NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: AdMan on October 04, 2010, 01:46:39 PM

Title: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 04, 2010, 01:46:39 PM
When I first got into kayak fishing I was so stoked about fishing from a yak that I might not have taken everything into consideration this sport requires. A couple fine examples of newbdom.

- First leopard shark outing and I find out two days before leaving I need a quick release anchor. Luckily my fishing partner that day had an extra.
- I've been wearing a 90's "Hang Ten" PFD because I believed floatation is floatation when it comes to PFD's. Much like wearing a flack jacket to suppress opposing fire this thing is bulky and hot. Spend a little money on a kayak angling PFD. You will thank me later.
- Wheelez. Probably my most frustrating tool to date. Is this thing even a tool? The first time I put my yak on it bumps in the road caused the straps to loosen and my yak falls to the ground dragging the wheels with it. At Capitola these wheelez dug into the dirt as to leave me a nice path to find my way home. At the capitola pier they wouldnt fit down the ramp and I eventually tried to drag the kayak down. With the pier moving way too much to launch alone I had to drag the kayak back up the ramp. Ed was probably amused by the two yellow drag marks going up and down the ramp.
- Nothing like getting to a place to fish only to find out you dont know where and how to launch your kayak. For instance. Capitola looks good but the waves are breaking making it too dicey for a shore launch. You drag your kayak down the hill on to the pier only to find out the pier moves 2 ft up and down with each wave. Now what?
- Try spending a day bass fishing with no anchor as you get spun in circles by the wind and lose any good positions within seconds.  
- How about wanting to chase the WSB bite and not having a VHF, or farmer johns. Once you pass the jetty these things tend to remind you there not with you.
- Scupper holes shouldnt be plugged if you anticipate wind blowing gallons of water into your kayak. Or you can test the weight limits of your kayak by keeping them plugged.
- I brought 4 rods and only have 3 rod holders...now what do I do?
- Hey, I think I'll keep these fish, now where do I put em?


These things can and will happen to you if your excitement of fishing takes front stage to preperation. Nothing frustrates me more than not being prepared and kayak fishing has made me feel like a fool more than once. My advice to newbs is to take your time, learn areas you plan to fish inside and out for launching spots, hazards and best times of day to be there. Your equipment should be checked and double checked before each outing until it gets routine.

Overall kayaking is a sport that takes a good deal of time to prep and you dont want to drive 1.5 hours to Capitola just to drag your kayak up and down the ramp.  :smt044
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: porky (bp) on October 04, 2010, 02:39:51 PM
well written and funny..

CAP, beach launch is WAY easier here.. lock your wheels up under the pier and go!!. If ya wait, there will almost always be a break in the surf unless its a big winter storm.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 04, 2010, 02:47:22 PM
well written and funny..

CAP, beach launch is WAY easier here.. lock your wheels up under the pier and go!!. If ya wait, there will almost always be a break in the surf unless its a big winter storm.

The sets coming in were brutal on the pier launch. By myself there was no way I could do it. Very frustrating since I want to fish the kelp there a lot in the future. I waited but obviously not long enough. As I was leaving Ed helped a family of three launch their kayaks. Away they went.  :smt044 - I was more concerned about the swell that was building and my return. if I couldnt launch I couldnt land.

I'll take your advice next time and just surf launch it behind the kelp. In hindsight that should have been my move but I was certain the pier launch was going to be a breeze.  :smt044
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: DaveTheSynthGuy on October 04, 2010, 06:08:18 PM
I loved this -- esp as a newbie living it.  Best one was what to do with the fish you caught.  When I found the blacks in Trinidad harbor this summer on my 4rth trip with my new yak, I was faced with that one.  (Answer, throw them in the hatch and wash it out later.) -- I did get one of the angling PFDs and that was a good move! --- This was good! :smt005
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Dale L on October 04, 2010, 07:23:12 PM
Thanks for putting your confessions out there, I had allot of ocean/boat/dive experience before I started out with the yak so I may have had a few less ah shits than you.

Where I had my worst was having a hull half full of water and no interior flotation (pool noodles) or bilge pump. Lucky for me that day I had changed plans from going to a spot a half mile off shore at China Camp to up in a slough in the delta. I was about 100yds from shore instead of a half mile.  Woulda been a whole different deal and a long swim.

