Took advantage of the 3 day weekend and headed to the Van Damme / Elk Area.
Got there at 10am Saturday knowing the swell report was not favorable. Checked out a few coves in the area including Elk and decided Saturday was NOT a day to be on the water. As I was driving past Van Damme I noticed 2 kayakers on the water so I pulled into the parking lot to watch them come in. The surf was big and I knew they were going to get pummeled. Much to my surprise they both made it in no problem. They were on little surf SOT's with no gear at all. After the safe landing they decide to go back out.
The 1st guy makes his move right into a GIANT breaker and gets HAMMERED. Lost his paddle and his kayak washes up on the beach. I can see his paddle just outside of the surf, so his buddy decides to go for it in his kayak. He gets hammered, but hangs on to his paddle. After 3 attempts he finally makes it past the breakers and retrieves his buddy's paddle. Comes back in enough to try to 'javelin' the paddle back to his buddy, then gets caught by a breaker and is hammered in the surf. As his kayak washes up buddy # 1 makes another attempt, and seems to be making it ok so buddy #2 starts out. Well buddy#1 wasn't so lucky and gets dumped and pushed back towards the beach as buddy #2 is going for it and getting drawn towards the breaker. I could see a rescue in the making as the 2 collide. WHAM! Remarkably neither was knocked out. After a few more attempts they both make it out.
I figure the Stooges show is over so I turn towards the parking lot headed for my truck when what do I see? A TANDEM gearing up to go ab diving. Well this I gotta stick around for.
These guys had dry suits and weight belts on..recipe for disaster.
They get their kayak to the surf, brace for the incoming breaker and get knocked on their asses! Kayak comes back and drills them both, but they recover. Get lined up, brace for another breaker and get knocked on their asses again. Now as they try to stand the kayak takes the legs out of one of them and he falls on top of the kayak and gets sucked into the next breaker. WHAM! If I only had a video camera. These guys are either real troopers or real idiots, you decide. They get lined up,  breaker comes, then they hop on make it through the next breaker, but the guy in back falls off. As he tries to get back on he dumps the other guy off. Just outside of the surf line. I am thinking of how much these guys are toast; when by an act of some miracle, the sea lays flat, in an instant. They dumped another 3 times, just outside what had been huge breakers all day. After almost 4 minutes they finally got under way when the big ones started coming in again non stop.
I got up at 2:30 in the morning to drive to The Mendocino area to fish and dive. No way is my life or health worth a fish or abalone.
Know when to call it a day so you can have other days to enjoy.
We went out on Sunday and Monday. Check out the fishing reports.

Fished the mouth of the American today ( 10-1 ). Anchored above the zoo along the color line and jigged with no luck.

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Pulled up and changed to an RSK and started heading up river when I saw Alfredo pull up the the launch under the bridge. I paddled over and met Al. Great guy! We worked up river, Al with a Quickfish and me with my RSK. No luck. We headed back the the zoo of boats and drifted through and along side of them. I think all the anchored boat owners were a little envious of our mobility and ability to thread them like a needle. Still no fish though. I only saw one fish caught. Seemed everyone was jigging a Gibbs minnow or the like.
Even though we didn't catch anything, I had a GREAT time. Meeting Al was worth the trip down the hill in and of itself.

My GF and I went up to Tahoe to purchase a kayak cart with the big Roleez wheels. They had them and were selling them for $130. The wheels alone go for $100-$120 a pair.
We also scored a Prowler 13 with a seat and the little tackle box and the hatch with the gasket, not the neoprene thing, for $595 out the door. Granted this is not the angler addition, but she did not like the dark green kayak. It was only $50 more for the angler if anyone is interested. They are clearing out their inventory for ski season. All kayak stuff will be gone after labor Day.
Tahoe Surf Shop in Kings beach.
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What kind of paint should I use for graphics and numbers on my kayak?I want it to be PERMANENT!
I tried a permanent marker for a measuring tape and it didn't last at all.
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