happy no hook up in benicia wed 9/9

the sea trial for the new yak had an inauspicious start today..

adventure 16ft  means 16 ft..that length dimension set into my head not once but twice..

after mounting ontop of my subaru....I whacked my head walking around back side of car...2 times..both times dropping me on the deck...the second time drawing blood...

all right..i get it..this boat is longer than my Malibu 2..
still with sore neck, bump on forehead..I managed to drive out to meet vjohobbie dave. he graciously let me use his old hobie yak..

from there I went out to Benicia Marina.
launch was pretty straight forward.

was excited to try out Mirage Drive and get used to the sleek body of the Adventure.
main goal was to get acquainted with the yak and figure how to rig everything.
but..excited by yesterdays posting on striped bass and salmon hookup so  I eagerly trolled a broken back rapala and headed out towards Benicia bridge...

about 3/4 of the way out there... I figured out that my license was not attached to my PFD...I looked in the hatch at my fanny pack and checked if I left it in there....oops...
it dawned on me that  I transfered my license onto another fishing vest on a trip with the kids 2 weeks prior.

I continued on which maybe wasn't the best idea..

sure enough...the big trawler looking boat that had passed me earlier enroute to the moth ball fleet turned out to be DFG...they  first cruised up to a PB working the pilling section beneath the Benica Bridge..

I  ducked around a piling and quickly reeled up my lure and parked the rod into the holder..
I paddled the mirage drive on fast fwd and headed back to marina..

sure enough the boys in blue pulled up alongside and inquired about my license..
I told them with a straight face that I was testing out the boat and was not fishing...
the DFG of course said it sure looked like I was engaged in fishing and thats when I told them that I had left my license at home....and asked whether they could verify my credentials with an ID + address check..

(turns out that they can only verify this only if one buys license online...good note to remember).


anyway...the DFG guy (there were at least 4 guys on this tug boat sized craft) told me that none of them actually saw me actually fishing so he said he was only issuing me a warning....and told me that I was doing the right thing to head back in. good thing I brought my line in when I did.

whew....thats the last thing I needed... so I enjoyed a nice day paddling..left the fishing grounds at the perfect time..flood tide was on way in...but grateful more than ever that I didn't hook up with anything..
btw..conditions were windy in the narrow channel around 1100am..but calmed down around 2pm. can't give much of a fishing report since i had to cut it off early.

I am also grateful that these guys gave me the benefit of the doubt..I was clearly in the wrong..but it was an honest mistake and thankfully I didn't get burned on it.. I do salute their mission as the DFG has insurmountable  task. they were actually very nice inquired about my new yak..and one guy even joked and asked if I wanted to race...

so, going to bed with a lump on my head but fully realize that it could have been a worse day..

Holy $hit Dave!  Well, at least you know there's no where to go but up.  Now that you've gotten your first trip out of the way, I can confer upon you the title of Knight of Benevolent Order Of SAGWA (Short Asian Guys With Adventures)

You, me, Kevin, Bassmanben...unlike its members, SAGWA is growing...

SAGWA members have been know to forgot things on occasion.  Just ask Kevin!  At least you had a valid medical excuse, getting crowned not once but twice probably caused some transient cognitive deficit.  

Sometimes not catching fish is a good thing  Thank you for the report David.

Thanks for the great read this morning Dave. How do you like the Adventure?
BTW, did HobieDave stayed longer or did he cut out early as well?

Jedmo

i am glad you got to test your kayak and only got a warning for an honest mistake.
I now keep a small list hanging from the hanger holding  my PFD to prevent those kinds of things and always return my license to the PFD. I started the list when I drove over an hour to the Forebay one evening and realized I forgot the pump hose adapter for the valve and couldn't inflate my float tube. I watched the Forebay boil and tried to wade fish for nada I also tied the adapters to the pump hose after that.

I've only been checked twice and both times at the Forebay and they were very civil and courteous. They checked my vehicle one of the times as well--I had a White Jeep at the time and there were three at Medeiros that day that I saw--my guess is they spotted someone appearing to be poaching but lost sight for a while so stopped all white Jeeps. I was C&R fly fishing with my float tube which I usually do there so had no fish in my possession having caught and released a dozen and  a half for the afternoon. I was moving to Check #12 for the evening bite. I figured poachers aren't likely to fly fish with barbless hooks anyway--too low a percentage game for people trying to load up on meat--but they checked my license, tackle, and car anyway.

