Anybody going out regularly between Malibu and Ventura?

[goldenglory18]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I learned two things recently that help landing significantly.

1. When coming in to land you always should jump out before the next set and run to the back of the kayak to grab the back as the wave passes. ( assuming you don't land on the sand and have plenty of time)

Dumb question: Why wouldn't someone jump out and grab the bow handle instead and drag it up shore? The quicker you're out of the water, the quicker you are out of the yard sale zone, no?

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

2. A bow rope will go a long way in controlling your kayak when you are on the side. A bow rope is a rope that ties from the nose of your kayak to the middle. This way when you jump off you immediately have a line to hang on to control the kayak. This also allows you to slide your hand from the middle of the kayak to the front without letting go in the surf.

This is a great idea. Almost like a dual purpose anchor trolley that you can use to control the direction of the boat. Also possibly to be used as a safety "grab spot" if the shit ever hits the fan. Hmmmm.......

[ProfessorLongArms]

As always, thanks for the input and suggestions.
The story actually has a happy ending to it as well.

When I was getting ready to launch yesterday, I told myself I wasn't going to put any gear on the boat that wasn't for paddling... Seat, Paddle, life jacket, Dolley. At the last minute, I thought... "well I could just put this older short rod on here and troll the kelp once I get out there. Maybe I'll luck out on an old halibut" An old Penn TLD (15 yrs) on a 6' Calstar. Of course, when I wiped out in my launch, I had it bungeed on to the side in a couple of places, but that wasn't enough to keep it on. Nice lesson there.

I saw it once while getting control of my boat, and there was a guy in his RV who was nice enough to run down and help me drag it up. Rod disappeared when I turned around (this is also the 2nd pair or sunglasses I've lost in the surf too. I've learned to stow them, no matter how tight I can get my croakies)

The guy advised me a bit on how to watch the surf and actually told me when to go... worked out great. While I was sitting out there watching the sets before coming in (it really is an impressive and scary sight to see the swells when the ocean just drops a few meters out in front of you.) and I saw the rod fly up out of the water just once. Took me at least 30 mins before I could get a feel for when there was calm. I find that part requires a lot of patience and concentration, as it's not entirely obvious to the untrained eye... I honestly "felt" more like it had calmed down than I had acutely observed.

I sat on the beach for another little while watching for my rod to pop up once I had landed. The same guy came back and offered me his number, *and* helped me haul my kayak onto my truck. Said it would probably wash up in high tide and that he'd grab it for me. Sure enough he and his wife went for a walk last night, found it in the hands of a woman on the beach who had just picked it up 50 yds north/west, and claimed it for me. Actually went a long way toward my faith in the kindness of strangers. Planning to bring the man a nice bottle of tequila.

At any rate, I think I've learned my lesson around not launching unless I can piggy-back off of the experience of someone else and follow their lead.... At least not until I can clearly read the sets. My back got pretty rashed up in the rocks, and I hear infection is not something to play around with in saltwater.
I'm still finding sand behind my ears, and I'd prefer to avoid this in the future.

I'm even toying around with finding someone non-fishing focused to get some launch lessons from.... Maybe just spend a day going in and out so it feels less daunting. After that botched launch, I was a but gun shy to land. . . i honesly feel like a little fear is probably healthy

As far as I can tell, 90% of this is reading the surf, but I'm also interested in practicing techniques like these so that I'm prepared when everything goes to shit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRdYMIU3Di8

One big mistake I learned from yesterday was that I tried to go legs first into the kayak, and my foot got caught coming over the boat... It was a horrible false start.

I've seen a mix of this on youtube videos... I realize a lot of people throw a leg over, straddle, and sit... Then pull legs in... Seems like a much more stable way to get in.

At any rate, i'm rambling... I hope to see some of you out on Sunday morning. Thinking I'll try to launch the south/east side of the rocks on Leo Carillo based on that map provided by Cronus. That's super helpful, as I never considered using the gated entrance to pull the kayak through... especially when they're still closed.

[acorad]

As the surf tends to come from the NW, launching from the protected S/E side of that point/rocks seems like a smart idea.

Thanks Cronus!

This too (would probably helped me two Sundays ago when I yard saled there on landing):

1. When coming in to land you always should jump out before the next set and run to the back of the kayak to grab the back as the wave passes.

Thanks Denis.

Andy

[ctumekubo]

Hey ProfessorLongArms, I sent you a PM.

[Denis_Ruso]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Dumb question: Why wouldn't someone jump out and grab the bow handle instead and drag it up shore? The quicker you're out of the water, the quicker you are out of the yard sale zone, no?

This is kind of a nuanced and situational.

