NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Introductions => Topic started by: Mark L on October 25, 2017, 06:55:02 AM

Title: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Mark L on October 25, 2017, 06:55:02 AM
Hi All,

I have been Foraging throughout the bay for many years. I fished the local lakes since I was about 8 years old and my father started taking me on party boats for salmon when I was 12. Over the years I have been on party boats many times for salmon, potluck, and rock fish. After one terrifying rock fish trip I now have the feeling of being trapped whenever I am on a party boat. I  still go salmon fishing but will never go rock fishing(on a party boat) again. I have been doing some  bay and ocean fishing  from shore and have caught plenty of perch, stripers, and a few rock fish.



I am thinking about getting a kayak for fishing in the bay and along the coast but want to keep the weight down because I have limited storage area (garage wall or down a lot of exterior stairs to a basement) and will need to do the carrying by myself.

I spend a lot of time foraging for mushrooms and plants. I collect plenty of chanterelles, morels, porcini, etc. along the coast and the Sierras.

I will be doing a lot of reading on this forum, and taking a few classes before making the decision to jump into this activity. 
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: DG on October 25, 2017, 07:01:51 AM
Welcome aboard. 


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Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: LoletaEric on October 25, 2017, 07:43:08 AM
Welcome to the community, Mark.  Sounds like you're bringing a sensible attitude, and that's a good call.  If you go too light and short you likely won't be on a yak that does very well on the ocean or bay.

Best of luck - take your time and do your research.

:smt001
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Rock Hopper on October 25, 2017, 08:18:44 AM
Welcome, Mark.

Be sure to check out Eddyline kayaks. Very light weight "Carbonlite" material. A Caribbean 12 is like 45lbs and the 14 is a little over 50lbs. If you have the space I'd go with a 14.

There are some other mfg out there with light-weight boats, as well, and I'm sure others will chime in. I have 2 Caribbean 14s and love them.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: LilRiverMan on October 25, 2017, 08:32:57 AM
Welcome to the forum. If you have enough clearance above the garage door, all it takes is a couple pulleys and you can hang the kayak overhead
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Dale L on October 25, 2017, 08:47:42 AM
While I've never seen one, Hurricane Kayaks has a line of lightweights, they look good, I think we have a hurricane rep in the group.

Cool intro, you've found a great spot to join in and spread your knowledge
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: ljparton on October 25, 2017, 09:06:44 AM
Viking makes a few lightweight options as well. They're available at Headwaters Kayak in Lodi.

The owner, Dan is a great guy. They also offer demos on the water at Lodi Lake. Nothing beats trying before you buy.

Best of luck on your new adventures.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: islandpaddler on October 25, 2017, 09:09:21 AM
If you want to try a Caribbean 14 I'm in Alameda and you can give it a try in the lagoon in front of our place. I can show you how I store and transport it.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: JohnnyAb on October 25, 2017, 10:54:35 AM
Welcome Mark

Be Safe

Have fun!!
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Sailfish on October 25, 2017, 10:57:33 AM
Welcome to NCKA Mark  :smt006
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: eelkram on October 25, 2017, 11:05:05 AM
Welcome!  Sounds like there's an interesting story about the party boat... care to share (No need to name names though)?  There're quite a few foragers on the board too.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: BigJim on October 25, 2017, 11:20:47 AM
Welcome!

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: TW on October 25, 2017, 12:16:39 PM
WTTM.   :smt006
Demo, demo, demo.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: HamachiJohn on October 25, 2017, 12:22:58 PM
Welcome aboard! The Hobie PA u will want to stear clear of... Lol

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Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: NowhereMan on October 25, 2017, 01:40:08 PM
While I've never seen one, Hurricane Kayaks has a line of lightweights....

I used to have a hurricane SOT kayak. The model I had was not really designed for fishing, but that didn't stop me from fishing off of it. It was OK on saltwater and great on lakes---very lightweight.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Mark L on October 27, 2017, 04:34:37 PM
If you want to try a Caribbean 14 I'm in Alameda and you can give it a try in the lagoon in front of our place. I can show you how I store and transport it.

Wow, that's an awesome offer.  I do not think I would want to take it out for a paddle but I would like to see how you store it and get an idea of the weight. I had been leaning towards the Caribbean 12 or 14. I weigh 160 lbs, 5'10 and in pretty good shape.

