NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: mooch on January 06, 2005, 12:13:12 PM
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Just curious....
How many of you have flipped your yak due to stupidity (or what ever reasons) in the open ocean (or Lake) while surf launching or landing and what did you end up losing (as far as gear)?
For me:
1) Half Moon Bay - out by the green bouy - lost 2 rods, sunglasses, disposable camera, ALL my tackle. :smt013 I was on a 11ft Cobra Explorer back then....it was stupidity on my part :smt011 I was leaning to the side of the yak to see the Ling that I had hooked - a sneaker wave hit me from the blind side.
2) Davenport - I did not flip the yak but a 15 # halibut I caught wigged out on my lap - as I was calling a friend from my cell - asking for info. on Halibut size limit. As the Halibut gave me an undesired lap dance - I got startled :smt031 and my cell phone went flying into the ocean. It was the Halibut's fault :smt097
3) Linda Mar - I was practicing landing the yak on a big swell day (with John and Mike) I was landing backwards - the first wave flooded me and my yak turned to the side. I tried to point the bow towards the second incoming wave but because the yak was flooded - I was not able to turn the bow in time(too heavy to steer) I flipped and lost my sunglasses.
4) Linda Mar - salmon fishing with Erik. I was landing backwards and everything was going fine BUT I did not get off the yak soon enough. I was in knee deep of water when I should have gotten off the yak -instead I stayed on and a wave crashed on top of my bow - sending me to the water. stupidy on my part - did not loose any gear - just pride.
total loss:
2 sunglasses
tackle
1 cell phone
2 rod and reel combo
1 disposable camera
lot's of pride :smt010
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I donated a tackle tray to the surf at Natural Bridges. Luckily, I had the forsight to toss my rods below deck before I got near the beach. Rolled in the surf in front of a large audience, very embarassed till a kid came up and high fived me for my evil knievel like landing. :smt003
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Oooh, I took a roll at natural bridges too, only lost my sunglasses though.
Next disaster was on ethan's outriggered kayak.
We sailed it right into the middle of the beach at bean hollow and got smashed. I jumped out of the front seat when we hit knee deep water and started pulling, but a 4ft or so wave picked up the whole kayak and sent it my way. I ducked underwater and let the kayak and all go over me and it hit the beach with enough force to break the 2x4 that attached the outriggers. Bye bye hat and sunglasses.
Next disaster we sank the outriggered kayak and had to land it in worse surf on a rock reef. Ethan lost his net, gaff, FF, FF battery, waders (destroyed), probably more. I lost a nice red that was only secured by my foot. A 30lb ling that was leashed did manage to stay with us. The waves only managed to lap at my earlobes on that landing so my glasses and hat survived.
No more riding on ethan's tandem for me...
Next disaster my dad wiped out in big sur. 1 rod/reel/leash/rod HOLDER, and 2 lantern batteries.
Haven't lost a thing since.
I know ethan's lost at least 4 rods on various trips...
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i lost a big gaff at linda mar. but i found a net-kept it, found another net but it was colm's-returned it, gound a club-returned to mike. so i am ahead so far. but one afternoon my boat capsized twice while i was standing beside it, waiting to get in. my tackle took a beating but it was all tied down.
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I crashed and burned pretty hard coming into the beach at Linda Mar last time I was there. First big wave flipped me... the second one flipped the kayak again before I could get hold of it.
Lost a hat (which was a freebee anyway) and a pair of cheapo sunglasses. Had everything else inside my hull or strapped to it.
Because there were hundereds of surfers on the beach and in the water at the time... I guess the biggest loss was a little bit of pride.
Erik
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Lost one "lap-mounted" rod and reel when a large swell almost capsized me - that's when I learned about rod leashes(duh). Lost various things when I learned to kayak-dive (before I ever thought of fishing from one). The worst one was when I lauched alone from Reef campground, tank dove, then had the wind and swell come up while I was a ways offshore. I was flipping my hatch open and shut between waves to slip things in, when my speargun got caught on other gear half way in, holding the hatch open. The next two swells competely filled the hatch with water, and there was no way to bail it because of the big water. I thought I was going to lose my yak and maybe more. I managed to paddle back to shore (no where near the launch or civilization) and drain the yak. This took a huge effort. Then I relaunched and headed into the 30 knot wind north to the put-in. At one point I stopped to rest and held on to a bull kelp. The next thing I knew, I woke up, still holding on to the bull kelp! I eventually made it to the launch.
I definitely like to roll at Linda Mar, and this summer it cost me one rod holder, but luckily not the salmon in the same hatch (that would have hurt).
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I lost my weight belt (and my pride) in about 18 inches of water at Caspar this summer. It was sitting on my yak when a tiny wave tipped it over. I flipped it back over and kept walking, but didn't realize I had dropped my belt until I had walked just far enough to ensure I'd never find it...DOH! I looked forever anyways, but to no evail.
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two rods and reels tacle box and a pocket knife. I was being towed in by my dads bass boat because he didnt wat to wait for me to paddle back into the wind :smt018 I kinnda leaned to the side and my bow diped under the water thus flipping my boat.
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that was me
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I'd like to add on to this wonderful thread.....
I just recently found out that one of our comrads was on his way home from a productive kayakfishing / spearing trip...and on his way home, he was going to stop by his aunt's house....he happen to drive past the intended house - so he stopped and put his SUV on reverse....and instantly KILLED 4 MAILBOXES :smt087 .....(including his Aunt's).....needless to say, it turned out to be an expensive day for our dear friend.... :smt011
I'll post a pic of his spear gun trip soon - but I'll need to get clearance first :smt002
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Thanks Mooch.
Ahh, yeah it was me. I took out 4 mail boxes all at once. Was backing up on some country road looking at the houses on the hill (trying to figure out if it was the right road) and CRUNCH!!!! 2 boxes dead on the ground, the other 2 mangled. Sorry no picts!!
I consider that a non kayaking accident.
As for kayaking losses, this year has been BRUTAL:
ELK:
1 GPS unit ($100), 1 Tackle Box ($10) all lost. I was paddling out, then backed off to wait for the set to clear. I was standing on the beach holding on to the yak when a wave came and turned my yak over. Nothing leased so it was a yard sale. I scrambled and picked up as much stuff as I could as more waves came the washed gear all over the place.
One more thing, my net broke on that trip too. Add another ($20) or so.
One more thing again, I lost my Sure Fire E2E HA light somwhere on along that trip. ($90)
Total Elk Loss: $220
MOSS LANDING:
Was taking a picture of the mooch battle a salmon. Put the camera (nikon digital) between my legs and the water in the prowler got into the camera. Months later and its still dead.
