SMC Safety Pointers

After the incident last Saturday, I feel compelled to write safety pointers regarding fishing the San Mateo Coast. Specifically, Bean Hollow State Park.

I’ve registered to NCKA in 2009, and my first surf launch and landing are at Bean Hollow. This place has a reputation for carnage and humbling even the most experienced kayakers. I have eaten the surf (BH) twice, one is with Andy BaitNBeer where the kayak hit my knee and bruised it, and I wasn’t able to walk for days. In my years of fishing the place, I have gathered some information that made me comfortable in the place. Though, I still get butterflies every now and then on the landing. Like last Saturday.
NCKA community is about safety first, Anglers second. Here are some of the thing I’ve learned and set them as rules to follow.

1.   Know your limit.
As a kayaker we are forecast dependent, knowing your limit and creating a comfort zone will help you build confidence on future trips. But sometimes forecast can go awfully wrong, this is when you need your comfort zone if you feel you can handle it without risking others by all means. But, if it goes beyond your comfort zone its always a good call to cancel, no harm done.

2.   Forecast and Tide.
In my experience, I don’t rely on 1 site for forecast, I used 3 and cross-reference them, this way, 2 out of 3 is a good chance of being accurate. Most of the weather forecast will have tides time and height. If I'm fishing Bean Hollow if the tide is around noon and over 6’ I won't bother fishing if I know I need to be in the shore by noon. The reason is, the rocks that supposed to protect me from big surf will disappear and it will become shallow, the surf is likely to break sooner and longer. I will opt to a different launch however, even on the other location Pigeon Point for example, it has a small beach and likely disappears when the high tide is over 6’. Please plan accordingly.

The website I used for the forecast.
https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.40140676498413&lat=37.19057865292433#.XNSpe45KiUl

http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Rockaway/forecasts/latest/six_day

https://magicseaweed.com/Shelter-Cove-Surf-Report/4083/

3.   Surf launch.
I’ve seen people will launch as they please I’m ok with that if they feel comfortable. I, however, am different I usually take my time at the beach before launching, especially when I see random sets of big swells. I will count from the last set and then until the next sets. I will do this at least 3 times until I get a clear picture of my window. If you been out with me on your first time, you know I make sure I will guide you to the launch window unless you have other company you chose to launch with.

4.   Surf Landing. (make sure nothing is dangling or leash attached other than your drive)
I like using OK T13 on surf landing and rock cod fishing in general since you don’t need to move around a lot. I also love the rod pod that you can store gears and rods. Last weekend I was complimented that I made it look easy. Well, to be honest, it isn’t the first time I heard that. But it isn’t easy, timing and experience played a big roll on it. Surf landing is the same as launching. Timing is everything. There is a surf line before it breaks where you can observe, from that you can decide when will you have the window. Most of all look and listen to the people that are already on the beach, they usually guide you where is the mellow surf, and able to assist if there is a mishap. Once you figure out the window and commit, DO NOT hesitate paddle fast. If so happened you missed the window and noticed you are not gaining, that means a big surf is about to smash you. BAIL! When you jump, make sure it's on the ocean side not on the beach side. You don’t want the kayak between you and the waves. That kayak can smash you with the wave and it can be catastrophic.

I hope this will help you in your future ventures. Tight lines!

Disclaimer: I'm sure everyone has their own opinion, these are solely based on my experienced. Please feel free to chime in. Pardon my English, I'm sure it has a lot grammatical error. I just want to send a message.

Sharing is caring Darius. Thanks for the write up. It's a great reminder to think safety first before fish 

You already starting to sound like a blogger!! Lol. Good stuff Darius, and the grammar is easy to follow. I will say BH is not a beginner launch by any means. It's actually one of the more challenging launches, IMHO. Launch there at your own risk. I'v fished there in some serious stupid conditions when i was a beginner. Don't make my mistakes folks. heheh. Be safe.

If you have any concerns about launching. Have Darius do it first!!

Great information.  I just want to add to #4
during the re-entry to unleash your paddle, stow your FF inside the hull and remove all hooks, lures etc. off your rods. I got lucky on this landing last year.

Excellent advise for a spot I haven't chosen to fish yet.

Thanks for the tips Darius might try and join you this season.

Guess yak fishin Da Bean ain't easy!

Thanks a lot Darius, this way really useful.

On surf launches, at SMC, I just want to add that the launch window can be small, Be at the water's edge if not in the water, just barely floating and controlling the bow so waves don't turn the yak.
I remember 2-3 years ago Darius and I took a new guy out of Bean. He was standing 10+ feet back from the water with his Hobie Outback waiting for his launch shot. By the time you drag a boat across the sand and get centered for launch, your window may be gone. I tutored him. stabilized the boat as he got in and then gave the yak a shove.  Even experienced launchers really appreciate it when our partners give us a helping hand on launch and landing. I do.
Once he was in he was taking his time getting settled.  I had to yell paddle, paddle hard NOW!!!. The Bean isn't HMB or MBK. No casual, lazy launches.

On surf launches, at SMC, I just want to add that the launch window can be small, Be at the water's edge if not in the water, just barely floating and controlling the bow so waves don't turn the yak.
I remember 2-3 years ago Darius and I took a new guy out of Bean. He was standing 10+ feet back from the water with his Hobie Outback waiting for his launch shot. By the time you drag a boat across the sand and get centered for launch, your window may be gone. I tutored him. stabilized the boat as he got in and then gave the yak a shove.  Even experienced launchers really appreciate it when our partners give us a helping hand on launch and landing. I do.
Once he was in he was taking his time getting settled.  I had to yell paddle, paddle hard NOW!!!. The Bean isn't HMB or MBK. No casual, lazy launches.

totally remember that, I cant who was the newbie.

Some place in ncka archives pretty sure i wrote up how to swim the breakers with a yak, at bean and a few other spots that was pretty much standard procedure for me when it was big

Especially landing

You need a line to your bow and a fin to give you some power And a little smarts

Beats the hell out of eating it though

At some point along the way i got obsessed w the challenge of landing and quit doing that but its a smart way to go

Thanks for the post Darius.   

Some place in ncka archives pretty sure i wrote up how to swim the breakers with a yak, at bean and a few other spots that was pretty much standard procedure for me when it was big

Especially landing

You need a line to your bow and a fin to give you some power And a little smarts

Beats the hell out of eating it though

At some point along the way i got obsessed w the challenge of landing and quit doing that but its a smart way to go

Was that in the same thread where Joel wrote about backing in for the landing?

Some place in ncka archives pretty sure i wrote up how to swim the breakers with a yak, at bean and a few other spots that was pretty much standard procedure for me when it was big

Especially landing

You need a line to your bow and a fin to give you some power And a little smarts

Beats the hell out of eating it though

At some point along the way i got obsessed w the challenge of landing and quit doing that but its a smart way to go

Like in this video? : 

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