you all ever go out SOLO?

I go solo out of Santa Cruz a lot and usually don’t feel too lonely. You can hit reef without going too far and there are usually kayaks or motor boats around the fishing areas near the harbor. Used to feel pretty comfortable going alone in Capitola as well in calm waters, but I’ve gotten away from beach launches due to a love of ease and comfort.

Yessah'.  The hardest part for me going solo is parking in the lonely darkness, but then, as the light comes up and I shove off, there's local radio chatter and then you see others on the water in the distance, and if appointed, someone you know shows up, or even a new buddy.  I'm the nosy guy approaching you looking for a name and intel with a "hey ho' howzit brah?"

I decided to get a flare gun kit, some smoke flares and a distress flag. With the InReach communicator and my radio I am in good shape.

Good move. Handheld flares are limited in that it almost requires line of sight to be noticed. Aerial flares on the other hand can be seen over 20 miles and deploying one of these will certainly get everyone's attention. White meteor flares, while not really suitable for emergency use, can be used for collision avoidance...a good thought in the event of larger vessels vs. kayaks.

I decided to get a flare gun kit, some smoke flares and a distress flag. With the InReach communicator and my radio I am in good shape.

Good move. Handheld flares are limited in that it almost requires line of sight to be noticed. Aerial flares on the other hand can be seen over 20 miles and deploying one of these will certainly get everyone's attention. White meteor flares, while not really suitable for emergency use, can be used for collision avoidance...a good thought in the event of larger vessels vs. kayaks.

I decided to get a flare gun kit, some smoke flares and a distress flag. With the InReach communicator and my radio I am in good shape.

Don't put too much confidence in flares. Most aerial flares only shoot up about 600' or so, and that's if you manage to get it perfectly straight when you shoot it. You are looking at 3-4 miles best case, unless the person observing is much higher than the surface of the water. Also, they don't really get the attention you think they would - a lot of people either simply don't notice a flare, or think it is something different like a firework or an airplane. A flare's best use is when people are already searching for you at night, so that they can see exactly where you are. Also, red and orange are the only colors recognized as distress. White and green are used for either illumination or training.

A radio is far and above all other distress communication methods, especially within 20 miles of a US coastline.  No question, with no uncertainty. It can put you directly in communication with the people who will come rescue you. You can tell them exactly where you are, what your problem is, and what you look like so that they can respond directly to you, immediately. A flare does not do any of that, and a satellite beacon takes longer - if it is even capable of direct communication, which many are not.

Don't get me wrong though - flares and satellite beacons are good things to have, but don't go shooting off flares or activating PLBs and expect a rescue asset right away. Try the radio first, on marine channel 16.

A lack of radio response is what got me thinking I needed something more. I did several radio checks throughout the day and got no replies. I only saw two inflatables on the water. I carry an InReach which allows for direct text communication and an sos emergency alert. But as you say, I can’t assume the coastguard would arrive in time, unless maybe it was a helicopter response. I figure the most likely use for flares would be if I went in the water and was unable to self rescue. If I got someone on the radio to come help, a smoke flare could be helpful. If I saw a boat passing by, an aerial flare or a smoke flare might attract attention. It would depend on if they were looking and paying attention. Regardless, they increase the chance of a rescue even though they are by no means a sure thing.

I carry pencil flares in my PFD.  I don't carry smokes, but only because I was unable to find compact ones to fit in my PFD.  Back in my USCG days, we carried day/night smoke flares that were about 4" long and 1.25" diameter.  One end was orange smoke for day use (the only color smoke recognized as a distress signal) and the other end was a red flare.  I can't get into the idea of keeping flares/flare gun/smokes in my kayak because the times I will need them, it means I am separated from my kayak.  To echo what SpeedyStein said, I only carry these for the case where I see a helicopter or search vessel looking for me and I want to improve their ability to come directly to me.  They are not intended to initiate a distress call.

To initiate distress calls, I would first be calling Mayday on my radio.  Y'all have your Mayday message memorized, right?  Right?  After calling Mayday, it's time to activate the PLB as an additional means.  The Mayday is my best possible chance at an immediate response.  You may not hear responses for radio checks, but all mariners are required to listen for and respond to Mayday calls.  A commercial vessel won't handle your radio checks for you, but they will certainly relay a Mayday from their more powerful radio with a taller antenna.