Cost: $350 New, but that was a few years ago.
Prior to that, a few years ago I lost one pair of sunglasses at Davenport when I got a ling lap dance.
Last year, I rolled at Linda Mar. Luckily, everything was stuffed!!!
A few years before that, I got nailed by a wave in Carmel. Luckily the rod was leashed!!!
This has been an EXPENSIVE year.
Stuart
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despite the loss of expensive mailboxes....Stu managed to spear his first fish.....
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/spearman_stu.sized.jpg)
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I guess I can update with a couple losses:
Last spring on a spearing trip to stillwater (carmel) I lost a ankle weight because I threw the pair on the front hatch while loading up and being black on black, I didn't see them and launched without securing them. One fell off in the surf, but the other stayed put. I've added some lead to my dive knife straps to compensate. ~$12
A month ago, diving in monterey, I set my gear down on the beach and started portaging stuff to the car. Returned to find that a sleeper wave had stolen my mask/snorkel. ~$30
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Yeah,
that was the most expensive fish to date. I'm trying my best to do the Fish Sniffer pose.
As for diving, I had a hard time spotting the school of fish. I was chillin in the boat when Julie swims over and says "there a big school of fish just glued to this reef. Get in and shot some". I was tired and spent from doing A LOT of diving, searching for an elusive hub cap ab. I relent and say OK. I dreadfully put on the weight belt and fins and jump in. I swim over and she says look at em. I go down a few times but come up blank. FINALLY I see them. Because there were on the edge of the viz, they blended in and didn't stand out much.
Now that I know what I'm looking for, I go down and "chase" them. I thought rockfish just hang around, let you swim up and shoot. WRONG. They are slowly swimming away as I'm SLOWLY swiming to get closer, w/o spooking them. When they swim away you don't have a shot because of the small sillouette. Tiny compared to a broadside shot.
The next dive later, I pick out the biggest, release the safety and squeeze. Nothing happens. I come up, and think that I must not have fully released the safety. Next dive, I go down again, and pick out the biggest fish. This time I know the safety is off and I squeeze again. Squeeze harder and nothing happens. So its time to head up for air on the surface. I let the fish regroup and catch my breath.
The third time is the charm!! At the surface, I figured out that the trigger pull is SUPER heavy. I go down again, slyly trying to get closer and when one of them turns offering a shot, I squeeze like hell. The gun goes off and the recoil from the bands surprise the hell out of me. Instantly, I see the fish going nuts and I knew I hit it. I surface and go down again to make sure the fish is attatched. It is, so I grab the spear below the tip in between the fish so I know it wont come off. Julie is stoked for me. Its high fives!! I swim over to the boogie board and secure the gun and then swim to the boat and put the fish/spear in the boat and climb aboard. I’m pooped. 1 shot 1 fish. A perfect score. Time to call it quits. Julie wants me to keep going, but that was enough for my first time.
Her husband Paul shot about 4 or 5 and figured we had plenty of fish for tacos. (He really wanted to troll for salmon).
Looking back, it was purely beginner’s luck. I pointed, pulled and just got lucky. No idea how far away the fish was. Maybe 8 feet? At the surface, I was also surprised because the fish was bigger than I thought. With nothing to compare against, judging distance and size is difficult.
I definitely plan on getting a gun and hitting Carmel next year. That area had a decent number of schoolie blacks and yellows. Hopefully they are still there.
Stuart
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Carmel is rich with blues, coppers and kelp rockfish. Many others as well.
Pat
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I didn't flip, but I did lose my St Moritz dive watch over the side during the Santa Cruz tournament where the 32 lb hallie was caught. First thing in the morning the coffee wanted out and I had a 1 piece, zipper in the back, wetsuit on. Had to take my watch off to get the top half off so I could hang over the side. I put my watch on the deck, looking at it thinking, " No way is that baby going over." Finished my business, got the top back on and zipped up. Put the watch on my wrist, and as I was threading the band, my cold fingers lost grip. The watch fell off, hit my thigh, and went over the side. The worst part is, as it was sinking, I plunged my arm into the water and got one last feel of it as it slipped through my fingers.
Other than that I lost a hat, but only because I forgot all about it. I have been fortunate. I will admit there have been times where an errant flip would have cost me dearly. I am pretty good about lashing things down, but when the action is hot and furious, I get lazy.
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The very first fish I ever hooked from my ‘yak was (I’m assuming) a very large ling. I was holding my rod in my hands and got a huge hit that rolled me to the right. I tried to compensate – then almost tipped to the left. I over-compensated that one and finally went in, flipping my ‘yak on the right side. At that time I only leashed the rod I wasn’t using and the one I was using was gone. I hit the water and was back in my yak after 30 or 45 seconds. As I was trying to get back in to my yak my cheap ($8) sunglasses kept fogging up so I threw them off. My bag of squid was sealed in a zip-lok so it floated and I got that back. My fanny pack filled with all of my artificials was not leashed, but ended up inside of my small net that was. As I was gathering all this up Bob was saying, “D, your pole!”
And I was saying, “I know, man, it’s gone!”
And he was saying, “No, your pole is right there!”
It turns out that the foam grip on a Penn Powerstick is enough to keep the combo buoyant! I watched it go down and come back a few times, ‘cause the fish was still on the line and trying to run! I grabbed the rod and battled the fish for a few moments, but it eventually snagged me up and broke me off. All I lost was my sunglasses and a pack of smokes, but amazingly, the one behind my ear survived the water and my ripping my sunglasses off.
I also lost a Shimano Bantum Curado combo in Spring Lake on pure karma. I had placed a big order on Bass Pro and they were offering “6 pay” if the order was over $120. I was almost there so I ordered a mag-lite to put me over the limit. When the box came all my plastics were in the box, but no mag-lite. There was, however, a reel in the box. I figured they didn’t have the mag-lite so they sent me a cheap reel instead. When I looked up the price on the reel and saw it was a $130 reel I was stoked. The invoice read “mag-lite” so I was golden. Anyway, about 1 ½ years later I was fishing Spring Lake and embedded a treble hook into my PFD. I layed my rod down and wrestled the treble hook out and let it go, along with my combo right over the side of my yak.
On another trip I hit my Berkley Lip Gripper with my paddle and over it went.
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I was holding my rod in my hands and got a huge hit that rolled me to the right
In my past experience - when I feel that it's a big fish - and when I know that the fish is hooked, I point my rod towards the bow of the yak and just I let the fish tow me - (just make sure your drag is set properly) - this way, I'm better balanced and I use the kayak as a secondary drag. Just remember to keep the rod pointed to the bow the whole time. and enjoy the ride :smt045
just my 2 cents....
