Bodega 8/20

Gabe and I hit the beach just north of Portugese beach at daylight.  I have been driving past this place for ever, and always wanted to fish it, so that was the plan.  Neither of us took any dramamine, knowing we would be out for just a little while, and the NOAA said little swell. Liars.  Launched, and grabbed my paddle, looked up at a wall of water!  Rowed like hell, and caught air off that breaker!  No idea how big it was, but the biggest one I have hit yet.  Looked up, another huge roller coming in, and paddled like mad to get past it.  Rowed out about a hundred feet into the clear, and then looked back at Gabe.  I just missed him taking a breaker in the face, and then waited for him to catch up.  The water was really shallow in the area around the rocks, and the swell was big and from a few different directions.  Mostly sandy bottom except up against the rocks.  We were not out a half hour, and I started feeling queezy.  I thought I just might be sick hungry, so I grabbed some trail mix from Gabe.  I chewed it up, but could not swallow it, spit it out and told Gabe I am in trouble and need to go in.  I paddled back and secured everything knowing a yard sale was about to unfold on the beach!  I projectile puked, waited until my arms got some strength back and made the run in.  I caught a big roller and rode it in, back paddling and it laid me ever so gentle on the beach. (thank you lord for answering my prayer!) Pulled my yak up the beach, and laid down.  Gabe came in shortly after, and he was feeling it too.  Went to the harbor and soaked squid hoping for a leopard shark, no love there.  Went over to Doran and hit the jetty for a bit, but no luck either.  A great day spent goofing off like kids, and did not feel all too bad about getting skunked.  And, I get to scratch that beach off thelist of places to go fishing.

Rich,
Everytime I hear you or hear you talk about puking it makes me laugh...   Thanks I needed that today. Where are you fishing  next..? WSB ..?

Yep, WSB in Monterey this weekend.  WILL NOT FORGET DRAMAMINE!

Rich, try one of those Scolopamine products. I get queasy easily, and won't think about going outside of the Bay unless I have a patch on. Just stick one behind the ear the night before and you'll be ready to cross the Pacific ocean the next morning.

ernest

Nice recon bro! Way to give it a go.

Glad you and Gabe got out there, gave it a shot, and made it home safe and sound!!

I drink at least one beer before I get on the water...calms my stomach right down!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I had a patch on at fort ross, worked well.  Usually take something, I am just a moron for assuming I would be fine.  I like Jim's idea!

Man all those beaches in there are treacherous, the only one I'd think about is Duncans Landing and then getting down there would finish me off.

Great Job getting out there,   Woo Hoo, and a dry landing too.

  NOAA mentions the south swell whenever it's around, like now. It's what surfers want, so you don't. It dosen't sound like much, but they usually say something like 3', 16 secs. That could be a 8' face on a sandbar. I just heard them say 3', 20 secs for tomorrow. In case you don't know how it works, that could be much bigger.

Thanks for the report Rich.  Way to give the ocean several tries.

Thanks for the report/vomitlaunch.  I love that beach but it's better for surfing than fishing.

Mr.Magoo is correct.....tmw & especially wednesday is the arrival of Swell #6 which is forecast to be the largest south swell of the summer so far.

We pulled up and looked out on the surf. I remember us saying it's not too bad, I could get through that. We were right...I went right through it. I watched Rich go near vertical before cresting the wave and then I gave it a try. I watched for what looked like a smaller swell, jumped in and started paddling. Just so happens to be that the next one came on me a little faster than I thought or my timing sucked. Either way I ended up punching straight through it rather than riding up over it. The water came up to somewhere between my belly button and nipples before nearly taking my hat off. I'm guessing the one I hit was steeper than the one Rich hit. At least we both stayed upright.

We went out a short distance and realized we needed to keep going so we could find some calmer water. The bottom really pushes the swell up in that area. I started feeling the first signs of sea sickness withing 5 minutes of launching, but then it went away for the most part. When Rich said he wasn't sure how long he could stay out there I knew he wasn't going to make it long. He's never had that problem before, but it comes on quick when it does. I really wanted to salvage the day with at least one fish so I stayed out a while longer. After seeing some of the bigger swells go nearly vertical near me, and breaking my rig of on a snag, I decided to head in. I could see Rich laying down in the sand in front of his yak. I know the feeling of not caring where I lay down. The first place available will do. The old guy who lives in the shack by the beach came out to make sure Rich was okay. He must have looked awful. I don't think I'd bother fishing that area again. That's for sure.

The landing worked surprisingly well. I was a tiny bit behind the wave compared to where I wanted to be, but still had plenty of time to get out and upright. Thanks Rich for grabbing the front of my yak. I tried a new approach to getting out of the yak on the beach. I made sure my rod was and leash were on my right side. Then when the yak stopped on the beach I rolled out to the left, ending up on my hands and knees. It was way easier and faster. I could also see the wave to know just how much time I had.

At least we can now rule out one place on the coast.  

Been to that area many times, the swells there can be unforgiving. Glad you were safe and ended up making the best out of the day! 

Glad ya got thru safe....

  I was out in Tomales bay with my boys and a newbie thinking of ya out there....

  little cool where I was, and lots of PBers... made me think it was a little rough out there

 

Dude, that's a Gnarly spot.  I wouldn't go back to that place for love or money.