Lots to think about before you go.........
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: redwoodfox on October 04, 2010, 07:24:58 PM
we all took our licks on the way up..hell one of mine almost killed me
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 05, 2010, 09:29:22 AM
I've def. learned from my mistakes but dont they suck when they happen!!  :smt003

Each mistake has caused me to want to simplify my attack. Less gear, more safety. Less crap, more fishing. Less driving, more fishing. There are books on kayak fishing but very few specific to our local waters, what to expect, where to launch, etc.

Luckily sites like this exist to limit those mistakes.  :smt003
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: porky (bp) on October 05, 2010, 09:33:48 AM
yeah, the little floating dock at Capitola on a big swell day is brutal, I find it much easier on the shore launch there, and its just easier in general when your done and ready to go home...

Good luck, maybe well see ya there some time soon!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: PISCEAN on October 05, 2010, 10:26:18 AM
There's something to learn here for everyone, thanks AdMan.

Yep, the roll-eeze carts need to have two straps, and the forward strap needs to be hooked to the kayak (I use a little carabiner on a  padeye behind the seat & thread the strap through it) so the whole thing doesn't slip off the kayak under load.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 05, 2010, 11:59:23 AM
yeah, the little floating dock at Capitola on a big swell day is brutal, I find it much easier on the shore launch there, and its just easier in general when your done and ready to go home...

Good luck, maybe well see ya there some time soon!

Sounds like if Capitola is going to be a playground for me I better get good at shore launching. I like your advice about waiting out the sets. Seams so common sense but probably overlooked when faced with waves crashing and the thoughts of losing gear to the surf.

Thanks - orange Tarpon 120. Big ape sitting on top.  :smt003


There's something to learn here for everyone, thanks AdMan.

Yep, the roll-eeze carts need to have two straps, and the forward strap needs to be hooked to the kayak (I use a little carabiner on a  padeye behind the seat & thread the strap through it) so the whole thing doesn't slip off the kayak under load.


Fisherman are a resourceful bunch. Thanks for the tip! It gets really annoying resetting the wheel cart 3 times in a 50 yard walk.  :smt044
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: FishFarmer on October 05, 2010, 12:30:52 PM
Quote
Each mistake has caused me to want to simplify my attack. Less gear, more safety. Less crap, more fishing. Less driving, more fishing.

Amen! My original fascination with the idea of Kayak fishing was that it seemed low tech, elemental. I think it's BlueKayak who says, "Look at your kayak and strip off everything you don't need. Then look at it again and repeat"... or something like that. There's just sooo much crap you end up dealing with if you're not careful.


Quote
better get good at shore launching.

For me launching is less an issue than landing. Assuming you stay parallel to the waves, your kayak will punch right through them (and they wash off anything that's not buttoned down :smt002 ), but landing ...  :smt011 I'm improving, but I'm sure it's good for a laugh to watch me. My most dramatic landing was having myself *thrown* unceremoniously onto the beach with the yak on top of me.

Thanks for the post!

Ben
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 05, 2010, 01:03:01 PM
Quote
Each mistake has caused me to want to simplify my attack. Less gear, more safety. Less crap, more fishing. Less driving, more fishing.

Amen! My original fascination with the idea of Kayak fishing was that it seemed low tech, elemental. I think it's BlueKayak who says, "Look at your kayak and strip off everything you don't need. Then look at it again and repeat"... or something like that. There's just sooo much crap you end up dealing with if you're not careful.


Quote
better get good at shore launching.

For me launching is less an issue than landing. Assuming you stay parallel to the waves, your kayak will punch right through them (and they wash off anything that's not buttoned down :smt002 ), but landing ...  :smt011 I'm improving, but I'm sure it's good for a laugh to watch me. My most dramatic landing was having myself *thrown* unceremoniously onto the beach with the yak on top of me.

Thanks for the post!

Ben

Thats a good rule of thought. I'll remember that when I'm prepping this week to go out. Too much stuff takes away from the experience IMO but it's also easy habit for a fishing geek like me.