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The very first fish I ever hooked from my ‘yak
'Nuff Said! :smt003
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I went outta Montana del oro with Spike and his crew. I rolled going out then again comming in and lost my walmart cheap net and my pride. It was an unbelievably wild day on the water!
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my tally, mostly from carelessness and one stupid roll on the shorebreak at garapata:
5- leathermans
n -swimbaits
1- gaff
1- rod leash
3 - 1 1/2 lb weights
1- baseball cap
2- beers (coors so it didn't hurt that much)
1- rattletrap
1- baitbucket
12- live shiners (see above)
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2 weeks ago Ed and I were at Mill Creek in Big Sur and a 4 footer broke in my lap, the only thing not tied down was my radio.....so it was gone.
Today, Ed and I tried something really crazy. like trying to launch out of Marina State Beach. It always has bad currents and waves, but we had to try b/c the salmon bite it really one. Needless to say, I rolled numerous times. I lost one small tackle tray, my net, and the current sucked my booties right off. Lucky neither of us didn't lose our behinds in the ordeal. Live and learn. It just didn't look that bad from up top in the parking lot.
Jim
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The last thing I tossed into the ocean was a Silver Dollar; for my departed mother.
You folks must love your mothers! :smt006
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i was at stillwater carmel on the outside of the rocks and a mini tsunami came upon me with great vengeance and furious anger flipping my kayak over. the sea claimed two booties and a 75 cm sporasub black viper, my favorite speargun. that was a painful day for myself. i'll never forgive that rock. even though i know the gun is long gone i always look for it when i dive that area. i keep wishing it fell tip first on a ling and then i can find both gun and ling in one dive :smt003
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here's my tally
6 shakespear spiderman rods
1 spiderman tackle box
My son loves to fish off the jumpseat of my yak and I only take him out on del valle, since its a lake the only thing I tie a lanyard to is Riley's spiderman pfd(He has a tendency to bail to chase fish) but whats a 8 dollar rod compared to look on Rileys face when he gets returned to the yak.
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I guess I've been lucky, the only things I can recall losing are a pair of el cheapo longnose pliers, and a pair of pricey prescription sunglasses.
I've wiped out plenty but never lost much, though I got a nice reel full of sand once (reel is still in existence as parts in a box).
I did have what I think was a nice lingcod bust my 5'6" kencor bait rod in half while fishing for the KC derby last year. I had a sabiki with a kroc on as a weight, fish hit it, ran into the kelp. As I was orienting the kayak to wait him out a swell comes under the boat, lifts it juuust enough to really bow the rod and Pop! line and rod break. All I could do was reel in the slack & watch the top half of the rod slip away into the blue. I still have the other half here at my desk at work, for when I need to remember what is really important in life.
-Sean
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I lost an old pair of sunglasses and my fishing license by getting hit in the face by a way paddling out of LM.
Someone mailed back the license! That was pretty cool.
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So far:
Lamiglas mooching rod-$180
Abu Garcia D6 6600-$120
Bag of tackle/lures-$50+
Oakley framed, transition lense prescription eyeglasses-$550
Top piece of my rodholder-$15
Hopefully that is the end of the list...
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another add on to my donation....
My most favorite rod in the world.....a Gloomis one piece trout rod ......with a shimano 1000 spirex reel to go with it.....was sent down to Lake Loch Lomand on the Father's Day - Kayak Connection Derby '06 :smt011
What happend? Stupidity on my part...I was side saddling on the yak to reach back and get my tackle box...the rod was on my rod holder - unsecured - and as I turned, my elbow lifted the reel handle from the rod holder and quickly dumped it overboard. I read the depth on my fish finder = 40 feet :smt011 I thought of calling Harold/Fuzz for a deep water rescue but the water visibility was crappy. SO I simply said "goodbye" to my partner in crime :smt011
Rod epitaph:
.....many trout have perished from this rod....now it lays among the living :smt011
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Did you get the GPS coordinates Mooch????
Just because you lost it Sunday doesn't mean it can't be retrived another day.
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Mike - don't have GPS coordinates - but the location is still clear in my mind - I really doubt the rod and reel can be found - unless the water clarity gets better and the water level goes down a little bit more. Besides, they don't allow people in the water.
FYI: I just broke out all my leashes and will be using them on the lakes from now on :smt045
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Sorry about the loss Joel. I would have been dragging the bottom with a treble. Have much line out? You should post your loss on the Bulletin Board, you never know somebody might hook it.
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I was watching my FF and the location had a steep slope - so it could have gone even further down. If anyone finds it = they deserve it.
Don't think I plan on replacing it - it's too much bling bling to carry on the yak anyway (I already worry enough about my culcutta reel when I go salmon fishing) ....BUT DAM it was a fine rod :smt045 and it had really good mojo :smt002 The day I bought it from Fisherman's Warehouse, I took it straight to Stevens Creek and made the FIRST CAST from shore and hooked up with a pan fry rainbow :smt002
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In the second or third week that I owned my drifter I was in the southbay of san diego bay. Dead calm conditions.
I had a rod in my lap and I needed a lure so I reached around to my tackle basket. Well I leaned a little too far, and I could definately tell the kayak was going to flip, I was past the point of no return. I decided the best course of action was to bail out of the yak and try to keep it from capsizing and losing all of my gear.
Sploosh, I'm all wet, rod in my lap is gone, but everything is still in the yak.
Luckily is was one of my more beat setups.
MolBasser
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I was watching my FF and the location had a steep slope - so it could have gone even further down. If anyone finds it = they deserve it.
Don't think I plan on replacing it - it's too much bling bling to carry on the yak anyway (I already worry enough about my culcutta reel when I go salmon fishing) ....BUT DAM it was a fine rod :smt045 and it had really good mojo :smt002 The day I bought it from Fisherman's Warehouse, I took it straight to Stevens Creek and made the FIRST CAST from shore and hooked up with a pan fry rainbow :smt002
Give me your idea as to where it is and I will drag for it next time at the lake.
MolBasser
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Drag for it. You might even pull up something better.
A LONG time ago I lost a pair of Vuarnet sun glasses while jumping off a cliff on the American River. ( Rafting/bachelor party trip ). I went back the next day with my wetsuit top and a snorkel. The very last dive I was going to make I found them. Ya never know. One thing is for sure, you can guarantee not finding it if you do not try.
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My total loss so far all happened at linda mar.
1 $200 rod and reel combo. I was using it to jig for chovie when I turned my kayak into a swell so it wouldn't catch me broad side. Forgot I took the leash off and watched it fall to the bottom.
