Kayak Fishing Lifestyle?

I wouldn't say it is a lifestyle for me, although my wife may differ with that.  I have a fairly intense day job and family responsibilities which limit my time on the water. If I were to define the kayak fishing lifestyle, I would say that adventure, love of nature and comraderie are certainly major components for me. Catching fish is actually secondary. For me, Big Sur defines the sport which is why I travel there frequently, so here it is...

You get up at 3 AM and pickup your friend for the 2.5 hour drive. Meet up at Monastary with the rest of the gang to make the decision to go the distance. Get to the launch site and lower the yaks by rope down the cliff. You get on the beach and check out the wind and surf. Things look sketchy and your heart is beating fast because you have wiped out here before. You count out the sets waiting for a break and you make your move. You make it out clean and wait for the rest outside the surf zone and line your rods and watch the sun rise over the mountains. Paddle for miles on the most beautiful coastline in the world. Bait your jig with squid and on your first drop, BENDO and the drag is screaming and up comes the first big verm of the day. Listen to your friends yelling about giant fish they landed. Head back saying some "Hail Mary's" because you know the landing is going to be tough. Try to time the landing but wipe out anyway. Your friends grab your yak as you stagger up the beach. High fives all around and a man dog and beer shore lunch before the drive home. Just doesn't get better than that. 

The funny thing is that people who don't yak fish think we are crazy, but the guys I fish with would do this everyday if we could. Adventure is probably the main motivation, none of us are in the AOTY so competition is not a factor.

Scott

Dudes and dudets, I tried posting earlier but no dice. Well The lifestyle to me is very humbling, you ,yourself ,your kayak ,and the open ocean!...I love family, friends, and the open ocean.Ive met so many good friends from this forum there is no real way to explain it.The great blue really opens your eyes to how very tiny you are on this world. Its exhilarating!!!!

I love that photo.

Lot's of good stuff here

Growing up in the Islands, feeling at home in and around the water was only inevitable. My love for the water has never been stronger and the word "addiction" is simply an understatement It's just a way of life and kayaking and fishing brings the best of two worlds together. And to be able to expand the horizon by kayak camping,diving,spear fishing, abalone diving and even hunting....it's simply a beautiful thing. When you can combine all these activities and make them work together =  I call it "harmony"    However, "harmony" is not enough for me. Sharing the water with others (NCKA always come to mind) makes it COMPLETE. Then it becomes "TRUE HARMONY"  This is the kayak lifestyle I seek,truly enjoy...and can't get enough of

This is the kayak lifestyle I seek,truly enjoy...and can't get enough of

I found a bunch of the old bumper stickers with that logo.

-Brian G

Its a little like the telemark skiing of fishing.  There are more modern and efficient methods, but they aren't as fun or challenging.

I also LOVE the "mano a mano" feeling when you get something BIG. 

And really love the sillyness and teamwork of moments like I had with Mahi and Fishhunter when we went "crocodile hunter" on Adam's sturgeon.

Finally, for whatever reason, yak fishing attracts one of the nicest groups of folks I have ever met.

Its a little like the telemark skiing of fishing.  There are more modern and efficient methods, but they aren't as fun or challenging.

That's probably one of the best analogies I've heard so far ...

-Allen

Its a little like the telemark skiing of fishing.  There are more modern and efficient methods, but they aren't as fun or challenging.

Yeah man, nailed it. 

Z

Finally, for whatever reason, yak fishing attracts one of the nicest groups of folks I have ever met.

To this day I am still amazed at how true that is!!!!!!!

Finally, for whatever reason, yak fishing attracts one of the nicest groups of folks I have ever met.

To this day I am still amazed at how true that is!!!!!!!

Couldn't agree more.   

Years ago...me and Dave W./Pescadore are a few miles out off of Bragg and approaching the pb fleet.  It is GLASS and sound is carrying a mile.  We hear a few  "look at those retard in the canoes " comments echoing across the water.  We shrugged it off and were like whatever.

A few minutes later water starts PILING up off of the yak of my bow and a big humpy grabs a mouthful of herring and gives us a driveby...we are 

Then a huge school of herring and salmon breeze under my yak as Dave is saying this sucks.  Seconds later Dave says I think I'm on, but it feels tiny.  Then a nice king with an apex in its yap goes right under my boat. 

I'm saying "dude I just saw you fish and its nice"...a few minutes later I help him with the net and the PB guys are saying..."hey...them retards just got a fish!"

Then my rod went off and we netted another one.  The PB guys were getting annoyed.  We were like "is it time to go?" and then the fog from hell rolled in and we remember we were 3 miles from shore and BLIND. 

We groped our way back, we high fived, I bought GPS the next day, and me and Dave will be friends forever.  Strong bonds through big highs and communal stupidity...its how we roll!  I love it, and will never get enough!!!



 

Great story sean!

I had a similar experience off Pt Reyes - PB peeps were hooting and hollering at me, laughing...deckhand yelled out if i had anything- so i hoisted my 24#er. Shut up the peeps real quick.  About 20 min later, as the two of us (PB and me) were doing circles on a bait ball i got my second - little 10#er.

We groped our way back, we high fived, I bought GPS the next day, and me and Dave will be friends forever.  Strong bonds through big highs and communal stupidity...its how we roll!  I love it, and will never get enough!!!

Yes, agreed.  Communal stupidity results in strong bonds.  Couldn't nearly have said it better myself.  A memorable day, some good laughs, good friendship, and, most of all, fun.  I just wish we'd get a salmon season back so we can do some more stupid $hit.

Adam, I still remember that first striper you got up at Mendo.  And look at you now ...
-Allen

The true beginning of my exsistence into this WorldOfWonderfulMadness.
Allen~that sequence is etched into my memory for ever.
..IOUanotherHUGG&KISStheNEXTtimeIseeYOU   

I also LOVE the "mano a mano" feeling when you get something BIG. 

And really love the sillyness and teamwork of moments like I had with Mahi and Fishhunter when we went "crocodile hunter" on Adam's sturgeon.

Finally, for whatever reason, yak fishing attracts one of the nicest groups of folks I have ever met.

DON'TthinkYOUandDANareGETTINGoffWITHOUTtheSAMElovesmt008

Adam, I still remember that first striper you got up at Mendo.  And look at you now ...
-Allen

The true beginning of my exsistence into this WorldOfWonderfulMadness.
Allen~that sequence is etched into my memory for ever.
..IOUanotherHUGG&KISStheNEXTtimeIseeYOU   

My Kayak Fishing Lifestyle does NOT involve any of you hugging and kissing me.  Ok, a little man-hug-shoulder-bump is all right.  But if your lips get anywhere too near to me, I'm putting a circle hook through them and going Great White trolling with you.   

-Allen