Kayak Fishing South Bay Tips

FAC Lake > Aquatic Park > Pillar Point > open bay > big blue

Did you do a leak test on your drive hull to check for cracks?  Even if OK on land, mirage hull defects are sometimes not apparent unless under load, i.e. pedaling.  If that happens suddenly, you gone swimming.  BTDT, but at least I was in lake del valle surrounded by a bunch of pals.

Def recommend a "checkout" paddle before you go tangling w some dinos or leps

I haven't check for leaks yet.. I guess I'm better off doing a test run at Lake Merced first then. There'll be plenty of time to fish after I make sure everything is functional. Thanks for the tips!

I guess I'm better off doing a test run at Lake Merced first then. There'll be plenty of time to fish after I make sure everything is functional. Thanks for the tips!

no guessing or doubt about it bro.  specially with something as complicated as a used mirage boat.  plenty time to fish, but only takes one bad trip to get f@%^'d.  Get that piece of mind and confidence in your gear, first, so your gear can take care of you later while your tugging on a toothy shark.

then when you good n settled, proceed to beat the $hit out ur boat to rationalize buying another 1   

Thanks for the advice guys! What about HMB harbor? since its probably the closest and most convenient for me, you guys think that's a good place to test it out instead? I guess the bay looks less dangerous and complicated than it really is. I know the wind pick up good there past noon.

HMB harbor is glass in the mornings. Park next to the old pier and launch there. It's pretty safe.

I think Calero Res might be open too.

I happened to drive by last week, and it was open then. With more rain since, I'd assume it's even more open now...

Just curious - have you practiced Self Rescue yet? If you have, but have limited kayaking experience, it wouldn't hurt to practice on the new boat, as it might have characteristics that make it more difficult to right and mount than your previous boat. For someone from S.F., HMB harbor is a good places for a test drive, but if it were me testing and practicing self rescue, I'd find a clean lake like Shadow Cliffs rather than a polluted place like HMB or Lake Merced.

HMB (or Pillar Point) harbor an excellent choice. Various groups hold beginner kayak lessons there.

I've only done self rescue on a small sailing dinghy but kayak should be whole lot easier. Will probably take kayak out of pillars point or lake merced to test it out and practice some self rescue perhaps. Thanks for the advice and help guys! I will make a report of a south bay trip before year's end assuming nothing is wrong with my yak.

Hey man im in the area of San Bruno. safety comes in pairs. let me know if you ever wanna  head out im down 24/7. been fishing out at oyster for a while now. never on a yak, but love to see the big a$$ leopards that ya can get.

Hey man im in the area of San Bruno. safety comes in pairs. let me know if you ever wanna  head out im down 24/7. been fishing out at oyster for a while now. never on a yak, but love to see the big a$$ leopards that ya can get.

Cool! That sounds perfect to me, I'll let you know when I'm heading out. Probably towards the end of this month?  The coming next few weeks are going to be a little hectic for me but I have a tons of kayak fishing I've lined up for this year out in the South Bay. Sturgeon, Halibut and stripers 
I'll also be fishing with my bro out there but we're always looking for company.