2 pair of sunglasses. 1 i can't remember when I lost it the other practicing with chuck in the surf. Lost a hat then too.
two nets. One time on the way out, just plan sank after it fell off. the other fell off after landing.
Hmmm. I think that covers it.
Pride two flips on the yak at LM. But many cool rides and landings to make up for it.
Jason
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Just wanted to "update" my donations" :smt011
Lost one my scotty rod holders while trying to board the Islander (mother ship) at San Clemente Island (SCI) with my yak :smt011....will have to think of leash system for those things. Will most likely drill a hole on the rod holder and leash it next time :smt002
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I lost a rod and real by south rock in SC on the day I caught that salmon.
I knocked it out of the molded in rod holder on my adventure when trying to clear my paddle of kelp. Saw it go down and contemplated diving after it. PO'D!!
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Update:
Bait tube at Tahoe. Now you see it, now you don't.
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heh, the sea finally got something of mine.
Noticed after the drive home on 7/21 that my trusty halibut pacifier was a no show. Must have slipped out of the kayak when I landed (it was the only thing not tied down). Ah, I will miss that chunk of galvanized steel, it had a custom wrapped handle of no-slip screen door installation rubber and a nice shock cord lanyard. It served well and subdued many fish. I can only hope it enjoys retirement in the Bean Hollow surf.
Now I need to craft a new "fish-b-cool" stick.
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Nothing real crazy for me so far.. wait a min... heaps and heaps of lures and jigs a la snag. :smt012
Also a net that fell off my yak @ BAMII.
Z
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Not while kayaking but I lost a pair of Revo's at Pacifica...that undertow is a real bizatch.
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Slowmo-
I was coming in to a beach along westcliff in Santa Cruz and tried to surf a a 3 foot wave onto the sand, unfortunatly I got turned sideways and and started to pearl. Then the wave rolled my yak and me 360 degrees. Thankfully I had my milk crate bungied in and my pole in my bow rod holder facing straight forard like a lance. I almost lost my tackle box but was able to scoop it up before the next wave came.
Earlier that morning I was de-hooking the kelp bass I caught when it started dancing around my legs causing me to drop my pliars(had to borrow my dad's) :smt012
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You guys are sharing awesome stories. Here is my toll:
I had rolled 3+ times at Limekiln Beach in 2006 when I was in the madness of the first year of kayak fishing. Many items had lost:
1) 1 pair of expensive prescription sunglasses ($500+)
2) 1 favorite net ($20). If I had it up to today, I would not lose the monster Hali at BH 2 weeks ago. :smt002
3) 1 tackle box with full of tackles ($50+) accumulated over a year of purchase here and there. Time worth much more. :smt012
4) 2 fish rods are broken after roll. Luckily, they were cheap rods.
5) A string of fish (reds and lings). It was a good day until I lost the string. :smt010 Snap hook came off for some reason. Positive note - I split fish into 2 strings, since one string would not be able to hold all. The other string was still there.
At Caspar cove, I rolled. I lost another net ($20). After that, I cut a section of swimming pool noodle and attached to my fishing net. Ever since, the net floats and it becomes retrievable.
Eric
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I was at Limekiln last week and it looked so nice and flat.
Then...came the launch. My first ever in this place.
I know that old timers here may already be smiling for you guys know all too well what must have happened. :smt013
For new folks....let me say that this place has a steep, sudden fall-away of the beach as medium waves chomp into the drop off creating a suddenly serious condition!
I set up and got ready to dig in and fly as the water swept past me...and then my paddle hit the sand and broke....
Oh well, still one to go and I dug into the depleting backwash and snap...the other paddle broke!
There I stood...
"stick in hand....
Up from Mill Creek without a paddle."
Steve
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Steve....better your paddle than any other part of your body :smt002
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Mooch
To be sure...
Those paddles were 17 year old asbestos ...I guess they were brittle like old PVC.
Of all the things I prepared for and double checked...it was the one thing I totally missed and took for granted...the paddle.
I just picked up new...modrn one at Aquatran.
Steve
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In the last 12 months:
2 - Standard Horizon VHFs at La Jolla ($100 each). One lost to a fast handed tweeker on the beach, and one went plunk in 120 feet when I took off my vest to pee.
2 - Kershaw folding knives at $50 each. Dropped overboard.
My lucky gaff (Pesca Diablo) at Limekiln landing in August ($15). Which has since been replaced with Pesca Diablo II from Erik. Thanks Erik, by the way.
A Reefmaster underwater digital camera ($400 Plus). Destroyed by poor timing.
All in all, a pretty average year.
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2 - Kershaw folding knives at $50 each. Dropped overboard.
Kayote,
If you want to replace your dive knife, take a look at this:
http://www.leisurepro.com/prod/SQTKET.html
I lost my original one that cost me $80.00 :BangHead:....I found this for less. IMO: a great price for a great rust-proof knife that will last you a life time....if you don't loose it :smt002
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Thanks for the link Joel.
At Elk you said all I do is take and take and take........... I'll take the knife too. :smt044
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Thanks for the link Joel.
At Elk you said all I do is take and take and take........... I'll take the knife too. :smt044
....as long as you were not "dipping your finger" in the lumpia sauce, your allowed to take all you want :smt002 :smt003
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Thanks Mooch for that Link to that Knife... Just what I was looking for.....
So Far, all I've lost is one Blinking Light on the port side of my Yak... :smt003
I'm way over due for a Major contribution.... :smt010 ....... Danglin
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Me and my son on my SOT yak, got to our dive site at point arena, son got in the water. I put on my weight belt and was reaching back for my fins and over goes the kayak :smt013 Luckily I didn't lose my fins and I was able to put them on with my sons help. I was tangled up in my anchor rope and couldn't figure out why I could not get untangled. My son (who had his mask on) found out that my spear shaft had stuck in my bootie and he had to fight to get it out of the neoprene. I lost my new mask, knife, and dive flag. I borrowed his mask and was able to find my mask and dive flag, so I only lost my knife. All in all I felt pretty lucky and I was very glad to have my son with me to help out.
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9/9 Davenport
rolled it in 1' surf. Bad timing. :smt011
donated to Davy Jones or some lucky beachcomber:
1-small box with 2 halibut bounce rigs
1-pair longs polarized sunglass w croakie
1-fish thocking stick #2
I got off cheap :smt003
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Well, I knew that at some point I was going to lose something, but a G Loomis HSR 1025, net, and Abu reel was a little more expensive than I had hoped for. :smt010
Being new, I'm trying to slowly build up to open ocean skills. I've been paddling in a lot of freshwater and I've started paddling the calmer days in the Carquinez Straight between Benicia and Vallejo. BTW, the striper bite has been great here lately.
