Ft.Baker, 1st time out, new kayak, Rookie in the hole. 9-29-12

So I just bought my first beginner kayak, and I thought I would take it out in the bay, and see what I could do with it.  Within the first hour, I had snagged the bottom 2x, and lost my favorite dive knife to the bottom of the deep cove in front of the coast guard station (North Tower).  I was getting beat around by the light breeze, trying to get my anchovies to bounce off the bottom, then I finally hooked up with a 18-20" ling!  I brought him up to about 1ft below the surface, but I was getting blown into the rocks, so I had to re-position with another burst of paddling.  When I was paddling away from the rocks, the ling got nailed by another ling I suspect, and it dove straight down to the bottom in about 15 feet of water, where it was shaking my rod like crazy.  I was helpless to do anything because the tide was incoming with the wind relentlessly.  A dude came over in a small aluminum boat with a net, and gaff and hung out near me in case I was able to get him up.  After a few crazy minutes, my leader gave just above the hook!.   I was devastated.  I learned so much from that first time out, and I am still digesting the loss.  After the event, I was able to pick up one more 10" brown rockfish in the same general area....  Can I get some advice....   What is standard rock fish gear? I was using 12lb test, and I got taken for ride.  What is too heavy?  All of my action happened within a 1hr period during the incoming....  I was stunned that SF bay offered such a killer experience. 

Sounds like a exciting adventure! Good thing you are ok. You'll get them next time

I usually top shot a 15 or 20 # on a spectra.  If you set the drag right there is no reason to break a line unless you have a bad knot or the fish rocks you or you snag.  Go to gearing up or genereal section and search for knots and right gear set up.  Hope it helps a bit...and welcome to the madness!

NIce, thanks. Madness it was for sure. Thanks for the advice.

I use 50# braid followed by a heavy duty swivel with about three feet of 17# mono for my leader that way u dont have to deal with braid all the time... make sure you have that swivel on there or else your line will get all twisted from the surge the big pond has... sounds like a fun first trip and you will learn new things each trip out. Hopefully you can find that mysterious ling killer again..

That's a pretty narly place if you get out into the wind and current.  Be careful out there.  For rockfish/lings I use 30# braid then a swivel to a 25# mono leader.  For me at least I don't use anything over 30# on the yak, too hard to break off if need be.  The 25# mono might be a bit heavier than needed but it gives some abrasion resistance as well.

Great first report.

If you truly are new to this I would strongly recommend an ocean kayaking safety course from either Half Moon Bay or Monterey Bay Kayaks. You really need to be able to self rescue especially if you are going out solo in the ocean.

Good luck, have fun and be safe

Antonio

"I am still digesting the loss" I beg to differ, sounds like you gained a lot of experience with one time out......

Sorry to hear about the lost fish bro. Not to worry for there will be plenty more of big fish to come. I run 40lb braid for rockfishing tied to a light snap swivel. The light swivel will break open if snag at the bottom. I don't top shot because it is one more thing I have to worry about knot breaking on me. Have fun out there.

Jedmo

Lots of good info here,but the best advice is to be a good kayaker first and a great fisherman later.
I suggest going out in shallow water and practicing self rescue as a first step,worry about the fish after you are comfortable without all the gear.Teather anything you don't want to lose,rod &reel,paddle ect....
When I started out i used 30-40# mono.It didn't break and was strong enough to tug on when you did get hung up.
Try to "hook up" with others here and listen and watch what they do and use. Good luck. Just a tip...

I am kind of new at this too, the main thing I learned is that when you fall in the water it is hard to get back in when the waves are slapping you around.
Thanks to the quick help from the NCKA brotherhood I was able to get back in.
second, always wear your wet suit, dress for inmertion, and wear a good fitting PDF, my first PDF was loose and made it difficult to get back on top of the kayak
VHF radio is a must, preferably a water proof and floating one.learn the channels that people use around you.
Have fun, you don't have to go alone, there is always plenty of people looking for an excuse to get on the water. Go to the events and meet people.
Scubaluis

Welcome aboard and thanks for the report ihavegills.