hours. Son mostly goofed off and played games on my phone. I even paid some guy who specializes in finding stuff in La Jolla $100 to search, additional commission if he found items. He did most of the combing. We found nothing. Visibility was not terrible but not great. The guy is going to keep searching when visibility improves and ask around at lost and founds. At least I gave it a shot.

(edit) I should mention we saw at least 7 fishing kiyaks flip going out, 1 flip coming in...only difference was they were educated enough to tether drive and seat. I have come to realize I hadn't engaged seat clip at seat rear prior to launch. This whole thing just stinks of rookie...live and learn!

I still give it 10% chance some good person finds it and gets it back to me...I am kind of on pause for a couple weeks before I take any further action such as replace or ditch the hull on CL...

cris · 05-17-2020, 05:44 PM

Just saw on the La Jolla lost and found page that somebody found parts to a pedal powered kayak. May be worth contacting him

kevbeer · 05-17-2020, 06:38 PM

I have tried to join that but they wont accept my request!

I tried to message the guy. tried to call the place. no response. flipping out ! hopefully no one snagged it

kevbeer · 05-17-2020, 07:06 PM

OMG suspense is killing me. I have a ground agent in route....

cris · 05-17-2020, 07:34 PM

just got back to the computer and commented on the post to point them to you. Hopefully you get your stuff back. It's a good community we have here.

By the way I'd be stoked to lend you my tandem kayak if you want to take your wife and kid out and show them why you want to be out there! I've taken a bunch of friends out on the front and it's usually a good time and at worst a great story when somebody poops, pukes or takes a swim.

05-17-2020, 09:06 AM	#1
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	My La Jolla nightmare Take your kayak down for a morning of 3-4 ft surf with no gear and practice launching and landing over and over and get the feel for the outback without all the expensive stuff on it. I have an outback now but I used to have a PA 14 and been very close to capsizing due to taking waves over the bow and water not draining out of the scuppers fast enough. Water would pool in the hull and the kayak got extremely slow, heavy, and tippy. Know when to bail off the side and grab ahold of the yak and start over. As others have said, watch the surf for a few minutes before you launch to see what’s going on so you can time the sets. Sometimes there’s a sneaker set that will get you, it’s gonna happen. Have to know when to charge through it, with everything you have, or pull the plug. I’ve never flipped on a surf launch yet and been out in 5’ surf. But I have flipped in open water and it’s not fun. Keep at it though. When you get good and start catching good fish it’s a great feeling. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-17-2020, 11:55 AM	#2
stevie951 Lurker Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Riverside Posts: 431	Sorry to hear this.. On top of my sober nightmare launches (6 footers at Deer Creek in Malibu - Ended up with me driving to Urgent Care in Riverside cause I jacked my Knee) I have lost plenty of stuff out there while drinking also Shimano Torium paired with a brand new saguaro lined with 50 lb braid It hurts a lot to thank about but like all the others here are saying.. Let it be a lesson and not deter you.. Get back up on that high horse buddy and catch a big fish off that kayak! (P.S. swell interval was 3-4 feet at & seconds the past couple days, that's far too short for my liking as you experienced, 3-4 is not bad but at every 5-7 seconds..) Just make sure to do due diligence researching conditions beforehand __________________ "A Reel expert can Tackle anything " ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13 Last edited by stevie951; 05-17-2020 at 12:01 PM.

05-17-2020, 06:38 PM	#5
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 66	I have tried to join that but they wont accept my request! I tried to message the guy. tried to call the place. no response. flipping out ! hopefully no one snagged it Last edited by kevbeer; 05-17-2020 at 06:44 PM.

05-17-2020, 02:58 PM	#3
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 66	My son and I went out today and snorkeled the area for a few hours. Son mostly goofed off and played games on my phone. I even paid some guy who specializes in finding stuff in La Jolla $100 to search, additional commission if he found items. He did most of the combing. We found nothing. Visibility was not terrible but not great. The guy is going to keep searching when visibility improves and ask around at lost and founds. At least I gave it a shot. (edit) I should mention we saw at least 7 fishing kiyaks flip going out, 1 flip coming in...only difference was they were educated enough to tether drive and seat. I have come to realize I hadn't engaged seat clip at seat rear prior to launch. This whole thing just stinks of rookie...live and learn! I still give it 10% chance some good person finds it and gets it back to me...I am kind of on pause for a couple weeks before I take any further action such as replace or ditch the hull on CL...

05-17-2020, 07:06 PM	#6
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 66	OMG suspense is killing me. I have a ground agent in route....

05-17-2020, 07:34 PM	#7
cris Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 254	just got back to the computer and commented on the post to point them to you. Hopefully you get your stuff back. It's a good community we have here. By the way I'd be stoked to lend you my tandem kayak if you want to take your wife and kid out and show them why you want to be out there! I've taken a bunch of friends out on the front and it's usually a good time and at worst a great story when somebody poops, pukes or takes a swim.