I’ve noticed that in deeper water the swell can pass by my kayak without a problem. However as I get closer to shore when the swell passes under my kayak it tends to turn my kayak sideways so I hit the beach with the side of my kayak. If I can keep my speed up so I can keep up with the swell I can maintain my heading so my bow hits the beach first. So when I get in close I paddle like hell as the swell comes by.

I don’t think flood control is a big part of its purpose.

Just like the good ol days! 👍

i had tarpon 120, and thresher 155.  the thresher is fast and stable, but only drawback is the weight and loading. if that's not an issue, the thresher is going to be a much more practical kayak.  one thing to note,  a rudder is almost a requirement.  not sure how a tarpon 140/160 performs without,  but the thresher 155 was painful before i added a rudder.

I agree with the need for a rudder, but then again I want a rudder no matter what.

I did a lot of fishing in my Tarpon 120 and some in my Thresher 140. Some guys love the Tarpon 140 and 160 but they seemed less stable for me. I did ok fishing and crabbing on the ocean with my Tarpon but my Thresher was way more stable. The linear hatch took some getting used to. If conditions were a little rough in my Tarpon I would let one leg dangle over the side. The Thresher can handle anything I was willing to risk.

I crabbed at HMB several times but at Bodega Bay only during a couple Crabfests. I’ve had much better luck at HMB but I’ve been there more often. I was looking at my fast track account and realized starting the 1st it will cost me $36 for bridge tolls and $19 to launch if I go to HMB but $4 to launch at Doran and no bridge tolls. Both are about an hour and a half from my house but coming home from HMB takes me through San Francisco when the traffic is heavy. I’m thinking If the crabbing was equal I’d be better off switching to Bodega Bay for the lower cost and better drive. It looks like Bodega Bay is a little deeper and with the nickname Blowdega it might be windier.

How does Bodega Bay stack up against Half Moon Bay for Kayak Crabbing?

That is kayaker dependent. Someone out for their first ride, on an unstable kayak, will require different conditions than a seasoned kayaker on a super stable one. If the wind is blowing you away from your launch, a weak kayaker might not be able to make it back. A wind blowing towards shore could beach you and winds blowing towards sea could be a problem as well. If launching into the surf, the direction of the swell and how protected the location is makes a big difference.

Most of the time we don’t get a perfectly accurate forecast. You’ll need to get out there and gauge the conditions by looking at them. I could say less than 15 mph, but a forecast doesn’t guarantee that’s what the conditions will actually be. I could say when the height is less than half the period, but kayak stability, secondary swell and wind chop all add to the mix. When the wind chop and swell gets uncomfortable, I know it’s time to get off the water.

There is safety in numbers, so try to join in a group outing. Watch the forecast and current conditions and go down to see what that looks like. Don’t hesitate to turn right  around and head in anytime you feel unsafe.

So maybe the correct answer is, when the conditions don’t exceed your ability.

I’m hoping someone with lots of experience on HMB can explain the conditions I encountered today. I’ve gone kayaking there 5-10 times and I’ve never seen the water like it was. I’m thinking maybe it was swell direction or period or a combination. I’d like to figure it out so I can know when to expect it. The forecasted swell was 5.2@17sec from the west. As I headed out from the jaws I noticed that it was a much shorter period and steeper swells than I expected. I wondered if the reef was affecting it. When I got out to my crabbing area it seemed normal for the day. Then when I headed back in I realized that the same area was still much rougher. Some of the swells were breaking between me and the entrance to the harbor. I was hoping I wouldn’t be riding over the crest right through the white water. It was the same shorter period with much steeper swells. It seemed to be the 1/3 of a mile or so near the jaws. Has anyone been out there enough to be clued in on what was causing it?