This past Sunday I launched out of 9th Street and was drifting live bullheads. If you've been in the straight before, you know that some rather large car carrier ships come through occasionally and can create a decent wave to deal with. I had noticed a large ship moving through the channel, but it wasn't one of the biggest ones. I still kept my eye on it though. About mid-way through one of my drifts I noticed I was drifting into water that was deeper than where I had been marking fish, so I leaned forward and a bit to starboard to pick up my rod. Unfortunately it was at this moment that the wake from the passing ship caught up to me. You see, I was trying to think about all the little things that aren't second nature to me yet, like what to do with my paddle when dealing with my rod, and how best to position myself to retrieve my bait, etc. and while I was thinking about those things, I forgot to keep track of the wake from the passing ship. As the wave approached from behind me and a little to my left, I was leaning forward and a little to the right.
I felt the wave lift me up and I immediately leaned back and to the left to counter the roll, but I was already past the point of no return. The kayak sat on its side with me on top for just a second before rolling completely. I had two rods on board: the one I was fishing with and another rod set up to troll an in-line spinner for salmon, which was stored in the rod holder behind my seat. The salmon rod slid out of its holder and the spinner hook caught my waders. I managed to grab the rod and hold onto it as I flipped my yak back over. I put that rod back in its holder and climbed back aboard for an assessment. I looked around and saw my tackle pouch floating and my orange fish gripper floating, so I paddled over and picked them up. The rod I had been fishing with had 8 oz of lead attached and I had drifted into water about 10 feet deeper than the line I had out before I flipped. The rod was nowhere to be seen, and neither was my net. :smt009
I was and still am mad at myself over this. First of all, my dumb a$$ had two rod leashes on the boat with me. But, I wasn't using them. :smt013
Second, I allowed myself to lose situational awareness. I was so focused on fishing, I forgot to remember that I am sitting in a kayak in the Carquinez Straight. :smt011
Lessons learned:
1) Over the past several months time spent practicing dumping my boat, flipping it over, and climbing back in was time well spent. I got back in my boat with no problem.
2) I wear a life vest, non-cotton under layers, and waders or a wet suit "just in case" I end up in the water. I should have the same attitude about my gear. Flotation for my net and rod leashes attached would have made my little swim nothing more than a learning experience about paying better attention to my surroundings. Instead I got a situational awareness reminder and I lost about $300 worth of fishing gear.
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but a G Loomis HSR 1025
I feel your pain brother :smt011 I lost my G loomis trout slaying rod 2 years ago cause I was simply too confident and felt that I didn't need to leash my rods anymore :smt009
Your post is a great reminder not only to the newbies but to the veterans as well :smt023
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but a G Loomis HSR 1025
I feel your pain brother :smt011 I lost my G loomis trout slaying rod 2 years ago cause I was simply too confident and felt that I didn't need to leash my rods anymore :smt009
Your post is a great reminder not only to the newbies but to the veterans as well :smt023
I feel that. I finally broke down and bought an expensive rod and I'm totally paranoid that I'll drop it overboard doing something. The regular leashes are a bit of a PITA so I think I'm going to try something new.
(http://www.tcoflyfishing.com/images/StreamAccessories/cf_retractor_med.jpg)
I'm thinking of getting some kinda cord like this and attaching it to my PFD and the other end to the hook keeper on the rod. It's not super heavy duty but everything that is, is super cumbersome. This way there's something stopping it from falling overboard and it's out of the way.
Z
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I agree there has got to be a better way to leash your rods. Definitely post how that coiled leash idea works out. Currently, I use leashes made out of parachute cord and a brass clip. This works, but it still gets in the way and gets tangled occasionally. I'll have to keep experimenting, but I figure that if I can develop something that isn't too annoying then I am less likely to ever decide that i can get by without using a rod leash. :smt002
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Heading in towards a promising rock formation JNO Gualala I see my partner catch a wave on his SOT - he is jammin' and hootin' - I start laughin' and not paying attention to the overhead set coming like a locomotive behind me. I get sideways and plowed, I'm still laughing until I realize as I go over gulping salt water that my weight belt, mask, snorkel and fins are loose in the footwells.
I am about chest to neck deep water, I let the 'yak go in on its own, grab the fins before they disappear, my mask/snorkel is partially stuffed in one of the fins so all I am out is the weightbelt. Cheap SOG that I am - I flounder in the surf after dropping off the rest on shore and manage to find the belt before the next set comes in.
Proceeded to get Maytag'd - and got no Abs that day, but did pop a very good lesson. I try not to laugh too hard while floundering anymore!
John
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I agree there has got to be a better way to leash your rods.
The best solution may be flotation rather than leashing.
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My first donation was made last Saturday. I dropped my needle nosed pliers right next to my hip in my kayak. When I shifted in my seat they plopped into the water. They got hung up on my line which was attached to my net that I had just scooped an ocean white fish up with. I went to lift the line out of the water to grab the pliers and plop they went...again. Never to be seen again. I'm sure some diver will find them eventually. They were my best pair :smt012
FF
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Wow! what a great string, being relatively inexperienced at surf launches my pride feels a little better now having read about other peoples crashes. So it's not just me!! I think the reason my list is so short is because I don't go that often. However I did have a pretty good crash about a month ago at Doran. Launched at the jetty on a day with about a 6 foot swell so there was zero surf there, but knowing I could use some practice I headed for the south/east end of the beach about a mile or so away where it's more exposed to the swell. Learned a lesson or 2 there. From the backside the shore break looked pretty small, turned out to be maybe 3-4 feet and very abrupt at the beach. As I slowly (bad) edged towards my commit point a wave (no bigger than the rest) came up behind me and shoved me forward like a rocket. I was in my fairly new 14 ft Maurader and as the back end kicked up I thought I was in for an endo, I was plastered into the seat from the forward push and couldn't bail out, I'm thinkin this is gonna be ugly, (and it was), at the last second the wave flipped me sideways and out, face down into about a foot of water, having done this last year at Big Sur I was smart enought to bury my face it the sand and cover up as the yak flew over my head, less painful than the knock on the head last time. Since I thought the surf looked really small I hadn't lashed all my stuff just the expensive stuff, I lashed my rod down tight, I usually have enough slack to pull the rod out and into my hands but not this time, so the handle was still in the holder but the rod had snapped off clean, lost a set of pliers that were in a securely vlecroed pocket, it's hard to get them out anyway, but the surf did it, the rest of my unsecured stuff just laid or bobbed around in the surf until I collected it. Nice thing about the maurader is that you can easily stow an 8 ft rod in the hull, so as I nervously got ready to go back out the boat was absolutley clean the only thing not stowed was the seat and the paddle. Of course I crashed again last week at Van Damme of all places, but I did finish the trip with a good landing, Practice, practice,,,,
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my only loss was my fishing license last year at Montana de Oro (typing with one hand and knocking on wood with the other). I usually keep it tucked away as legally possible, but I was the only boat (PBs) included and was in 120ft of water and DFG rolled up on me in thier 90' boat and checked my lisence and fish. So I pulled it exposed it more and lost it on the paddle in. I rolled on opening day at Leffingwell with an audience of newbs that were being coached on the beach. That was when I used to do my skimboard style launches, where I'd fling my boat out and jump in feet first. That was my last one of those. The worst part was that I could here the coach on the beach telling his group "that's what not to do". So I was that guy, but somehow I grabbed both rods and everything else was stowed.
