NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: LilRiverMan on April 20, 2018, 03:37:45 PM
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I'm seeing a lot of enthusiastic kayak fisherman with low post counts who are ramping up for Rock Cod and Salmon season on the big blue. When I first started I went to a seminar Bushy put on. Not everyone can do that. Not everyone can or will take surf and self-rescue classes before going to sea. Not everyone will be fortunate enough to quickly hook up with some great mentors, the way I was lucky enough to do. I'm sure there are similar threads on NCKA but they seem to be buried where a new members won't find them. So, I'm starting this for easy viewing
What has made NCKA such a great organization is the naturally supportive atmosphere that members exhibit. We help each other unload, with difficult beach hauls, launching and landing, netting big fish, righting flipped kayaks and helping cartop your kayak when you are exhausted after a long day OTW. These are the things others have done for me. In NCKA waters, we face more challenges and risks than our warm water cousins. The people who are there for you are the ones you want to go out with on the next trip. So, newer members, if you want to get that invite that is not publicly posted. The one to the hot bite, these are things you should take into consideration.
This post is not about teaching newbs manners. It is about the OG giving some tips that can help others go out and come back safely. Tips and short stories on what experience has taught you and sharing what others have done wrong so that our newer brothers and sisters hopefully don't make the same mistakes. Sharing the spirit that makes NCKA a great community.
To start,
1. Launching: Many of you have been told to have patience when surf launching. To watch the sets come in and then wait for a lull before going out. This is true. What you don't do is wait 10 - 15 feet off the water's edge, for that lull, and then think you are going to haul your heavy ass boat across the sand, into the water, sit down, stabilize and paddle out to deeper water before the big breakers come. Seen it. Ain't likely to be successful.
At least be at the waters edge with the nose in the water. Personally, I am already floating the boat, calf deep. Keeping nose straight out. Letting the bow break the small shore washer waves and then pushing forward and hopping in. Paddling like crazy until well clear of the final, furthest, breakers. This ain't no stroll through the garden. Seen people get a good launch and then take it easy once they are in. Helped some of them rescue their gear from the surf.
2. Launching: Do not go in just deep enough to float the boat and then sit down. Your added weight will effectively ground the boat. If this happens, hop out and stabilize the bow into the next wave. Do not just sit there and think a wave is going to magically come along and float you out to sea. Yeah, this can be hilarious. Especially when captured on video. Seen it happen. More than once. Didn't end well.
3. Launching and landing: NEVER have your paddle leashed when launching or landing. You can become entangled and trapped against the boat. Your movements become limited. You cannot move well enough to control the boat when the next wave comes. This is very hard on your knees, not to mention your other body parts when you are trapped between a toppling boat and the sand / rocks.
Next ?
4. ........
5. ........
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Dont do a mass launching, 3 or 4 group is more than plenty for the confusion factor to come into effect!!
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Landing:
1. learn high and low brace.
Generally: brace left if you break left, and brace right if you break right.
If you Hobie it in, br prepared to buy drive replacement parts and a rudder pin. :smt003
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just practice with an empty boat for the day !
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Paddle hard like a MO FO, like your life depends on it; both on entry and exit.
When you hit the beach, or at least are ready to get off your kayak, DON'T DICK AROUND! Get off and get your ass and kayak to the beach ASAP!
If something falls of the kayak, forget about it until you and your kayak are safely ashore.
I've seen WAY too many people dilly dally in the surf zone only to get whacked by the next wave when they could have avoided it completely if they were't DICKIN' AROUND.
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OOOHHH YA !!!!!!!! NEVER.......NEVER get between your boat and the beach....... the wave and your kayak will tell you if you do..... funny to watch but the other guy said it hurt like hell.
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It is really pretty simple and can be broken down into four steps.
1. Wear a gopro and be sure it is turned on.
2. Make sure a friend is filming you from shore so we can see another angle.
3. Go for it.
4. Share the results.
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It is really pretty simple and can be broken down into four steps.
1. Wear a gopro and be sure it is turned on.
2. Make sure a friend is filming you from shore so we can see another angle.
3. Go for it.
4. Share the results.
This! :smt005 :smt044
Or spend the money and take an intro to kayaking/surf zone class. And no, you will not learn how to do it from watching youtube.
