La Jolla Monday (fog) Navaids - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Hypoxic1 · 11-09-2009, 12:29 PM

Launched about 0500 this morning and made bait, etc then went on the yellow hunt. As the sun was rising a dense fog bank materialized off the point and cut visibility to about 20 feet, making it hard to see skipping bait, or anything else for that matter. After about 3 hours I was able to determine exactly where I was and decided to just cut it short and call it a day. Ran into a kayak diver and he told me visibility in the kelp was down to about 7 feet, not real good.
I always carry a compass and maintain good situational awareness but this dense fog really made for a bummer of a trip. Given that I dont have a gps or a fishfinder I am shopping for both with urgency. Is it preferable to have a ff with a plotter, or just a cheap ff and a handheld gps?

I am interested in both arguments . I did see a rather nice garmin with plotter at West marine for about 450

If I get the cheap hummingbird or pirana ff and a handheld gps I am looking at 400 or therabouts plus battery in both cases.

Anyone with a view on this want to weigh in?
Thanks
Chris

Corey · 11-09-2009, 12:57 PM

I'd get a combo unit. I've been using the Garmin 178 with internal antenna for 3 years with no problems, and I abuse it.

bigbarrels · 11-09-2009, 01:10 PM

combo unit....I have the Humminbird 595c and it works well

Siebler · 11-09-2009, 01:15 PM

We install a lot of Cuda 350's and they hold up well. This years units are 100% sealed, perfect for the kayak. 285.00 installed at OEX

Sherm · 11-09-2009, 02:04 PM

That's the set up I go with. I abuse it and so far (knocking on wood) it's working just fine.

deepdvr · 11-09-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siebler

We install a lot of Cuda 350's and they hold up well. This years units are 100% sealed, perfect for the kayak. 285.00 installed at OEX

Just wondering if the Lowrance M68C is also 100% sealed? If it is, give that one a look Chris.

Siebler · 11-09-2009, 02:41 PM

Not sure, I installed one though and the transducer is HUGE.

radastaff · 11-09-2009, 08:07 PM

i have both the ff(hunninbird343) and a seprate garmin gps handheld

if i could do over
i might still go with the combo unit

one thing to say about getting them sep
if one goes out and needs repairing
ure not down the other while waiting

nice to have the seprate handheld
if u go hikin or dont have one in ure car already
u can always get a mount for the handheld

THE DARKHORSE · 11-09-2009, 08:35 PM

The alarm went off at 5 a.m., still dark, oh please just one more hour of sleep. It goes off again at 6 a.m., thick fog outside, no thanks. Call a friend on the beach around 10:30 a.m. : "there's still fog, but it's definetely clearing". I go ahead and launch around 11:00, not a soul in sight. The sun came out and the wind held off just long enough before the fog came back.

To make a long story short, you should have stayed out, Chris. Report to follow

.

Oh yeah, one more vote for the combo unit. Go West Marine or regret it.

11-09-2009, 12:29 PM	#1
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	La Jolla Monday (fog) Navaids Launched about 0500 this morning and made bait, etc then went on the yellow hunt. As the sun was rising a dense fog bank materialized off the point and cut visibility to about 20 feet, making it hard to see skipping bait, or anything else for that matter. After about 3 hours I was able to determine exactly where I was and decided to just cut it short and call it a day. Ran into a kayak diver and he told me visibility in the kelp was down to about 7 feet, not real good. I always carry a compass and maintain good situational awareness but this dense fog really made for a bummer of a trip. Given that I dont have a gps or a fishfinder I am shopping for both with urgency. Is it preferable to have a ff with a plotter, or just a cheap ff and a handheld gps? I am interested in both arguments . I did see a rather nice garmin with plotter at West marine for about 450 If I get the cheap hummingbird or pirana ff and a handheld gps I am looking at 400 or therabouts plus battery in both cases. Anyone with a view on this want to weigh in? Thanks Chris

11-09-2009, 12:57 PM	#2
Corey Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ...waaaay out there Posts: 794	I'd get a combo unit. I've been using the Garmin 178 with internal antenna for 3 years with no problems, and I abuse it. __________________

11-09-2009, 01:15 PM	#4
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	We install a lot of Cuda 350's and they hold up well. This years units are 100% sealed, perfect for the kayak. 285.00 installed at OEX __________________ CJ Siebler

11-09-2009, 02:41 PM	#7
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	Not sure, I installed one though and the transducer is HUGE. __________________ CJ Siebler

11-09-2009, 08:35 PM	#9
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	I must have just missed you... The alarm went off at 5 a.m., still dark, oh please just one more hour of sleep. It goes off again at 6 a.m., thick fog outside, no thanks. Call a friend on the beach around 10:30 a.m. : "there's still fog, but it's definetely clearing". I go ahead and launch around 11:00, not a soul in sight. The sun came out and the wind held off just long enough before the fog came back. To make a long story short, you should have stayed out, Chris. Report to follow . Oh yeah, one more vote for the combo unit. Go West Marine or regret it. __________________

11-09-2009, 01:10 PM	#3
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	combo unit....I have the Humminbird 595c and it works well

11-09-2009, 02:04 PM	#5
Sherm Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 490	That's the set up I go with. I abuse it and so far (knocking on wood) it's working just fine.

11-09-2009, 08:07 PM	#8
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	i have both the ff(hunninbird343) and a seprate garmin gps handheld if i could do over i might still go with the combo unit one thing to say about getting them sep if one goes out and needs repairing ure not down the other while waiting nice to have the seprate handheld if u go hikin or dont have one in ure car already u can always get a mount for the handheld