When surf landing is it important to keep the nose of your kayak up? Do you lean back as to lift the nose some? I've only surf landed once and it was in ankle breakers.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: FishFarmer on October 05, 2010, 02:38:40 PM
Quote
When surf landing is it important to keep the nose of your kayak up? Do you lean back as to lift the nose some? I've only surf landed once and it was in ankle breakers.

I don't want to come off like I know what I'm talking about, so take this with a grain of salt.

Our kayaks tend to be pretty long (mine's 16'), so I don't know that we can affect the attitude of them much by leaning back. That said, if the landing is at all tricky I'm way too busy trying to keep myself parallel to the waves to think much about leaning back, so I don't know <g>. It sounds good, my last landing I was at a fairly steep angel with the nose of my yak just out of the sand, so it might have helped.

I've also crashed in tiny waves because I wasn't *aware* enough, so size isn't really the issue always :smt001.

The best thing would be to take a class at MB Kayaks. I keep meaning to, but it hasn't happened yet. The only other thing I can offer is to steer by dragging your paddle on the side you want to turn to, rather than paddle on the opposite side.  There are guys on the site who actually do know what they're doing who can offer better advice.

Ben
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Eric B on October 05, 2010, 04:32:54 PM
I'm not the best example, either, but you want to paddle in on the top/back of a wave ideally...   If your nose is pointing down towards sand the water is already receding faster than you can paddle, and a wave is behind you rearing up to inflict a lesson.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: FishFarmer on October 05, 2010, 04:44:04 PM
Quote
If your nose is pointing down towards sand the water is already receding faster than you can paddle, and a wave is behind you rearing up to inflict a lesson.

I've been there too  :smt001 . This last time, I was headed towards the beach with some velocity (the wave definitely wasn't retreating <g>) . It was a relief when the wave finally sloshed under me and pushed me up on the beach sideways.

Always fun though!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 05, 2010, 04:54:58 PM
Using the paddle as a rudder. I like! I did that this past week while on the pick during windy conditions, didnt think about using it while landing. Thanks!

I wish Capitola or Santa Cruz would build a harbor.  :smt003

Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: FishFarmer on October 05, 2010, 05:04:05 PM
Quote
Santa Cruz would build a harbor.

Santa Cruz has a nice harbor with a great low dock for yakkers. I've been there twice, but couldn't tell you how to find it.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Kayote on October 05, 2010, 05:52:30 PM
I'm not the best example, either, but you want to paddle in on the top/back of a wave ideally...   If your nose is pointing down towards sand the water is already receding faster than you can paddle, and a wave is behind you rearing up to inflict a lesson.

That top of the wave technique is ideal and is beautiful when done right. For me however, things often go to chit fast on big surf landings. The most important 'save my ass from disaster' surf landing moves I have learned for AFTER I lose control are first, bracing into the wave with my paddle while leaning into the wave when you get sideways, and second, when all else fails and you are about to swim, drop your legs and lay back. This works amazingly well. Trust me, I am the self proclaimed king of kayak surf munch. I have been crash landing for years (more balls than skill  :smt003).
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Fuzzy Tom on October 05, 2010, 08:08:33 PM
You must be kidding about Wheeleez carts.  I don't even use a strap if I'm going over level sand or pavement/gravel, and I've used my cart, with straps, to roll down the stepped ramp at Stillwater South, and, at times, back up (slow, requiring big jerks at the steps, but it works to save this big jerk's back).  Put the cart under where your butt would be if sitting in the yak, loop the straps around the legs of the cart on one side (180 deg loop, not 360), throw both ends of each strap over the top of the yak, put the buckles at the gunwale, the bitter ends around the other side's legs and cinch up tight, with nothing, like life jackets, under the straps.  Make sure you don't have too much pressure in the tires, they are only supposed to have 4 (four!) PSI ( I got a free low-pressure guage when I picked up my cart in the Benecia factory, but if you don't have one, think of a soft basketball when checking them), but maybe you have those smaller tires, I suppose they'd dig in more than the larger ones.
   Capitola hardly ever has a big swell coming into the beach at the right of the wharf, but out of maybe 30 times I've launched there, I've had to go elsewhere once.  Of course, it helps that I can drive by the night before a launch and check conditions, and I look at the surf websites. 
   The reason the dock at the wharf seems to be moving up and down so far is because the wharf is moving too!  Take your visitors from Kansas to the restaurant there to dine and tell them that the shaking (on a good surfing day) is an earthquake!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Sledge on October 05, 2010, 08:21:20 PM
Great thread Adman...yes the cap dock...after BigJim tells me to walk right down and launch south of there...and a life guard says "you can't put in here" with me saying "are ya sure BigJ does't all the time"  "U seen him?" "big guy with a yak?"  guys says yeah before 10am maybe...  :smt005 so off we go to cap and do the deed...coming in i did the beach landing north of the pier...and had a rooting team...it was fun...Slideways... :smt044 :smt044 :smt044

