New guy from the East Bay/Delta

44 year old lifetime outdoorsman, but never kayak fished.  Been lurking, watching guys on YouTube (some good, some not so good), and realized I needed a reason to be active again (used to mountain bike, stopped doing that, gained a bunch of weight...)  Kayak fishing fits the bill - Gets me outside and moving, and I get to fish!  Inlaws just bought a place on the beach in Brookings, OR, so after the weather calms down, I'll be able to do a little close shore fishing once I get proficient on the kayak.

My plan so far is to buy a cheap kayak and then outfit it with "good" parts so that if I do take to the hobby, I can just move equipment from check kayak to better one.  I bought one of the Brooklyn Kayak Company boats, quality seems nice and so far, it floats in my pool.  I can stand on it, sit on it, but transitioning from standing to sitting is proving to be difficult.  Waiting on one more component till I start to install everything, but I'm putting in a YakPower switch/relay system, homebrew LED setup, Garmin Strike 4cv, and a homebrew crate using a Rigid plastic toolbox.  Already have an anchor trolley and anchor, going to try and use a retractable clothesline for anchor line storage.  Bought tethers for EVERYTHING, two good life vests (NRS Chinook and Onyx MoveVent) so I can figure out which one I like best, plenty of skin protection (I've dealt with basal cell carcinoma and melanoma is always a worry with my fair skin), a waterproof VHF radio.  I still need to get a wetsuit, hard to find one to fit a 6'1", 260lb fat guy!

Anyway, I'm planning on getting out on calm water to start, get used to paddling, not putting myself into any situations that I can't get out of.  Once I'm starting to feel good about paddling, am comfortable getting myself back on the kayak if I roll (I've already been practicing this in my pool), then I'm hoping to get out to a NCKA event and go to one of the clinics/classes to learn more.

Well, that's about it for me, just wanted to introduce myself and say hi!

do not forget about a bilge pump if you're planning to hit the ocean (which I'm assuming you are when talking about a wetsuit). 

Welcome to NCKA!

Definitely lots of info on this site. Don't be shy to join a hookup.

Be safe.

welcome!

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do not forget about a bilge pump if you're planning to hit the ocean (which I'm assuming you are when talking about a wetsuit).

Definitely is in the plan eventually, hadn't thought about a bilge pump.  I will add that to the list!  Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. Hope to see you out on the water

Welcome to the madness 

Get Bent

Welcome! Be safe

hi @usetheschwartz, i just picked up my rig this weekend too and will start slow in east bay resorvoirs to get me going. Once my confidence is up i'm hoping to hit some no wake zones on the delta. Would love to meet up if you're game. I'm Walnut Creek way, mid 40's too, fish mostly for bass. PB is 7.4lbs.

Hello and welcome to the group   

Welcome to the community. 

Brookings is a great spot.  There's a few hookups posted on sister site NWKA and there's starting to be more kayakers out there.  It's one of my favorite ports to fish out of and there's some great surf launch spots around too.  It's a fishy place.  The rogue isn't far away and there will be some lights out fishing on it this year, plan on hitting that up starting in about 2-3 weeks and continuing until fall rains blow it out.  There's half a million salmon returning this year projected.

Brookings isn't a bad spot to cut your teeth on the ocean.  The chetco effect gives the area a nice micro climate when nearby areas only a few miles away can be blown out.  Stay close to the harbor til you get it figured out.