Lessons Learned Sunday

Went out on my Prowler 13 Sunday looking to land my first fish on a yak (3rd time out still no luck).  Launched from Sierra Point and headed out towards the tubes 2 1/2 hours before low tide. Fished over there for about 2 hours with no luck so decided to go straight out to where the boats are, about 1 mile.  The wind wasn't so bad maybe 8 mph out of the west, stayed out for about 1 1/ 2 hours and the boat by me caught 2 stripers, They said to me who is this mad man out here in a kayak followed up by let us know if you need help we can pull up you and the kayak. Noticed the wind coming up fast so started in, the paddle was allot harder than I thought. There were 2-3 ft wind waves coming over the bow and a head on wind at 15 mph gusting to maybe 20. As I am gutin it out I am thinking to my self if I tip over don't let go of the yak, dam that is a long ways, line is still out and I hope I don't catch a fish (didn't wan to stop paddling, would loose 200 yards or more to reel in a fish), wish I had a radio, what am I doing out here in this wind. 1 1/2 hours later I made back to land tired but with a feeling of accomplishment. The guys on the boat came by and said they where keeping an eye on me, thanks for the support.
Lessons learned
Have a radio and GPS just in case.
Have a system in case I need to attach myself to my kayak.
Have a pair of fins.
Check the wind forecasts before I go out and stay near shore on windy days.
stay in shape

Have a radio and GPS just in case.
Check the wind forecasts before I go out and stay near shore on windy days.

X100 and try and go with someone......

Have a radio and GPS just in case.
Check the wind forecasts before I go out and stay near shore on windy days.

X100 and try and go with someone......

not a place to go w/o a radio, nor a place to go when the wind is forcasted to blow (it has been blowin hard for 3weeks straight)........and go w/someone when hitting areas prone to get blow by 12noon.
The guys in the boat knew you were out of place = good for them, i guess not all PB'ers are asses.

Hi Yakers:

        Glad you passed the test! In general the  North/Pacific Winds kick in about Noon.
Next trip use the Wind and Current to help you. Have the Wind at your Back on
your return Trip. A good trip would be Santa Cruz to the Lighthousse Kelp Bed and
drifft back at noon. A Adv. trip would be from Santa Cruz to Captola and Back with
the Wind in you Face!
          You take your chances in life being on the Edge!
                                                                                                   
                                                                             Just my spin
                                                                             Ernie
P.S. When it Blows at SC and I can'nt go out
I catch Bait at the small Boat Ramp



       

Not sure how deep it is where you were fishing, but many times I've been out at Paradise when the winds picked up WISHING I had my anchor with me so I could stop and rest. Now I usually take it out with me. Just be sure you're comfortable on your yak under anchor...but that's a whole other thread.

Anyway - Most of us have been in the same situation and I agree, at least now you know you can handle a similar situation if you ever find yourself caught in a fight with the wind again.

The sf bay is not really a place to take very lightly.  You must have your "A" game at all time.  The weather/wind is unpredictable and you don't want to get caught when it blows.  Just be very careful out there when you're out there again. Make sure you have your safety gear and go with someone. Just my 2 cents.

IslandYak

Not being arrogant or cocky but I have realized in life that there are people who can keep there head about them when things get stressed, make the rigt decisions and dont panic. I knew that if things went bad, I am in shape, there were other boats, I had my 4,3 wet suit. If I had to I would paddle with the wind to the other side of the bay with the wind and call my wife and if worst came to worst I could swim in. But likeI said lesson learned and i had a blast.

Hey, thanks for the lesson    It's certainly one that i've learned and many others have too.  Always have a backup plan!  Don't take the other comments as criticism, as i'm sure they are meant to be lessons to the next guy reading this post, not to bash you for sharing your experience.

Had too laugh when I read this I have always had my safety gear but have been out a few times when I shit shit that's a long paddle with this wind all you can do is put your head down and paddle.

good post
Some good info about real conditions . Things change fast on the bay. I've seen it blow 25 and then at 300pm the wind slows to 0. The margain of error for us is slim compared to the boaters.
Thanks
Tony

Glad you are OK Steve!!

Thanks for sharing bro....look forward to diving and/or fishing with you again soon!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

When I started I did the exact same thing in almost exactly the same place (Oyster Point). No radio, no experience and a bad case of Fishing Brain!

Hi gang,
Making my first post today!  Been browsing for a while but felt compelled to post and get involved today!      I went through exactly what Boogiebrdsteve went through.   I was at the ARW on Sunday and got caught up in the mess too.   Met some really nice people at the launch, weather was flat calm when I launched around 1045.  I got caught up in the fishing "fever" that the sudden change in weather caught me offguard, having drifted south of the launch area when the wind kicked up.  It was a long slooow haul back and there were times when I wasn't sure I was going to have the stamina to make it back--wind waves splashing over the front of the kayak.   I tried to troll back but it got to the point where I said "hell with it" , I got to get back now or I wasn't going to make it!  Man, I sure do respect mother nature so much more now! 

BTW, didn't get a nibble but on this day, it wasn't important---Be safe!   Looking forward to fishing with some of you in the near future!

The only thing I can add is when you're in SF bay you need to be aware of the tides as well.

You can paddle against the wind -- or -- the tide successfully most times, but I've seen a couple days when I know for a fact I couldn't have paddled distance against both a ripping tide and one of those mini hurricanes that blow up in the PM.

Ben

I had one of those days where I got caught in a bad wind and current. The next day I went out and got a Hobie. Problem solved.  I'm a much happier fisherman as well.