In a perfect landing you are coming in with forward momentum and stop on the sand with 5-6 seconds to run to the front of the kayak before the next set comes in. So you are able to drag away from the break zone before the next set.

However more often then not, you will hop off while still in 2-4 ft of water and realize that the next set is closer that you thought. Being in water does not allow for a full sprint to the front handle. Even if you do get to the front handle, it is tough to get a very solid grip quickly and when the next wave comes in it will either rip the kayak out of your hand or swing it sideways as you are pulling and cause it to roll( the back end will outrace the front due to incoming water). Grabbing the back of the kayak as the next wave passes allows you to steady the kayak from rolling and hold on to it at a rear pivot point from preventing it from turning parallel to the beach.

Again, this is very situational and is for normal conditions. There are different techniques depending on what kind of waves you are dealing with.

[Cronus]

I am still nursing a broken finger from an attempt in too big of surf at Leo. And that was just from trying to hold my kayak in place in the low surf before getting on. The returns can be intimidating, especially after hearing some of the large waves crash off those rocks. I have a Feelfree Lure 13.5 kayak which is very stable, 36" wide. On the day with the huge waves I never rolled but got pulled back to shore while trying to launch which just wiped me out, was totally out of gas. Had to wait like 30 min before I had the energy to try again. But have been very lucky lately. I will be out there tomorrow trying to stock my freezer with fish. Both Saturday and Sunday look to be very low surf days. Hopefully this will not be the third time in a row that I forget a hat......

And is anyone using bait or just jigs and soft bodies? I usually have some frozen squid out while I am working a jig. I do not have a bait tank so no live bait for me. I will occasionally re-hook a mackerel and send him back out but have not had luck wit that yet. Have some new grubs I want to try along with some lures that have still not seen the water yet.

[ProfessorLongArms]

Originally Posted by Cronus

I am still nursing a broken finger from an attempt in too big of surf at Leo. And that was just from trying to hold my kayak in place in the low surf before getting on. The returns can be intimidating, especially after hearing some of the large waves crash off those rocks. I have a Feelfree Lure 13.5 kayak which is very stable, 36" wide. On the day with the huge waves I never rolled but got pulled back to shore while trying to launch which just wiped me out, was totally out of gas. Had to wait like 30 min before I had the energy to try again. But have been very lucky lately. I will be out there tomorrow trying to stock my freezer with fish. Both Saturday and Sunday look to be very low surf days. Hopefully this will not be the third time in a row that I forget a hat......

And is anyone using bait or just jigs and soft bodies? I usually have some frozen squid out while I am working a jig. I do not have a bait tank so no live bait for me. I will occasionally re-hook a mackerel and send him back out but have not had luck wit that yet. Have some new grubs I want to try along with some lures that have still not seen the water yet.

OUCH. Sorry to hear about the broken finger. I count myself pretty lucky that I walked away with just some scrapes yesterday, as I got in that one spot you're never supposed to be with the kayak between you and a wave.

My setup is looking pretty similar, though I have a live bait tank and a sabiki.
I'm probably going to go out in the afternoon and make a few more dry launches/landings so I'm ready to put some actual tackle and equipment in my boat on Sunday morning. Happy to share the wealth if I can make bait.

[acorad]

Go get 'em guys! My oldest leaves for college on Sunday so no fishing this weekend for me.

Andy

[goldenglory18]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

This is kind of a nuanced and situational.

In a perfect landing you are coming in with forward momentum and stop on the sand with 5-6 seconds to run to the front of the kayak before the next set comes in. So you are able to drag away from the break zone before the next set.

However more often then not, you will hop off while still in 2-4 ft of water and realize that the next set is closer that you thought. Being in water does not allow for a full sprint to the front handle. Even if you do get to the front handle, it is tough to get a very solid grip quickly and when the next wave comes in it will either rip the kayak out of your hand or swing it sideways as you are pulling and cause it to roll( the back end will outrace the front due to incoming water). Grabbing the back of the kayak as the next wave passes allows you to steady the kayak from rolling and hold on to it at a rear pivot point from preventing it from turning parallel to the beach.

Again, this is very situational and is for normal conditions. There are different techniques depending on what kind of waves you are dealing with.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that extra explanation.

You really are good at details and describing stuff. You ever consider being a teacher? LOL

[Denis_Ruso]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that extra explanation.

You really are good at details and describing stuff. You ever consider being a teacher? LOL

Haha. You have to know something to be a teacher and I don't have the patience for children.

I just stick to giving unwanted advise to passersby.

However, I am working on hosting some training opportunities at work. So there's that.

Someone once told me. "If you cant explain it simply, you don't understand it enough to teach it".