Dana Point 3-19 Kayaker overboard - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

corpsmanusn2001 · 03-19-2015, 04:42 PM

Launched around 7 am and trolled around with my brother in law towards Capistrano with no bites. We headed back to work the west jetty and finally started connecting with a few sandies on some 5" big hammers. Most were short except for one legal.

Just as the bite was getting hot I look at another dude who had been anchored about 100 yards away in a red yak. Where did he go? I see him in the water hanging on to his yak. I saw him reaching across as if to pull himself up so I thought he was just practicing or something. After a couple minutes I realized he wasn't able to get onto the yak. To make it worse he was drifting closer to the jetty and the swell was breaking. Not exploding off the rocks but still pretty decent swell slapping the rocks. Anyhow I reel up and start jamming towards him. My bro-in-law is hot on my 6. By the time I get to him he's only 50ft or less from the jetty. I realize his 8 foot sit-inside Pelican (I think that's what it was) is completely filled with water and mostly submerged. I get him to grab my handle and then I grab the front of his yak, which is still anchored. He was calm which made it easier so I told him to go cut his anchor. He untied it and I started peddling to get us all away from the jetty. My bro grabbed the dude's kayak and we made it a little bit farther away but still weren't gaining much ground cause that yak was flooded and this dude had a death grip on my rudder. We decided to call the harbor patrol. It was pretty cool watching them jam around the corner with lights and siren from the harbor. They pulled up the wet dude and dragged his flooded yak back to launch point in the harbor.

I think what happened was the rolling swell swallowed him up cause he was anchored. Anyhow it made for an interesting outing. I think he'll upgrade to a sit-on-top. Poor guy I felt bad for him. He was obviously embarrassed.

Amish Ed · 03-19-2015, 04:48 PM

Way to keep an eye out for your fellow anglers. I hope the guy does go get a SOT.

jorluivil · 03-19-2015, 04:55 PM

way to go!!

Cadillyak · 03-19-2015, 05:04 PM

Good on you. SOT all the way.

GregAndrew · 03-19-2015, 05:38 PM

Well done! Generally, when something looks out of place outside the shallows, it is.

monstahfish · 03-19-2015, 06:08 PM

Nice save and way to be heads up. I hope he's learned a lesson and will be safer next time. Hobie to the rescue again!

corpsmanusn2001 · 03-20-2015, 02:24 PM

Thanks guys. I think any one of us would do the same.

yak-fishing-socal · 03-20-2015, 02:50 PM

Nice job man👍👍. when you called harbor patrol what channel did you use? 16 or 22 or is there another channel I'm not aware of.. Just for future reference

EastLosYaker · 03-20-2015, 03:52 PM

Yup, gotta keep an eye out on each other out there. Way to be in the right place at the right time to save the day.

TJones · 03-20-2015, 06:24 PM

And no self bailing tool like a pump ?

I would at least carry a painters sponge .

fresh to salt · 03-23-2015, 08:21 AM

Good looking out!

Hondatom · 03-25-2015, 07:58 AM

I passed a guy in one of those little (sit insides) just outside newport harbor last weekend. I warned him about all the boat traffic and the big wakes. He blew me off and kept fishing in the boat traffic. An hour later I saw a good Samaritan in a nice fountain dropping the soggy fisherman off at the landing. He should have listened.

Pinhead · 03-23-2015, 09:38 AM

Just curious....was he wearing a PFD ? ....and kayaking alone ?

Glad you had your radio. I keep mine on my PFD.

Good-eye to you and your brother.

Docfishing · 03-23-2015, 10:52 AM

He was wearing pfd.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Batmann · 03-23-2015, 07:44 PM

I am curious if the OP thinks that a throw bag like the one below may have assisted with recovery of the fisherman or his kayak?