There's a lot to learn...main thing is have fun doing it!!! And "Get Some" when u are...thanks for keeping it real!!! Cya OTW!!!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: LoletaEric on October 05, 2010, 09:15:49 PM
Great thread - and I love the title.  Keep on doing what you're doing!   :smt001
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 06, 2010, 09:27:14 AM
I havent enjoyed the wheelz at all. I've had them laced up, double strapped, tight as a Dan Marino spiral and they still find a way to get loose. Putting a couple wheels underneath a kayak shouldnt take this much skill.  :smt003 imo. I cant imagine trying to use them up steps. I'll try your suggestion on putting the wheels under the seat. I"m pretty far up but not that far.

Checked the swell, wind, weather and tides before heading out that day. It wasnt that so much as it was the kayak part of things. I've gotten in skiffs there with swells that kept most boats in. Trying to get my butt in a kayak was a whole different story. :smt044 Even with just a moderate swell.

Launch locations and the degree of difficulty of those locations has become HUGE in my personal kayak pursuits. It's become the #1 thing I think about ahead of fishing potential. Is this a newb thing or consistent for everyone?

Speaking of the Santa Cruz harbor - how far is that from kelp?
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: ex-kayaker on October 06, 2010, 11:06:40 AM
The side brace is a good technique for small slow mushy waves, anything other than that...my personal opinion is that you expose yourself to too much risk.  I've been rolled, drilled into the sand and crushed under my kayak twice before I gave up on using it at all.  You're gonna get wet anyway, if I ain't gonna land smooth I bail prior to hitting the sand  and swim it in.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: PISCEAN on October 06, 2010, 11:33:30 AM
I'm seeing a common thread here.

If you have not taken a basic kayak class, PLEASE do so. SIK or SOT, it doesn't matter. Then you can move up to taking a surf class, etc. This does not denigrate you, it elevates you. You'll learn all about secondary stability, rocker, bracing, ruddering, draw strokes...

kayak fishing is 95% kayaking and about 5% actual fishing.


In regards to the SC harbor, they have two human-powered vessel launches. One is right below Aldos, near the crane. The other & more user friendly launch is farther down the harbor parking lot toward the bridge, opposite from the CG building. It has signage & metered parking.
there's kelp at Blacks if you paddle toward Capitola, and up near Steamer lane if you paddle upcoast past the wharf.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: The X Inn Keeper on October 06, 2010, 12:01:55 PM
Love this thread,
I always figured kayaking was a water sport and if I eat some sand it was just part of the game - laugh and go for it again.
Even though the idea of yak-fishing has been around for quite a while it is still in the growing phase and we all will have our ups and downs - nobody is a total expert at this and we will continue to improve as we grow.

Adman,
If you really don't like the wheelz please let me know what you want for them as I'm in the market for a new set.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 06, 2010, 02:04:34 PM
Love this thread,
I always figured kayaking was a water sport and if I eat some sand it was just part of the game - laugh and go for it again.
Even though the idea of yak-fishing has been around for quite a while it is still in the growing phase and we all will have our ups and downs - nobody is a total expert at this and we will continue to improve as we grow.

Adman,
If you really don't like the wheelz please let me know what you want for them as I'm in the market for a new set.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

I really wouldnt feel good selling you these things. Although they are difficult to use in my mind they are also all I have for the time being. Working on that though so I'll hit ya up when I'm ready to part ways.  :smt002
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: MyAfroDZYak on October 20, 2010, 10:40:17 AM
Hi Adman and all,

Sorry for the late reply, but I haven't had much time to surf the site except trying to keep up to date on the wsb. I too am new to the sport and have fished Capitola exclusively except for the last 3 times out targeting wsb out of Monterey.