Thanks for the report and a good reminder about licenses and Murphy's Law.

glad it worked out.  Been asked for my license almost every trip in PG but they guys are nice.

I never forgot my license when I could just keep it in my wallet but since the "display" law went into effect I have forgotten it a few times. 

Way to take the head bangs and pop back up to fish!!! are u an 80's rock enthusiast??? 

Great report sans fish...sorta cracked me up...What fish officer??? I haven't been fishing great way to man up and own up to your actions...reminds me of last yr  @ OC my lic came out of my holder on a windy day...went in and grabbed my copy and even though it isn't valid lic, if confronted by DFG I would tell what happened and hope for the best...multi-day trip...sure enough this huge sheriffs ship, I mean Big...comes up along port side bout 30 yrds away and officer says "how ya doing today?" pretty good was my responce "catching any fish?" bunch of little ones and held up my stringer...he didn't ask about lic...then he says "be safe, its a little rough out here" I said "U too" I think they were more concerned about me being out on a rough day by myself...way out... Sort of nice that they weren't out just looking for infractions and were mainly being out there for peeps safety...left me with a good feeling! like I'm sure u had when they were leaving, that wow i lucked out kinda feeling..

So next trip "Get Some" fish...that's the bonus!!!

ok thanks for the responses guys..
figured I got to likewise respond back..

first martin: I am honored to be part of SAGWA...but I guess I am not short enough to have cleared yak..my solution is to leave the hatch/ rear door up until just priorto departure..that way it will catch my eye better..or preclude me from walking too close to back of car.

I swear..had headache all day...wondered if I was going to wake up this morning.

jedmo: no dave didn't go to benicia with me yesterday... he gave me his old cart for the hobie since he saw I didn't have one yet.. we talked about rigging and I tried to figure how you guys fish the straits on tuesday.. I think he called you to inquire whether you dropped your lure down deep in the channel w/ weights? deep 6? etc.


re: DFG...yeah now the display rules cause problems a bit..since I waer different vest depending if  I am shore fishing or from yak.. guess I could always wear a neck lanyard.
not to be presumptious or making statement on profiling in general..but I got to think from the DFG's perspective...a guy who is going to drop coin for yak, gear etc..is not likely going to be dodging the system and poach..yeah there may be the exceptions..but for the most part....we work with them in terms of protecting the resources...
so I am glad to hear that they are not militant, annal dudes w/ badges looking for the slightest infraction to "get you"...
but on the other hand...I wasn't going to say or do anything that was incriminating...tying their hands. worse case...I wanted to be able to have something defendable in needed in court...



and finally, re your line martin : Well, at least you know there's no where to go but up  yeah..I was thinking that all day...the line from those emails... "hit rock bottom ..and still contiuing to dig" that was me..

still need to take adventure out for more trial runs..
discovered water seepage and need to figure source..brand new '07 boat so I am a bit curious.
thx guys

I've been meaning to get Hobie but the price keeping my hands off, glad you enjoy your voyage.. I always have 2 license (Original and Copy (turned replacement)) I attached my original on my PFD and Replacement on my Compartment! Sure those DFG guys are cool enough to agree on each other!

SAGWA is Hilarious

It has different meaning in Filipino I'll let Mooch tells you!

hey, brother Dave -
good report.   Sorry, but i couldnt help but laugh when envisioning you bonking your head not once, but twice.   I am sure it must have hurt like hell. 

The beauty i have discovered about fishing form a kayak is that its a great time all the time, regardless of whether the fish are on or not.   Its just great to be on the water in your own boat.

The fish will come.

Lc

hey, brother Dave -
good report.   Sorry, but i couldnt help but laugh when envisioning you bonking your head not once, but twice.   I am sure it must have hurt like hell. 

ah brothers.  Able to laugh at the others misfortune at any age

Close call! Ice the lump