03-19-2015, 04:42 PM	#1
corpsmanusn2001 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 65	Dana Point 3-19 Kayaker overboard Launched around 7 am and trolled around with my brother in law towards Capistrano with no bites. We headed back to work the west jetty and finally started connecting with a few sandies on some 5" big hammers. Most were short except for one legal. Just as the bite was getting hot I look at another dude who had been anchored about 100 yards away in a red yak. Where did he go? I see him in the water hanging on to his yak. I saw him reaching across as if to pull himself up so I thought he was just practicing or something. After a couple minutes I realized he wasn't able to get onto the yak. To make it worse he was drifting closer to the jetty and the swell was breaking. Not exploding off the rocks but still pretty decent swell slapping the rocks. Anyhow I reel up and start jamming towards him. My bro-in-law is hot on my 6. By the time I get to him he's only 50ft or less from the jetty. I realize his 8 foot sit-inside Pelican (I think that's what it was) is completely filled with water and mostly submerged. I get him to grab my handle and then I grab the front of his yak, which is still anchored. He was calm which made it easier so I told him to go cut his anchor. He untied it and I started peddling to get us all away from the jetty. My bro grabbed the dude's kayak and we made it a little bit farther away but still weren't gaining much ground cause that yak was flooded and this dude had a death grip on my rudder. We decided to call the harbor patrol. It was pretty cool watching them jam around the corner with lights and siren from the harbor. They pulled up the wet dude and dragged his flooded yak back to launch point in the harbor. I think what happened was the rolling swell swallowed him up cause he was anchored. Anyhow it made for an interesting outing. I think he'll upgrade to a sit-on-top. Poor guy I felt bad for him. He was obviously embarrassed.

03-19-2015, 04:48 PM	#2
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Way to keep an eye out for your fellow anglers. I hope the guy does go get a SOT. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

03-19-2015, 04:55 PM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,855	way to go!! __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

03-19-2015, 05:04 PM	#4
Cadillyak Team Get $$ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 841	Good on you. SOT all the way. __________________ The "Y" is silent 2012 Olive PA 12 2011 Papaya Outback

03-20-2015, 06:24 PM	#10
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,523	Sit inside And no self bailing tool like a pump ? I would at least carry a painters sponge .

03-19-2015, 05:38 PM	#5
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Well done! Generally, when something looks out of place outside the shallows, it is.

03-19-2015, 06:08 PM	#6
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 406	Nice save and way to be heads up. I hope he's learned a lesson and will be safer next time. Hobie to the rescue again!

03-20-2015, 02:24 PM	#7
corpsmanusn2001 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 65	Thanks guys. I think any one of us would do the same.

03-20-2015, 02:50 PM	#8
yak-fishing-socal kayak fishing socal Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southern California / Whittier Posts: 438	Nice job man👍👍. when you called harbor patrol what channel did you use? 16 or 22 or is there another channel I'm not aware of.. Just for future reference

03-20-2015, 03:52 PM	#9
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Yup, gotta keep an eye out on each other out there. Way to be in the right place at the right time to save the day.

03-23-2015, 08:21 AM	#11
fresh to salt Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 53	Good looking out!

03-25-2015, 07:58 AM	#12
Hondatom Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 113	I passed a guy in one of those little (sit insides) just outside newport harbor last weekend. I warned him about all the boat traffic and the big wakes. He blew me off and kept fishing in the boat traffic. An hour later I saw a good Samaritan in a nice fountain dropping the soggy fisherman off at the landing. He should have listened.

03-23-2015, 09:38 AM	#13
Pinhead We all Stink Sometimes! Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 161	Just curious....was he wearing a PFD ? ....and kayaking alone ? Glad you had your radio. I keep mine on my PFD. Good-eye to you and your brother.

03-23-2015, 10:52 AM	#14
Docfishing Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 2	He was wearing pfd. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-23-2015, 07:44 PM	#15
Batmann Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 117	I am curious if the OP thinks that a throw bag like the one below may have assisted with recovery of the fisherman or his kayak? Attached Images