Cabrillo Beach/San Pedro 10.16.11

My girlfriend and I went down to LA Friday evening after work to attend my close friend's wedding reception. Since I was going to be there until Sunday evening, I decided to take both my yaks down to do some fishing with my cousin from LA and a buddy of his.

We arrive to Cabrillo at 6:30ish to calm conditions and met a couple guys from BWE. They were launching from the ramp and I decided that we should launch from the beach inside the rockwall. I didn't want us to use the ramp with the amount of boats in the parking lot, and the beach inside was flat as hell. As we unload and ready to set paddle, I realize that I forgot my paddles back at my buddy's house, unfreaking-believable!!  My cousin and his buddy leave to an adjacent city to rent some paddles and arrive back a lil before 9:30am .

We paddled out to the bait barge, and got ourselves a scoop of sardines (which they received that morning). We headed out toward the rockwall jetty and worked that area. Come 11:30am the wind and drift picks up. By this time, I tell them that we better head our way in since we were drifting outward. Although it wasn't bad for me and my cousin's buddy, my cousin was having a difficult time paddling back in. I drained the live bait well and loaded all his gear onto my yak to minimize the load/weight, but it made a very small difference for him lol.

While my cousin's buddy continued to head back in, I slowly followed my cousin back in just to make sure he was ok.  As my cousin's buddy got back in, he asked a lifeguard on a jet ski to check on us. As the lifeguard approached us, he asked my cousin if he would like to get a lift back in, which my cousin wasn't going to decline lol!! 

Unfortunately, we didn't get much fishing in with all the the things that went wrong that day. However, we had a great time chatting it up otw and having some laughs when we were all back on land

I promised him that next time, the outcome will be much more pleasant. I hope that he takes up my offer again to do some kayak fishing 

nice try Daniel.  I think we sometimes forget the miles we put in paddling so what becomes routine to us is uber hard for a newb.

Bummer Daniel
sounds like you made the most of it
Cabrillo is also known as Hurricane Gulch... a world class wind surfing spot
the wind can get nasty for us kayakers

Wish I could have made it
have to make sure you at least have my phone # next time
I'm 5 minutes from the launch and have plenty of paddles you could have borrowed

nice try Daniel.  I think we sometimes forget the miles we put in paddling so what becomes routine to us is uber hard for a newb.

You're totally right about that Eugene. I sometimes forget that although I've been kayak fishing for about year and half, I've already logged in a lot of miles in the plastic  My cousin half-jokingly told me to hurry up and get myself a Hobie; then he would go out again otw with me lol!!

Bummer Daniel
sounds like you made the most of it
Cabrillo is also known as Hurricane Gulch... a world class wind surfing spot
the wind can get nasty for us kayakers

Don, we definitely made the most outta our trip I didn't realize that Cabrillo was a "world class wind surf spot" lol  When I introduced myself to the 2 BWE members, I overheard one say to the other that he hoped that the wind will stay down before noon. In my head, I said "Oh sh*t". I can deal with big swells and rain, but one thing I don't like dealing with is strong winds.

Next time, I'll be more prepared when I make another trip down to Cabrillo. Hopefully, then you and I will get a chance to hookup Thanks again Don for some helpful Cabrillo tips!

Nice try Daniel, better luck next time.

You all get an "A" for EFFORT!!!