Big Boats around tiny kayaks.

i took the challenge and fished the friday before the July 4th holiday weekend.  to say boat traffic was epic was an understatement.  i fished the CA Delta.  got there early at the crack of dawn.  i wanted to launch at one place, but the marina manager waved me off.  she said there is a local yacht parade in the channel, and everyone is showing up for it.  i passed and went elsewhere.

in the morning it was tranquil.  as the sun went up, boat traffic slowly ramped up.  it was subtle.  then NOON.  WOW.  i saw it all.  giant yachts towing a wake boat, towing a rubber dingy!  (how rich are these folks?).  there was a penis size contest between two guys in cigarette style boats.  they passed us RACING!  girls in tiny bikinis pretending to enjoy it, holding onto big floppy hats on their heads.  Bass boats were like mosquitos. 

we tried to "Surf" a big yacht wake, but i sucked at it.  my buddy that surfed did better.   at about 12:30 we felt unsafe and saw a break in traffic and crossed the channel to fish the marina and shallow water beyond.  silver lining?  i now have a better understanding of the stabilty of a kayak in a boat wake.  it isnt as dire as i imagined.  loose at the hips, and it felt pretty stable. 

Saturday, i hope to get to the spot the manager waved me off.  IF i ever i buy a boat, i will be considerate to the kayakers.  haha..i feel them, and understand. 

you think most boaters just dont know?  i quickly realized you dont want to be right up against the bank when a wake comes.  it's downright violent there. 

I used to have a jet boat, you know the standard 18 ft big block, nothing fancy but it was purty. Now we're talking 1980. Back then I went to Berryessa probably once a week. Being a shift worker I got to go on weekdays, had a blast. Back then because the delta was closer to home I went to Hogback on a weekend.  Crazy, seeing a V drive come completely out of the water and blow the engine when it over rev'ed, along with a myriad of other shit. Long story short I NEVER went back. That was 40 years ago, I can't imagine what it's like now.   

I’ve experienced respectful boaters who slow as if we’re at a crosswalk, others who blast around to leave fish to find fish because they can.  Some I think are annoyed by the obstacle that we are, like crab buoys.  Like you, I embrace the wake and discover the skill of positioning and intentional safety maneuvers to enjoy the turbulence.  My most urgent experience was at Treasure island.  There is a tugboat lane there and they move for no one.  I had just hooked and netted a halibut and with the net under my thigh and the hali in the water, I had to go directly away from the wake, turn and take it on a 90’ angle to have the safest path.  Not sure how fast he was going but it seemed full throttle and the wake is massive.  Not gonna challenge my timing for a tugboat again.  Woohoo is all I could cheer and I think I popped a couple more grey hairs from that experience…embrace the wake but keep your head “on a swivel”  they say…

I’ve experienced respectful boaters who slow as if we’re at a crosswalk, others who blast around to leave fish to find fish because they can.  Some I think are annoyed by the obstacle that we are, like crab buoys.  Like you, I embrace the wake and discover the skill of positioning and intentional safety maneuvers to enjoy the turbulence.  My most urgent experience was at Treasure island.  There is a tugboat lane there and they move for no one.  I had just hooked and netted a halibut and with the net under my thigh and the hali in the water, I had to go directly away from the wake, turn and take it on a 90’ angle to have the safest path.  Not sure how fast he was going but it seemed full throttle and the wake is massive.  Not gonna challenge my timing for a tugboat again.  Woohoo is all I could cheer and I think I popped a couple more grey hairs from that experience…embrace the wake but keep your head “on a swivel”  they say…

Comm squid boats underway are the same. i totally get it, time is $$.
Most PBs are cool, they know we're all out there to fish. But there are a few jerks that willfully try to chase kayaks off. BT, had that done to me. Whaddya gonna do but what Eddie suggests? stay aware, play it safe.

 

Comm squid boats underway are the same. ...

This is true.

Several years ago (pre-AI days) I was on the west side of Santa Cruz, early morning, but not dark. I saw a big comm boat in the distance and it seemed to be no threat, as it was going to miss me by a wide margin. I got distracted tying on a lure, and when I next looked up, I saw what looked like a 2-story building about to collapse on top of me. I gave a couple of quick desperate kicks to the mirage drive and avoiding getting run over, then immediately found myself surfing a massive wake that nearly tipped me.

It's amazing how quiet those boats are from directly in front...

I've got my little 20foot CC now, and i have to say kayakers are hard as shit to see- especially the ones with green or dark color yaks, worse when there's a swell. Shocking how hard it is to see us. SUPs are way easier, even if the person is kneeling!

Also, a lot of us are f'heads. I probably was too. bunch of boats working a bait ball, all rotating clockwise and running more or less parallel to each other...then here comes the kayaker cutting across everybody.  Or dropping crab pots right in the transit lane (even seen them IN the jaws at HMB)...WTF?

That said, I do my very best to watch out and check on folks, and I'll call ya on 69 if I see you usually.

the commie guys are fishing and they have a really, really long lead time to turn...towing all that gear. Same with tugboats or ferrys...Ferrys f'ing fly- clocked on at 50mph on GPS going to work.

I've got my little 20foot CC now, and i have to say kayakers are hard as shit to see- especially the ones with green or dark color yaks, worse when there's a swell. Shocking how hard it is to see us. SUPs are way easier, even if the person is kneeling!

This is why I fly that bright orange flag. Driving the partyboat, I could see yakkers fairly easily if they were brightly colored. The camo ones? Not so much...On the smaller skiffs that have the helm closer to the surface of the water, it's pretty hard to see a kayak, even if it's brightly colored....