Welcome!  Sounds like there's an interesting story about the party boat... care to share (No need to name names though)?  There're quite a few foragers on the board too.
We had no business being out as bad as the conditions were. It wasn't very windy but the swells were huge. I could not believe that the waves wouldn't just go over us and swamp the boat. They towered above us and as they approached, the boat would just ride up  and slam as it went down the other side. It was a week day so there were only about 10-12 customers on board. Only a few tried to fish along with the deckhands. All I was able to think about was hoping we would get home alive.

The company advertised that if the conditions were bad they would bring the boat in and give you a "rain check". I found out from a friend who worked at the dock that if the captain brought the boat in due to poor conditions he and the crew would not be paid. I don't know if that was true or not but it made sense. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I had been out on the ocean many times before this trip without ever feeling even a little bit of fear. It was a couple of years before I went on another salmon trip, and have only rock fished as part of  "pot luck" trips near shore.       
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: ApneaAddict on October 31, 2017, 11:27:23 AM
Hey Mark,
Welcome to the forum. Long time Bay Area forager myself. Mushrooms, plants, berries, abalone, spearfishing. Good to have another mushroom hunter on the board (so I can keep track of you- stay off my spotz!  :smt003). Are you on any of the facebook mushroom groups?

-Carter

Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: polepole on October 31, 2017, 02:42:18 PM
Hey Mark,
Welcome to the forum. Long time Bay Area forager myself. Mushrooms, plants, berries, abalone, spearfishing. Good to have another mushroom hunter on the board (so I can keep track of you- stay off my spotz!  :smt003). Are you on any of the facebook mushroom groups?

-Carter

Carter J, is that you?  We'll be picking soon.  That coming rain looks good, huh?

-Allen
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Mark L on November 01, 2017, 06:54:42 AM
Hey Mark,
Welcome to the forum. Long time Bay Area forager myself. Mushrooms, plants, berries, abalone, spearfishing. Good to have another mushroom hunter on the board (so I can keep track of you- stay off my spotz!  :smt003). Are you on any of the facebook mushroom groups?

-Carter
Hi Carter,
I am not a member of any of the Facebook mushroom groups. I have led forays for the MSSF over the years and will be attending their Mendocino Camp foray November 10, 11, 12. Might be fun to do a camping trip to Salt Point  for fish and mushrooms sometime. Thanks for the welcome.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: ApneaAddict on November 01, 2017, 12:52:52 PM
Carter J, is that you?  We'll be picking soon.  That coming rain looks good, huh?

-Allen

Hey Allen. Yup, it's me.

And yeah, the forecast was looking great, but now they're predicting a lot less rain than they expected a few days ago. I'm still optimistic that we'll be getting enough rain to kick off the porcini season on the north coast, though. I can hardly wait.

I've been enjoying your food posts on FB, btw. You cook up some tasty looking grub!

Hi Carter,
I am not a member of any of the Facebook mushroom groups. I have led forays for the MSSF over the years and will be attending their Mendocino Camp foray November 10, 11, 12. Might be fun to do a camping trip to Salt Point  for fish and mushrooms sometime. Thanks for the welcome.

Right on. I ask because I'm always a bit curious how big the pool of skilled mushroom hunters in the Bay Area really is. Would totally be down for a fishing, mushroom hunting, cook out trip to Salt Point. Would be a ton of fun if we could organize a good sized group to participate. Maybe late winter or early spring? Seems that would give the best ocean conditions plus mushroom potential combo.
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: WassawBound on November 12, 2017, 09:45:42 AM
Welcome to NCKA!
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: bmb on November 14, 2017, 07:18:24 AM
Welcome to the group Mark, and yeah, you're going to get an initiation by fire for storing a kayak shortly! If anyone is unaware, Mark was the lucky winner of the Native Watercraft raffle.

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Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: BigJim on November 14, 2017, 08:38:10 AM
Welcome to the group Mark, and yeah, you're going to get an initiation by fire for storing a kayak shortly! If anyone is unaware, Mark was the lucky winner of the Native Watercraft raffle.

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CONGRATS Mark, and thank you for your support of the raffle!!!!!!

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: mendolunker on November 14, 2017, 12:07:00 PM
Warm welcome Mark. I too am a forager of all sorts with mushrooms being my starting point.  I have an extra hobie revolution 11 you could try if you come up to Vallejo.

Cheers,
Joseph
Title: Re: Bay Area Forager
Post by: Sin Coast on November 14, 2017, 06:49:56 PM
I think you should get a Native Slayer Propel 13 kayak.

Oh wait!  :smt044 Congrats, Mark!
Welcome to the group Mark, and yeah, you're going to get an initiation by fire for storing a kayak shortly! If anyone is unaware, Mark was the lucky winner of the Native Watercraft raffle.