When I started in May, I too purchased a Tarpon 120 (Ultralight) planning on paddling down the river, pulling over a little sand and launching on the south side of the beach. This was fine for a while until the beach season picked up and I was told by the lifeguards that as long as I went out prior to 10:00 am and back in after 6:00pm I was fine, otherwise I needed to use the area north of the pier. In most cases this would be fine, except when the sets are close together and breaking late. I've eaten enough sand and lost/broken enough gear to always worry about surf launches and as said more so surf landings.

I have both sets of Wheeleez and the large ones work much better in my opinion. The smaller set tend to dig into the sand and are the reason for purchasing the larger set. I strap mine like the method Fuzzy Tom described and try to get under the seat being that I think this is the designed center balance point and that is why we sit there. It also helps if you have a bait tank or something in the back area to brace against. I use the larger set at MBK and have not had any problems.

Launching and landing off the pier is the way I do it now. The downside is they pull the ramp in early October (gone now) and will bring it back in May. So if you want to fish out there now, you'll be doing it from the surf.

I purchased a Hobie Revolution in August along with their cart that fits into the scupper holes and because it's narrower than the yak can pull up or let down the ramp unassisted. Everything must be leashed down or taken out of the yak when tipping the yak on it's side to insert the cart on the ramp coming in to avoid loss overboard. I have my Tarpon in storage, but will try to remember to check to see if the Hobie cart fits into the Tarpon scupper holes and advise.

As far as cutting down on equipment taken out, the night before I use to lay out all my stuff and it would cover a 5'x10' area, now 3 rods (bait holder has 3 rod holders built in), tackle fits into Hobie Tupperware box (stores in mid hatch), net, gaff, game clip and batteries for ff and bait tank. I didn't list safety equipment because I think that stuff is mandatory when going in the ocean. I am the ultimate tackle whore and have learned to keep separate tackle boxes, Tupperware and rods/reels for surf, lings/halibut/stripers, and now wsb to avoid over packing.

Sorry for being so long winded.
Dean
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: dpshim on October 22, 2010, 11:00:58 AM
I have to personally thank all those who have shared their personal experiences as the newb :D Although I looked, and still continue, to all for advice and opinions, the ones that were very helpful to me as a newb were from the newbs themselves.

We were all once newbs, and I actually consider myself as one still, and part of being a newb is going through trial-and-error. I guess it's part of the "initiation" process of being a kayak fisherman :D

One thing I greatly appreciate is the growth and maturity that we each all go through together!! Thanks for sharing your experience with us all, and I look forward to fishing together :D
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: aka-kimo on October 24, 2010, 09:58:02 AM
I have to personally thank all those who have shared their personal experiences as the newb :D Although I looked, and still continue, to all for advice and opinions, the ones that were very helpful to me as a newb were from the newbs themselves.

We were all once newbs, and I actually consider myself as one still, and part of being a newb is going through trial-and-error. I guess it's part of the "initiation" process of being a kayak fisherman :D

One thing I greatly appreciate is the growth and maturity that we each all go through together!! Thanks for sharing your experience with us all, and I look forward to fishing together :D
<<<WHAT HE SAID.......I like launching from New Brighton beach V's the Capitola wharf. Its a little more protected from a swell unless its an extremely South swell then you can get some nasty beach slapper waves there. Something to consider next time your down that way.
I cannot comment on the wheeleze carts, IM still using my $15 dollar PVC cart I made and I don't think it will ever break. Its kind of ghetto compared to a nice factory one, but I was on a tight budget going into this sport.
I think the less you bring on board your Yak, the better. Two main rods and one sabiki rod if Im going for live bait.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: AdMan on October 25, 2010, 01:53:21 PM
Thank you for the well thought out responses. I appreciate guys taking the time to help with pointers or just let us know their not alone.

Thanks again guys!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: nudling on October 26, 2010, 06:44:23 PM
I might as well share my experience as a noob.