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And no, you will not learn how to do it from watching youtube.
That is so not true. If you watch this you are pretty much golden:
https://youtu.be/fpWr1rLO5WY
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Commit like you mean it. No half measures.
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Why did they launch from that corner???
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Why did they launch from that corner???
I was thinking the same thing...
When they panned the camera to the left, I was like WTF??? They picked the worst part of the entire beach, with that weird little eddy action going on.
Dude was getting rejected by the ocean, repeatedly :smt044 :smt044
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Always make sure your paddle is ready to go and not strapped in the holder. Nothing like realizing as the wave approaches that you can’t get to your paddle in time. :smt100 :smt013 :smt009
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that video is so painful to watch
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that video is so painful to watch
The kayak and waves told his knees and shins that he was on the wrong side, maybe they should have launched him first.
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I would chance to ad(?), "if"? you need to wear prescription glasses, make sure you have a croaky or some kind of recover measure(?). In the case that you need long or short distance correction, then DO NOT lose your lenses (carry replacements maybe?).
I have learned this through experience.
best,
I Zod Out
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Why did they launch from that corner???
That's what I was thinking. Damn
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I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!
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Why did they launch from that corner???
I was thinking the same thing...
When they panned the camera to the left, I was like WTF??? They picked the worst part of the entire beach, with that weird little eddy action going on.
Dude was getting rejected by the ocean, repeatedly :smt044 :smt044
That corner is the shortest distant from launch spot and it is usually the most calm spot.
The camera shows a brief moment to the left when it is calm, usually it is not. That middle is steep and unforgiven when mistake is made.
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If you're on a Hobie, make sure to leash your mirage drive. Probably true with other pedal driven kayaks but I've only owned Hobies.
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Kirk, I am sure you remember this trip.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=81573.msg928395#msg928395
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Why did they launch from that corner???
I was thinking the same thing...
When they panned the camera to the left, I was like WTF??? They picked the worst part of the entire beach, with that weird little eddy action going on.
Dude was getting rejected by the ocean, repeatedly :smt044 :smt044
That corner is the shortest distant from launch spot and it is usually the most calm spot.
The camera shows a brief moment to the left when it is calm, usually it is not. That middle is steep and unforgiven when mistake is made.
Yup, that exact corner is where I launched & landed for ~10 of my first 20 kayak fishing trips. Launching from the middle of that beach is treacherous.
One thing to add to the landing procedures, as soon as my kayak hits sand, I hop out and grab the handle on the bow and drag it up the beach as quickly as possible. But make sure you’re hopping out on your ‘strong side’ and it’s clear of rod holders & junk. I also have my paddle unleashed and toss it onto my kayak as I hop out.
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For surf landings, I stow EVERYTHING below deck. Fish finder, rod holders, tackle, and rods too if I think it will be bad. I lay my net flat in the rear well and bungie it down. Basically everything on deck is disposable in a surf landing, so keep all your valuables below deck. I keep both sides of my kayak clear of obstructions so I can jump out either side.
On the way in, I am constantly looking behind me for incoming waves. I try to time my entry into the surf zone behind the last biggest wave of the set, when it will be the most calm. But sometimes I get caught with a wave coming at me and I am still in more than chest deep water. lf they are less than 4' face, I look to see which way the wave is breaking and I turn my kayak away from the breaking wave and do a low brace as the wave hits me, and surf it in. If it is bigger, I will go into reverse and punch through the wave backwards to wait for a lull to make another approach. It always surprise me when I see noobies do a kamikaze approach, full speed ahead and no looking back. It rarely ends well. :smt009 :smt005
When the water is less than hip deep, I jump out on the OCEAN SIDE of my kayak. Never get between a kayak and the beach when a wave is coming down on you. The hurtling kayak will mow you down. It hurts. A lot. :smt010 If there is plenty of time before the next wave hits, or if it is a small wave, I will grab the front handle on the kayak and drag it up the beach. If the wave is bigger, and I will not have time to drag the kayak onto the beach before it hits, I grab the rear handle and brace for impact. The wave will break and turn the kayak to point toward the beach. Worst case, you lose your footing and act as a drogue chute as the kayak is washed onto the beach. Even if the kayak flips at this point, all my belongings are safe below deck, so no biggie.
