To go or not to go... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

sdfisher · 03-15-2010, 08:01 AM

have all your gear leashed and strapped! then IF you do wipe out it is not so bad,

I would def go out for a hour or two with just the yak to practice going in and out of the waves and getting comfortable with it, watch the waves so you can get a idea of how to time the sets and then come in on the back of a wave in between sets

good luck!

Ed · 03-15-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdfisher

have all your gear leashed and strapped! then IF you do wipe out it is not so bad,

Never leash your paddle in the surf zone.

dsafety · 03-15-2010, 09:33 PM

I am a fair weather yakfisher so mine will be conservative recommendations. In case you are interested, here they are.

Check the Scripps forecast. If it is three feet or more, or rising so it will be in that range, I usually stay home. In borderline situations, I look at the swell interval. Most of us can launch and land in larger surf if the interval is long, say 12 to 15 seconds. With a long swell interval, it may be doable even if the surf is four feet. Just time your launch and landing for when there is a lull but be prepared for those times when you guess wrong by having everything lashed down and put away.

For me, landing in big surf is much tricker than launching so the forecast for the end of the fishing day is something I always look at.

Forecasts are forecasts and not always totally accurate. The images from the web cam, if you can see them in the early morning light are always worth checking out.

Bob

-scallywag- · 03-16-2010, 06:35 AM

swell:regaurdless of the surf reports 99% of the time the launch is flat. anything from the W-NW under 11 sec and over 4-5ft usually has me packing light or not launching at all

....longer interval from the same direction (w-nw) will not really effect the launch even if it's 7-10ft at scripps. in most of our fishing kayaks with a little practice, 3-4ft is a piece of cake.

wind: this is the limiting factor, anything over 15mph is a little rough in the hobie and it starts getting difficult to fish. if there are 15+mph S winds I wont fish. Strong E winds (offshore) schedualed to blow all day keeps me off the water too. My favorite wind conditions are light E in the morning shifting to light W winds in the afternoon

bentrod1 · 03-17-2010, 06:39 AM

...thanks you all for your bone and (most importantly) gear saving advice and suggestions!

-Bret

old_rookie · 03-24-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed

Never leash your paddle in the surf zone.

What is the reason for that?

Ed · 03-24-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_rookie

What is the reason for that?

Because when you wipe out it can wrap around your neck.

03-17-2010, 06:39 AM	#5
bentrod1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Upland Posts: 60	As usual... ...thanks you all for your bone and (most importantly) gear saving advice and suggestions! -Bret

03-15-2010, 08:01 AM	#1
sdfisher Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 179	have all your gear leashed and strapped! then IF you do wipe out it is not so bad, I would def go out for a hour or two with just the yak to practice going in and out of the waves and getting comfortable with it, watch the waves so you can get a idea of how to time the sets and then come in on the back of a wave in between sets good luck!

03-15-2010, 09:33 PM	#3
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	I am a fair weather yakfisher so mine will be conservative recommendations. In case you are interested, here they are. Check the Scripps forecast. If it is three feet or more, or rising so it will be in that range, I usually stay home. In borderline situations, I look at the swell interval. Most of us can launch and land in larger surf if the interval is long, say 12 to 15 seconds. With a long swell interval, it may be doable even if the surf is four feet. Just time your launch and landing for when there is a lull but be prepared for those times when you guess wrong by having everything lashed down and put away. For me, landing in big surf is much tricker than launching so the forecast for the end of the fishing day is something I always look at. Forecasts are forecasts and not always totally accurate. The images from the web cam, if you can see them in the early morning light are always worth checking out. Bob

03-16-2010, 06:35 AM	#4
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	swell:regaurdless of the surf reports 99% of the time the launch is flat. anything from the W-NW under 11 sec and over 4-5ft usually has me packing light or not launching at all ....longer interval from the same direction (w-nw) will not really effect the launch even if it's 7-10ft at scripps. in most of our fishing kayaks with a little practice, 3-4ft is a piece of cake. wind: this is the limiting factor, anything over 15mph is a little rough in the hobie and it starts getting difficult to fish. if there are 15+mph S winds I wont fish. Strong E winds (offshore) schedualed to blow all day keeps me off the water too. My favorite wind conditions are light E in the morning shifting to light W winds in the afternoon