I use to do a lot of cat-fishing, but other priorities took over and I didn't fish for nearly 5 years!  I got back into fishing 1.5 years ago and started going to lake chabot a lot. Got tired of the hit and miss bite so I decided to try fishing from the piers about a year ago and that's when I came across this site.  I had been away from fishing for so long at that point and when I learned that you could fish from a kayak, it was similar to learning that you could catch crab using snares... what a shock!

Before getting my trident 13 in march, I read as much as I could since I was already addicted and wanted to be prepared.  My first 3 trips were to HMB, Baker beach and ARW without much success.  RF season kicked off and I caught my first fish - 2 small grass RF.  I was switching between RF and ARW but the fish were few and far between.  At one point I did something miraculous that I doubt others could accomplish even if they tried - I fished a 1/2 day at SWS without a single nibble!

After getting blown out a few times at ARW, I convinced my wife that a hobie would actually help me land something. She agreed since she was already skeptical about whether or not I could fish and she probably felt sorry for me.  At one point, my fishing buddy, lost anchovy, asked me how I could continue fishing when I kept on getting skunked week after week.

I had absorbed a lot of knowledge but didn't have any tangible results yet.  So July rolls around and that's when my fishing mojo finally kicked in!  I was finally catching lings, cabs and verms.  I had a few hali bites but I kept missing the landing part - although they inched closer to the boat with each miss.

In August, I went to Big Sur and that's when I landed 2 halis on back to back days - of all places!  Being wary of fishing SMC at that point, I switched to WSB-ing.  It was frustrating at first to watch all of the PBs land them and wondering what they were doing differently.  I researched techniques and was able to finally land one after 5 or so attempts.  :smt003

BTW, safety always came first and I'm just glad that the fish finally started cooperating.

That's the rundown of my noob experience and I can't wait to add a trophy dungy to that story!
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: nudling on October 26, 2010, 06:53:06 PM
Also, the knee slappers that you laugh at are the ones that will make you open your wallet.  Don't underestimate them.  :smt006

A farmer john w/relief zipper and a big cup comes in handy too.
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: Dale L on October 26, 2010, 09:38:30 PM
A farmer john w/relief zipper and a big cup comes in handy too.

There is no way I could yak fsh the ocean without these items,   :smt012
Title: Re: The life of a newb and the growth of a kayak angler.
Post by: LoletaEric on October 26, 2010, 09:57:05 PM
Thanks for sharing your story.  I love the inspiration.   :smt001

Quote from: nudling
I might as well share my experience as a noob.

I use to do a lot of cat-fishing, but other priorities took over and I didn't fish for nearly 5 years!  I got back into fishing 1.5 years ago and started going to lake chabot a lot. Got tired of the hit and miss bite so I decided to try fishing from the piers about a year ago and that's when I came across this site.  I had been away from fishing for so long at that point and when I learned that you could fish from a kayak, it was similar to learning that you could catch crab using snares... what a shock!

Before getting my trident 13 in march, I read as much as I could since I was already addicted and wanted to be prepared.  My first 3 trips were to HMB, Baker beach and ARW without much success.  RF season kicked off and I caught my first fish - 2 small grass RF.  I was switching between RF and ARW but the fish were few and far between.  At one point I did something miraculous that I doubt others could accomplish even if they tried - I fished a 1/2 day at SWS without a single nibble!

After getting blown out a few times at ARW, I convinced my wife that a hobie would actually help me land something. She agreed since she was already skeptical about whether or not I could fish and she probably felt sorry for me.  At one point, my fishing buddy, lost anchovy, asked me how I could continue fishing when I kept on getting skunked week after week.

I had absorbed a lot of knowledge but didn't have any tangible results yet.  So July rolls around and that's when my fishing mojo finally kicked in!  I was finally catching lings, cabs and verms.  I had a few hali bites but I kept missing the landing part - although they inched closer to the boat with each miss.

In August, I went to Big Sur and that's when I landed 2 halis on back to back days - of all places!  Being wary of fishing SMC at that point, I switched to WSB-ing.  It was frustrating at first to watch all of the PBs land them and wondering what they were doing differently.  I researched techniques and was able to finally land one after 5 or so attempts.  :smt003

BTW, safety always came first and I'm just glad that the fish finally started cooperating.

That's the rundown of my noob experience and I can't wait to add a trophy dungy to that story!

Yeah!   :smt001