Big Sur-Big Swell

Hey Nor Cal Anglers.  I regularly kayak fish Malibu and Baja but lurk here occasionally, especially just before my annual trip up to Big Sur.  I would like your opinion on the swell and safety issues up in the Big Sur area.  My buddy and I are both experienced paddlers and just made our 5th trip up camping and kayak fishing out of Kirk Creek.  We've been lucky enough on all our trips to find spots to launch and land within our safety comfort zone but the problem this last time was huge swell once we were on the water.  There were big rollers coming through that made me feel like the boat in Perfect Storm.  I would estimate size was easily 8-10 feet or more with an occasional one cresting near us with a little white cap . This kind of freaked me out but didn't seem to bother my buddy much at all.  Our prowlers seemed to handle it OK and I felt stable but I couldn't really relax and fish and spent most of my day positioning my boat and staring at what was coming in.   The next morning was even bigger at dawn and I didn't launch.  My buddy went out solo and I spotted him from shore feeling like a sissy man.  (The swell actually went down after I was all packed up which made it even more frustrating!)  Since neither of us have local knowledge or had been out in swell quite this big I felt we were just guessing it was okay.  I had to go with my gut and decided that the conditions might not be safe enough, especially if the swell were to increase while we were on the water. My partner obviously thought it was fine and that we'd know if it was getting too hairy.

So what's your take on swell size and safety?  When is big, too big up there?  Have you ever been knocked off your boat by a big wave out of the surf zone or heard of someone who has? I'm trying to get a grip on the limits.  That's a long drive to stand on the shore looking at the pretty scenery

First off don't ever feel bad about going with your gut feelings. Especially on safety issues. There are a couple of other factors to consider with swell. If it's a longer interval ground swell with no wind you can be pretty safe and comfortable. You do need to be more aware of the shallow spots that start breaking when there's more swell that aren't present on the smaller days. On those big days pay a lot of attention to where the waves start bumping up and use that for your future sessions in that area. That's home court advantage when you're fishing with locals at thier spots and they can teach you where to be safe and where to find fish. When there's wind present a every foot of swell becomes that much sketchier. A whitecap at the top of an eight foot swell is a session ender at best. Also when there's more swell, epecially in the Big Sur area, you get more currents along with it. You can launch at a south facing cove and get outside of the point with a north swell and get pushed south really quickly. When you start to get outside of the sheltered areas pay attention to the drift and use your judgement if you can paddle out of it or not. Paddle into the current for a while and check your drift. If you think it's going to be more paddling than you want to deal with then call it quits. Remember it's remote up there and there aren't a lot of easy landings when there's swell. Good luck and good judgement.

Welcome to the  neighborhood...........even if only for a visit.........

Randy and I are "sissy's" too.  We have done Big Sur in 9-12 foot seas and don't wish to do that any more.  We know we can manage to get back in, but what's the point?  We like to focus on fishing.

On days like you described, we do something else........even after the 2 hour drive down. 

One of our "rules" is if launching is going to be dicey, landing will probably be worse since the wind comes up later and just adds to what you see first thing in the morning. 

Sorry the area showed you its more rugged side.......but it's still spectacular.....y'know?

Have a "Plan B"

You can always head for calmer waters in and around Monterey. I'm sure the locals can chime in with other kayak fishing locations 

Yes, BS does get big and there are other better areas to fish or not at all when it is like that.  My motto, "It is always better to be on shore wishing you were out fishing (substitute sailing, paddling, etc. as needed) then to be out fishing wishing you were on shore."  You probably made the right decision.  Trust your instinct.

when its time to come in and the swell is big i store all my stuff in the kayak and make sure the paddle leash is not in my way. i paddle and occasionally look back and see where the waves are about to break. then between sets i paddle like mad praying to allah, yaweh and god, ghandi buddha etc... that he will help make my landing a peaceful one.

i experienced this at anchor bay 2 winters ago and it was scary. the swells were massive rollers and they went far. i could hear them pounding as they crashed on shore. i stored my gear and paddled like a faithful warrior towards the beach. just when i thought i had my game on, t'is was not to be this day,  i felt a nudge from mother ocean and then started my surfing journey. i tried to ride it out and it curled behind me flipping me forwards as i screamed.

between the time i deployed my ass off the kayak and got my first breath of air in shallow sandy waters i had visions of being born again. its scary while its happening but when you make it in , thats got to be one of the best feelings in the world. next time i'll stay on shore and watch my friends go out, as they come in i will cheer and wish them the best but i will also have my camera ready to take the shots so i can post em all over the ncka website as a warning to those who plan to battle waves in the future.

definitely one of those things where its "better you than me"....

hehe.....