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I had a brief "brain fart" last year down at the Rancho that cost me dearly. I always stow my gear if there is any surf. But on this day, after fight the wind and the drift all day, my brain just went into neutral and I went into shore with everything out. That big hand that came up out of the water was amazing. And it slapped me silly. I went one way, the yak went another and about $100.00 of tackle went out to sea. Not only that but my fishfinder and VHS went swimming also. The VHS was fine but the FF got fried. Luckily, everything else survived cause I at least had all my leashes attached.
Hopefully, I won't ever do that again.
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It was nice to meet many of you at BAM III. :smt001 Even though I blanked!!! :smt013 :smt013 :smt013
As for the donations, so far I have been lucky, only one donation. :smt012 at the end of a tourn. at Dana Point in 05. I was entering through the small surf when my partner was really nervous about his first surf landing. Trying to keep him calm I turned around in my seat and said if you don't want to wipe out than just don't. Of course when I turned around the small wave caught my yak and turned me sideways and rolled me before I knew what happened. Because the surf was so small I hadn't leashed any gear.
Donation Total:
1-Seeker rod
1-Daiwa sl30sx reel
3-Plano dry boxes
10-misc. Mega Bait jigs
20+-misc. plastics
1-new Motorola cell phone :smt010
1-new Motorola bluetooth :smt010
just goes to show it only takes a second on the best of days to change the entire situation. STAY ALERT!
Can't wait to join you guys again - best group I have ever had the honor of fishing with.
Eric / Yakhopper
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I can't take credit for the idea since I got it from John Airey. But it was obvious to me after going out the first time with leashes on everything that there had to be a better solution.
Certain thing I like attached to my PFD with landyards, (GPS, knife, VHF), certain things are always leashed to the boat, (game clips, another knife), some items are made to float, (gaff, rod), and yet other items are not tethered, but a backup is carried just in case, (paddle).
Everyone has their own system.
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If lakes count as "donations to the sea", my son made a nice donation, in my name.
We were fishing Lake Mendocino last Saturday. I had my VHF and one of the Motorola FRS radios. My son had the other FRS. I told him to call me if he got cold, hungry, tired, etc. and we would pack it in. About an hour later I see him walking over the point toward me. He had dropped the radio in the lake. Of course he didn't remember dropping it in the lake but he hadn't been on dry land between the time I gave it to him and when he tried to call me. At least the FRS radios are cheap. And I have a new item on my Christmas list.
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So far I've ben pretty lucky. Lost my sweet 4'6' light tackle R/R that I used for fishing small streams in the Sierra's. It could cast under the lowest overhanging brush or slingshot a crawler into an eddy like no other rod I've ever had. But while on Donner Lake with my son he got too close to me with his kayak while fishing with one of my larger rods and somehow knocked my R/R into the lake. The real pisser was that we could see the rod in 50' of water but it was between two rocks and I couldn't snag it.
Other than that I haven't lost anything else off the kayak. But out of the canoe... well thats a different story altogether.
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So far I've been pretty lucky, just my father-in-law's trout net. I know my day is coming though. :smt009
On that same note, my father-in-law lost his favorite ultra-light trout rod at Loch Lomond, man was he pissed. His first ever outing in a yak. In fact he had been in the saddle less than an hour. He almost packed it in after sending that rod to it's final resting place but I was able to keep him out there.
Michael
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Donations made to the sea:
Almost Me. My best butt-pad. My favorite hat. My favorite cheap dark glasses.
The camera.
But they will never get my Hobie Sport. Ever.
-Matt
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ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I dropped my ICOM M-34 over the edge at Lake Del Valle...
Didn't have it clipped to my PFD like usual... Had it in the pocket of the PFD, and it slipped out when I turned to grab my rod while trolling.
And of course if you know the M-34, its the floating model... Which I bought because I thought it would be kinda idiot proof...
But I put another one of them caribeaners on it, not the light aluminum ones, but a cheap (not climbing) metal one that came with my yakima rack.
It sank before I could wrestle free my net... If it wasn't 30ft of water, would have dove back into get it...
So... just ordered a new one, but this time with the remote speaker MIC, which is also supposed to float with the unit.
But...
THIS TIME I WILL TEST IT'S ABILITY TO FLOAT FIRST!!!
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But...
THIS TIME I WILL TEST IT'S ABILITY TO FLOAT FIRST!!!
With or without the cheapo carabiner? :smt003 :smt044 J/K!
On a serious note though Al, with the MIC, it shouldn't need to leave your PFD pocket. And if it does, the MIC is clipped to your PFD, kind of like a built in tether or leash. :smt007 You should be set! :smt002
BTW, were you ever able to complete your FF install because I've still got the goods if you want them.
Michael
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With or without the cheapo carabiner? :smt003 :smt044 J/K!
BTW, were you ever able to complete your FF install because I've still got the goods if you want them.
Well, going to look for a smaller clip to use and first ill try some of the cheap aluminum carabiner's I have *(and should have used)*. But thinking I may find something even smaller or lighter, like a zip tie :smt003 or a velcro wrap, etc.
And yeah, I got my FF installed, and a battery box made. Just nothing to write home about. Still did it without putting a single hole in the boat :) Made my own mount that fit inside the Sail Mast hole, and its been working OK, for now.
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Just curious....
How many of you have flipped your yak due to stupidity (or what ever reasons) in the open ocean (or Lake) while surf launching or landing and what did you end up losing (as far as gear)?
For me:
1) Half Moon Bay - out by the green bouy - lost 2 rods, sunglasses, disposable camera, ALL my tackle. :smt013 I was on a 11ft Cobra Explorer back then....it was stupidity on my part :smt011 I was leaning to the side of the yak to see the Ling that I had hooked - a sneaker wave hit me from the blind side.
