Maiden Voyage 3-24 HMB or open to location

My maiden voyage was at Shelter Cove about 10 years ago. I still remember it vividly like it was yesterday. I paddled out alone a couple hundred yards from shore on my new SOT OK Scupper Pro. It was a typical brisk and beautiful SC morning. I remember the tranquility and the sounds of the ocean. I remember looking back towards land and seeing the vultures soaring high along side the cliff above the ramp. A small pod of dolphins swam close by almost as to say hello. Then on my way back a sea lion popped out of the water about fifteen feet away with a 2-1/2’ leopard shark in his mouth. He then proceeded to do a death roll on the surface before disappearing. It was truly a memorable maiden voyage.

I have since started a family and now have two beautiful boys.
Unfortunately, my kayak has been collecting dust in the garage since that day and we have both grown back are hymen. I have finally decided to pursue this passion but with more caution. I have been doing my due diligence in order to educate my self with right from wrong. I have found this site to be extremely welcoming and valuable with tons of information.

So I'm reaching out to the NCKA brotherhood to see if anyone would like to accompany me on my second so to speak maiden voyage. I am located in San Jose and am open to location.

I would like to add that I'm a SCUBA diver, ab diver and an avid fisherman. Therefore I'm very comfortable in and around the water.

I would like to thank everyone that I have been corresponding with thus far and for those reading this post.

Antonio

Hey man your descriptions sounds amazing! My maiden voyage was in HMB with my yak not so many wildlife things going on but still fun. I know there are a few guys that go to HMB often Id join you but im trying to go to my first lake trip on sat. Crabbing can be pretty decent using rings out there and the launch is easy from HMB kayak Co. Good luck to you and have fun getting back OTW.

Wes

Wes,

Maybe some other time then. Like I said I'm open to where ever I'm just trying to get some time on the water under my belt. Hope you have a great time on the lake.

Antonio

I'm still foaming at the mouth to make my first saltwater expedition... dying to get out and try my hand at crabbing for dungeness (HMB?), but weather and work have kept me down. I'd love some company if and when it finally happens, but weekends are lousy for me, please keep me posted on any HMB ventures!!! Thanks!

Aaron Shaul

I'm still foaming at the mouth to make my first saltwater expedition... dying to get out and try my hand at crabbing for dungeness (HMB?), but weather and work have kept me down. I'd love some company if and when it finally happens, but weekends are lousy for me, please keep me posted on any HMB ventures!!! Thanks!

Aaron Shaul

Haha, I feel ya Aaron.  I'm also dying to get out to the ocean, but not 100% comfortable on the yak to do so yet.  Hopefully in a few months I'll be ready to give it a go, and by then the waters will be a bit calmer than now.

Antonio, I'll definitely join you once I'm ready.  I live in Santa Clara and usually fish HMB area or Santa Cruz/Capitola area, so most likely those will be my starting points once I'm ready for the ocean.  Good luck to you!

I'm still foaming at the mouth to make my first saltwater expedition... dying to get out and try my hand at crabbing for dungeness (HMB?), but weather and work have kept me down. I'd love some company if and when it finally happens, but weekends are lousy for me, please keep me posted on any HMB ventures!!! Thanks!

Aaron Shaul

Aaron,

I will definitely keep you posted and let you know if and when a weekday is doable for me. I also have my collapsible crab traps ready as well. But first I need to get on the water comfortably before I start adding equipment.

Thanks for the reply,

Antonio

Antonio, I'll definitely join you once I'm ready.  I live in Santa Clara and usually fish HMB area or Santa Cruz/Capitola area, so most likely those will be my starting points once I'm ready for the ocean.  Good luck to you!
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Smokeonthewater,

Good to know that we are fairly close to each other for possible future hookups.
I’m good for either Santa Cruz / Capitola or HMB. I also go up North quite a bit as well during ab season.

Thanks for replying to my post,

Antonio

BTW what are you smoking?

Hey Antonio,

I would love to join you, but I'm waiting for after April 7th to explore that part of the ocean.  I just moved to Marin at the beginning of Feb and am still looking to get on the salt around here.  If you want to fish the north bay, let me know.  I think I'm gonna explore somewhere new (for me) on Saturday and possibly Sunday, if weather is decent.  Anyways, WTTM!

Ron

Ron,

I’m game for going up North weather permitting. Where in the Marin area did you have in mind? Have you looked at the conditions yet?

Thanks for replying,

Antonio

Hey, Well I've been looking at the waters around San Rafael, but that's only because they tease me everyday at work.  Saturday forecast is looking iffy, so I'm not sure.  Here's what I found.

Saturday-   Overcast with a chance of rain. High of 52F. Winds from the South at 15 to 25 mph shifting to the WSW in the afternoon. Breezy. Chance of  rain 70% with rainfall amounts near 0.3 in. possible.

Sunday-Overcast with a chance of rain. High of 57F. Winds from the ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

I'm thinking Sunday would be better.  What do you think?  I see some guys are gonna check out the Alameda Rockwall too, so that could be an option too.  Keep me posted

Ron,

Thanks for the report on conditions. Yeah the weather doesn't look very appealing this Saturday.

So what type of fish are you targeting in that area. I fished the rockwall about 20 years ago off of a 14ft. Whaler but never in a kayak.

Antonio

Wherever I go, I'll be after halibut, striper, and/or perch.  I wish I was off today.  Weather is great right now.

Yeah,  I was thinking the same thing. Today looks a lot better than this weekend is looking.

 i gotta pull the plug on saturday.  I think I'm gonna stay in protected waters (aka freshwater).  I can handle the rain on the lake, but not really in the salt.  Hopefully you can get out somewhere tomorrow

Understand, better to play it safe. I'm sure we will hookup some time soon.