Well ..... this thread takes a whole lot of new meaning after that GWS posting      .... in my mind, solo is a big NO

I've never kayak fished with another person although I chat with people on the water occasionally but don't have any fishing buddies. 

Surfed Ocean Beach in SF for years by myself, which in my mind is much sketchier, especially when big.

I always wear a wetsuit and have a radio.  I'm very mindful of conditions and typically go places like Santa Cruz where there will likely be others on the water. 

Saturday, I took my 12 y/o out rock fishing for his first time on the Sea Wolf out of Emeryville.  As we were heading north over Duxbury reef, which was empty with some chop on the water, I was thinking to myself how glad I was to be on the boat and not alone on a kayak. 

I've never kayak fished with another person although I chat with people on the water occasionally but don't have any fishing buddies. 

Surfed Ocean Beach in SF for years by myself, which in my mind is much sketchier, especially when big.

I always wear a wetsuit and have a radio.  I'm very mindful of conditions and typically go places like Santa Cruz where there will likely be others on the water. 

Saturday, I took my 12 y/o out rock fishing for his first time on the Sea Wolf out of Emeryville.  As we were heading north over Duxbury reef, which was empty with some chop on the water, I was thinking to myself how glad I was to be on the boat and not alone on a kayak.

Same Medson. I'm pretty much always solo but also have a good amount of water experience. 20 years surfing OB puts it all in perspective. When I first started I was probably a little too casual but I always have a radio, pfd and to me it's most important to make sure I'm in good shape.

I'm rebuilding a 10 foot skiff now and that has me thinking more about bigger goals but also minimizing risks. Did a maiden Ranch run with it a couple weeks ago and realized I need a few more things (but the waves were firing which always makes it worth it) and grabbing a ling on the way for dinner back didn't hurt.

Well ..... this thread takes a whole lot of new meaning after that GWS posting      .... in my mind, solo is a big NO

I think the point that a lot of the soloists here are making is that solo in a popular location is not all that different than non-solo in those same locations. Of course, in more remote locations, it's certainly debatable...

Except maybe 5 times I fished nothing but solo since 1972

Along the way I got myself into and out of a few situations that almost killed me but one of the worst was rescuing somebody whose yak sank in nasty conditions above Muir

Was a crash course in how tough rescue work is

1.  Buddy to fish with
2.  Good weather and sea conditions
3.  Familiar place.

As long as you meet 2 of the 3 criteria, go fishing.

The buddy system is what I usually tell people to do when they get into this sport and is really the best way to go. But I also don't take my own advice and go solo all the time. Going solo can actually force you to take safety much more seriously, be more attentive, and self reliant. Just be prepared to get yourself out of unpredictable situations,

I ain't going solo in big water anymore after my GWS incident this past Monday at HMB!!!  I needed buddy support for sure or Monday would have had a very different outcome. Inside the bay near Alameda I frequently fish solo, but I am also an avid open water swimmer and know I can get to shore if I need to without the boat.  Solo or not, be prepared for shit to happen when you least expect it. Fill every space in your kayak with flotation,  have a whistle,  VHF, carry a tourniquet, extensively train on self rescue.

I ain't going solo in big water anymore after my GWS incident this past Monday at HMB!!!  I needed buddy support for sure or Monday would have had a very different outcome. Inside the bay near Alameda I frequently fish solo, but I am also an avid open water swimmer and know I can get to shore if I need to without the boat.  Solo or not, be prepared for shit to happen when you least expect it. Fill every space in your kayak with flotation,  have a whistle,  VHF, carry a tourniquet, extensively train on self rescue.

Your experience has clearly made you even wiser. I have been out solo a few times this year at HMB and Pacifica in years past, and reading your story sent chills down my spine. More than the shark part it's the idea of  suddenly finding myself laying on an upside-down, possibly inoperable kayak with no one around, which could happen a number of different ways.  I meet most all of the safety/experience/fitness  criteria mentioned here but I am reconsidering the idea of going out solo again.