2) Davenport - I did not flip the yak but a 15 # halibut I caught wigged out on my lap - as I was calling a friend from my cell - asking for info. on Halibut size limit. As the Halibut gave me an undesired lap dance - I got startled :smt031 and my cell phone went flying into the ocean. It was the Halibut's fault :smt097
3) Linda Mar - I was practicing landing the yak on a big swell day (with John and Mike) I was landing backwards - the first wave flooded me and my yak turned to the side. I tried to point the bow towards the second incoming wave but because the yak was flooded - I was not able to turn the bow in time(too heavy to steer) I flipped and lost my sunglasses.
4) Linda Mar - salmon fishing with Erik. I was landing backwards and everything was going fine BUT I did not get off the yak soon enough. I was in knee deep of water when I should have gotten off the yak -instead I stayed on and a wave crashed on top of my bow - sending me to the water. stupidy on my part - did not loose any gear - just pride.
total loss:
2 sunglasses
tackle
1 cell phone
2 rod and reel combo
1 disposable camera
lot's of pride :smt010
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Just curious....
How many of you have flipped your yak due to stupidity (or what ever reasons) in the open ocean (or Lake) while surf launching or landing and what did you end up losing (as far as gear)?
For me:
1) Half Moon Bay - out by the green bouy - lost 2 rods, sunglasses, disposable camera, ALL my tackle. :smt013 I was on a 11ft Cobra Explorer back then....it was stupidity on my part :smt011 I was leaning to the side of the yak to see the Ling that I had hooked - a sneaker wave hit me from the blind side.
2) Davenport - I did not flip the yak but a 15 # halibut I caught wigged out on my lap - as I was calling a friend from my cell - asking for info. on Halibut size limit. As the Halibut gave me an undesired lap dance - I got startled :smt031 and my cell phone went flying into the ocean. It was the Halibut's fault :smt097
3) Linda Mar - I was practicing landing the yak on a big swell day (with John and Mike) I was landing backwards - the first wave flooded me and my yak turned to the side. I tried to point the bow towards the second incoming wave but because the yak was flooded - I was not able to turn the bow in time(too heavy to steer) I flipped and lost my sunglasses.
4) Linda Mar - salmon fishing with Erik. I was landing backwards and everything was going fine BUT I did not get off the yak soon enough. I was in knee deep of water when I should have gotten off the yak -instead I stayed on and a wave crashed on top of my bow - sending me to the water. stupidy on my part - did not loose any gear - just pride.
total loss:
2 sunglasses
tackle
1 cell phone
2 rod and reel combo
1 disposable camera
lot's of pride :smt010
Lost my rod, fish and fear of being Eaten by a White! (At least when I got back on my Yak). Lanyards! Lanyards! Lanyards!
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Limekiln Roll 07
Humminbird 17- smashed
Shimano Trevala rod- gone
Okuma Catalina Reel- gone
Another rod/reel. I forget the type- gone
Net- bent to crap
gaff- gone
stringer- gone
all tackle- gone
sunglasses- gone
lucky hat- gone :smt010
me- cold
Luckily GB2 was there to generously lend me a rod.
Santa Cruz 2006
I threw a rotting herring at Fishcamp's boat. My rod/reel slid off the side while I was busy laughing looking the other way. Karma.. hmmm :smt011
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Weighted sabiki, right down the scupper hole. Sounded like, "bloop, chicka chicka chicka" followed by Damn, followed by me laughing at what a fool I am. Low on the dollar level, just a wee bit of stoopid.
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Weighted sabiki, right down the scupper hole. Sounded like, "bloop, chicka chicka chicka" followed by Damn, followed by me laughing at what a fool I am. Low on the dollar level, just a wee bit of stoopid.
:smt005
"Bloopchickachickachickadamn!" should be the new official subject line for dropped gear. :smt005
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Limekiln Roll 07
Humminbird 17- smashed
Shimano Trevala rod- gone
Okuma Catalina Reel- gone
Another rod/reel. I forget the type- gone
Net- bent to crap
gaff- gone
stringer- gone
all tackle- gone
sunglasses- gone
lucky hat- gone :smt010
me- cold
Luckily GB2 was there to generously lend me a rod.
Santa Cruz 2006
I threw a rotting herring at Fishcamp's boat. My rod/reel slid off the side while I was busy laughing looking the other way. Karma.. hmmm :smt011
Yeah Alex but you got a nice Mermaid Calstar rod. :smt003
For me...
Limekiln 2007 - offshore rollover in large mixed swell
St Croix Inshore Rod
Shimano Tekota Reel
$40 Tackle
Limekiln 2008 - massive surf wipeout
Game clip with jumbo verms and ling attached
We could have a whole thread on donations at Limekiln. :smt005
scott
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Lost, from the game clip it was securely attached to, one 10-lb silver salmon, my first ever.
Neptune really wanted this fish back.
Chris Mautino was hoisting it on a Boga for photos, when it suddenly self-released.
(http://www.kayakfishingzone.com/Images/PhotoHost/Ooops6400001.jpg)
But Chris has crazy ninja skills.
(http://www.kayakfishingzone.com/Images/PhotoHost/Ooops6400002.jpg)
So onto the game clip it went. For a while at least...
It was early in the day, a rare hot one in Alaska. While working on a sunburn, I put the stringer in the only cool place available, soaking in the 50 degree water (nothing I'd dream of doing in SoCal, but Chris swore it was acceptable practice up north).
As time went on, I gave the salmon some company, a yelloweye with terminal baro-trauma and a bit of eagle bait.
Prior to making a move, I pulled the stringer in. As I lifted it, I heard an odd splash. With horror, I noticed my salmon slowly sinking.
Dropping the (securely fastened) stringer, its payload now reduced to a deuce of rockfish, I grabbed the net and swiped. FAIL. My heart sank as deep as the fish. I felt sick to my stomach at the waste.
Fortunately, fickle fate smiled. I threaded my last herring onto the mooching rig and dropped it. Not 20 yards later I looked back over my shoulder to find the rod doubled up. After a dogged fight, I netted silver #2, a brilliant, thick-bodied fish. We ate it at the peak of freshness. But before we did, we studied the salmon's jaw. I pulled, trying to dislocate it - I couldn't do it exerting any reasonable force. Puzzled, we simply concluded that first salmon was meant to return to the sea.
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Pal,
What a great shot of you as you gift that offering back to the sea. Even better, you can see the enunciation of the word sh&* on your lips. :smt044
Chicks dig that.
Timo
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Pal,
What a great shot of you as you gift that offering back to the sea. Even better, you can see the enunciation of the word sh&* on your lips. :smt044
Chicks dig that.
Timo
I've never met PAL, so I could be wrong, but I don't think that is him in the picture.