Do not mess around in the surf zone, collecting your belongings, until you kayak is on the beach. That kayak is a hundred pound projectile just waiting to take you down.
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And make sure you remove any swim bait/tackle attached to your rod prior to heading in.
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And make sure you remove any swim bait/tackle attached to your rod prior to heading in.
Especially a sabiki!! :smt005
But for reals, never be too confident and underestimate surf launch/landings. Getting tangled on a hook or line can be a real bad time.
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Worst case, you lose your footing and act as a drogue chute as the kayak is washed onto the beach.
Or use your WSB as a drogue chute :smt044
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Worst case, you lose your footing and act as a drogue chute as the kayak is washed onto the beach.
Or use your WSB as a drogue chute :smt044
Catch and Release. Problem solved! :smt002
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I do the kamikaze approach haha
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If it was already said sorry for missing it but.......
[/Always wear your PFD !b]
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And no, you will not learn how to do it from watching youtube.
That is so not true. If you watch this you are pretty much golden:
https://youtu.be/fpWr1rLO5WY
came here for this. Am not disappointed. There are many wrong moves here to be studied. What jumps out at me on this viewing is that the poor guy is obviously exhausted by the 3rd try.
I think surf launching and landing are always highlights of any kayak trip. No two are ever exactly the same.
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I wonder why he didn't pull his kayak out of the surf so he could gather his stuff and recover a little.
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I wonder why he didn't pull his kayak out of the surf so he could gather his stuff and recover a little.
I think that is one of several astute observations we can learn from here! :smt002
a golden rule is that this activity is supposed to be fun. That guy isn't having any fun by the end.
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I wonder why he didn't pull his kayak out of the surf so he could gather his stuff and recover a little.
Well said. He also should have kept his kayak on the shore side of the break once he got into trouble but this shows just how quickly a good time can turn into a nightmare when dealing with the ocean.
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This was so painful to watch. Was he just an older guy that couldn't move quick enough? Felt sorry for him but man what a kook.
I hope to find more gems like this video as I go through some older posts!
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You haven’t lived until you see FM1 get run over by his son.
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And no, you will not learn how to do it from watching youtube.
That is so not true. If you watch this you are pretty much golden:
https://youtu.be/fpWr1rLO5WY
This kayak was on CL the next day :smt001
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This kayak was on CL the next day :smt001
Did it say "never been launched"?
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This kayak was on CL the next day :-)
Did it say "never been launched"?
Lol .... I bet your daddy jokes are top notch and cause lots of eye rolls ... :smt044 ...
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Take a surf introduction class. I'm signed up with River and Ocean for a class at Half Moon Bay May 19, if anyone wants to join me.
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Take a surf introduction class. I'm signed up with River and Ocean for a class at Half Moon Bay May 19, if anyone wants to join me.
Mark, I think this is a great idea and may join you. Does anyone know of other resources - classes, hookups, etc - that cover the subject of surf launch/land?
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Here's a true story. I saw a rookie land his Revo 16 on a calm day. He grabbed the front handle with his head low. A wave came in and pushed the bow up and hit his chin like being hit with an upper cut. He lost some teeth.
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Take a surf introduction class. I'm signed up with River and Ocean for a class at Half Moon Bay May 19, if anyone wants to join me.
Mark, I think this is a great idea and may join you. Does anyone know of other resources - classes, hookups, etc - that cover the subject of surf launch/land?
Monterey Bay Kayaks has one as well.
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Take a surf introduction class. I'm signed up with River and Ocean for a class at Half Moon Bay May 19, if anyone wants to join me.
Mark, I think this is a great idea and may join you. Does anyone know of other resources - classes, hookups, etc - that cover the subject of surf launch/land?
Indeed, CCK and kayak Connection both had surf classes at one point. Not sure if they still offer them, but any kayak shop near the coast ought to have some options. In the bay area the UCSF rec program Outdoors Unlimited had a few great ones, open to the public.