 
John that was good!
The advice I got years ago in situations like was simply "paddle like hell!" I still think of that every time I go out & come in. It can also help to broach and get the boat sideways instead of pearling the bow & getting pitched, but eventually we all go through the washing machine.
I've bailed on going out several times and not regretted it once. The fish, whales, etc, will always be there later. Sackyak said it perfectly.

Biggest bit of advice I have is try to use the last wave of a set to give you some speed. Act like you are going to surf it and let it push you but don't actually surf it in, let it slide, now you are going fast. Then paddle like hell. Don't wait until you hit sand with your bow. Just off while in 2 - 3 feet of water or if you caught in a rip tide.

Second, never ever get between the beach head and your boat!

-Brian G

what made my ride / crash at anchor bay more messed up was the fact that when the wave curled to throw me forward i thought i saw sand! it was sooooo shallow!

DOH!!!!

what made my ride / crash at anchor bay more messed up was the fact that when the wave curled to throw me forward i thought i saw sand!

Oh. Um, well then, if you see sand as you are pitching forward then I think that you can forget anything about surfing and your prayers to Yahweh, Ghandi and Bhudda will do you more good. As the burnout pilot in "Fandango" said, "you don't wanna bounce, dude."

Thanks for the responses guys.  As far as the surf goes, I've learned to time my launches and landings pretty well and if the wave faces are much bigger than 4 feet I just don't go.  I was more trying to figure when isn't it safe to fish in the big swells around Big Sur.  Riding those rollers didn't feel safe to me, but then again a roller coaster doesn't "feel" safe either but statistically is fine.  Any more local knowledge or stories about paddling in the big swells up there?  At what point is it a non-fishing day for you? I read a story about a guy who got swept off his yak and disappeared down in Tasmania but those waters were in the obviously not safe categorie.

I have successfully (obviously) returned to launch through 9 foot plus swell.  Lots of work.

I have landed successfully, despite 14 foot sleeper swells.  Back paddled successfully at the last moment.

I am pleased to know that I can manage when it goes to @#$%@.

That said, we stop fishing when the swell hits 6 feet or so.  Our rule is when we find ourselves paying more attention to the water than to fishing, it's time to stop fishing.  FAC is best...........

Big Sur is not safe. Ever.
It is very remote and its not like vessel assist or the coasties are just cruising up and down the Sur Coast, looking for people to rescue. If you get into trouble, you are screwed. Plain and simple.
If it looks/feels too dangerous, then don't go out. You can always catch rockfish from shore down there...if you REALLY need to catch a fish.

It is not fun when you have to concentrate more on the swell+waves+wind than on the fishing.
PK

My first swim was at Limekiln 2 miles offshore in the spring this year. Was talking to JTF when a mixed swell flipped me in a second. Lost a custom rod and Shimano tekota reel. I only go if I am with someone more experienced than me. Trusting your intuition is always a good thing. After all, it is just a hobby, and not worth dying for.

Scott

once during the winter my wife an i launched from otter cove and the swells got bad coming back in. i had her paddle north to lovers cove where it was calm to come in and i hiked the kayak to the car and met her there. she is smarter than I am. she knew when to call it and i was being stubborn about having to walk to the car from lovers. with religious support i made it in with swells and waves biting my ass and will remind myself not to even waste my time with such a day again. when the waves are big, the surge is in and fish seem to bite less anyhow. i will say however that the scupper pro tw can surf a wave pretty well if you build up enough speed before a wave comes up behind you, lean back and ride it all the way in.