Great story by the way. I understand the "sick to your stomach" feeling of knowing game is going to waste. Although in that instance, it just became part of the food chain again, whether another critter ate it or microscopic organisms got to him.
Michael
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That's Chris Mautino of Liquid Adventures. Not the quick strike, disaster averted (for a while at least).
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thought I'd revive this thread :smt002
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I am not too proud to add the limekiln yard sale. Same day that Scott lost his epic stringer was my first major yard sale, I lost:
tilley hat
sunglasses
gaff
club
tackle tray loaded with metal
paddle
net
pliers
pride. :smt003
rod and reels were tied to the yak so not lost but the reels had so much sand in them it was unbelievable. The drift carried eveything off shore. PJ went back out and gathered my paddle and gaff. :smt004
since then I have lost things one at a time. 2 radios, many pliers, a few more glasses, a few cheap knives, a few expensive dive knives.
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net at Paradise...loaned it to Craig for a Butt. Handed it back to me and just let it slip off my lap as I watched.
red lead head jig with big hammer swim bait...oh and it was attached to trevala and revo reel...stupid ling...next time I won't try and let you go!
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I am not too proud to add the limekiln yard sale.
Too funny. There has to be a fishing gear graveyard at Limekiln somewhere. If you find it, could you look for my lucky gaff : Pesca Diablo I and that rod Polygamist Al lost?.
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Haha, I love this thread. :smt005
-FF
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:smt006
:smt044 I'm a rich man now! Reading about all the stuff donated, that all adds up some pretty good coinage. Since I haven't been out on the open ocean, I'm saving lots of coinage!
Alas this will change. (Me not being on the water)
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I am not too proud to add the limekiln yard sale. Same day that Scott lost his epic stringer was my first major yard sale, I lost:
I was there for my first surf launch but tried 3 times losing my bait and sunglasses then decided I was'nt prepared for this and headed back up to Carmel since it wasn't looking likwe it was going to get better. I'm sure I missed out on some great fishing but I still have all the rest of my euipment. I still remember seeing Scott's photo of him riding that wave in, I knew then I made to correct decision to head to calmer grounds.
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Seems to be a sore subject as of late. :smt009
-Camera. I know flotation blah blah damn fish knocked it out of my hand. It's now in 65' in the
Carmel kelp. Could have cared less about the OLY 1030SW but the memory card had some un-uploaded pics that I will miss for sure.
-Net lost during MBK tourney. No clue when but it floated so someone came up. That net had epic fish landing mojo.
-Beat Stick. Tossed it at a seal (it was a cutoff broom handle so it floated) and apparently that triggered an epic RF bite that didn't stop for 2 hours. Landed a ling and several nice coppers but the beat stick drifted off and I never located it. That piece of wood tamed many a beast and I definitely should have just retrieved it when I had the chance.
-Bait Knives. I donate bait knives on a regular basis but the promars are only 3 or 4$ so that's no biggie.
-Scotty rod holder w/ extender. The wife boarded the yak from her surf board and the rod holder must have fell out when it tilted. On a side note the P13 did float us fine but paddling wasn't happening.
I'm sure the list will only grow with time and the random BS that goes on in the salt.
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Gopro hero @ ocean cove
Garmin Rhino @ RBC2 on land
Hate loosing stuff!!
Anthony
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Lost my fav set of extra long needle nose pliers this weekend in Big Sur. Went to unhook a ling at yakside, the fish went nuts, and "floop" go the pliers after they slipped from my hand.
And my first thought was, "I can post this on the donations to the sea thread!"
Oh well, now I have an excuse to ask for some cool new Suffix pliers for Christmas :smt044.
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My bad ass UK SL4 eLED dive light is now somewhere on the bottom of Albion Cove.
:smt013
Paddled over to a new spot, anchored up, put my mask back on, light back around wrist, jumped in, where the F is my light?!?! :smt009 :smt011
Must've forgot to tighten down the lanyard...in 35 feet of water....spent awhile looking on the bottom, but the black color of the light did not give me a good chance of finding it...
GRRR!!!
:smt005 :smt044 :smt005 :smt044
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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fishing dramo lake this yr didn't have anything tied down...was trying to paddle away from a PB the wind is HOWLING and I hear "my hand" so instead of paddling I waited so that my hook wouldn't sink into my friends hand...in the process "yard sale" flipped and lost a very nice Keni special lami..nice reel...lots of assorted gear...my net that had a pool noodle even sank :smt009 5-$600.00 worth of gear... gots to get some leashes... but do have noodles on everything now... :smt044 :smt044 :smt044
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Filet knife at RBCII. It fell through the yakgina on my hobie while I was in the kelp. Gotta start bringing the plug.
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When I got my first ten inch abalone my Dad was right there swimming besdie me. He wasnt diving much then, just liked to get in the water and cruise around with me. He was 68 years old then. On the south end of Stump theres a cave in about 15 ft of water. I swam in and turning upside down I noticed a monster up in an overhead crack. Prying it off, it fell into my hands and went back out. I swam over to the old man and presented it to him. I watched his eyes go big and he spit his snorkel out and laughed a deep hearty laugh and said, " holy shit son, thats the biggest ab Ive ever seen." It was a great time in my life and accomplishment I had been trying for for a long time. Having my Pop there was the icing fellas.
Years go by and my Dad died. It was a sad time for us all . We loved that old sucker so much. After a few months my Mom finally decided it was time to spread his ashes as he wanted. West of the Golden Gate on a strong ebb. We got over by Tennessee and I poured his ashes in that ten inch shell I had been keeping for a long time. It was so fucking right man. I lofted that shell with the ashes spilling out in the wind and watched as the water turned into a cloudy gray. My Moms weeping and Im smiling my ass off. The best donation I ever made back to the ocean. My old mans spirit lives there and when I pass that spot on the way to salmon fishing or whatever I smile to myself and think of the days I got to spend with him. He taught me a lot and Im forever indebted to his soul.
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That's awesome Craig, I hope I can be the same father figure to my kids.
Anthony
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My old mans spirit lives there and when I pass that spot on the way to salmon fishing or whatever I smile to myself and think of the days I got to spend with him. He taught me a lot and Im forever indebted to his soul.
That's part of the beauty of the scattering at sea. They aren't just at the one spot, although the spirit is probably strongest there, but they are anywhere there is a connection to the Pacific. I began with honoring the spirit of my mom, then my brother, and most recently one of my dear friends. Paddling out & paying respects to one is to honor them all.
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Craig - sweet memorial and tribute to your Dad.
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Hell of a tribute, both you and your father were lucky to have each other. :smt001