Bodega Bay Yak Salmon Fishing out of the Westside campground area?

Has anyone had any sucess paddling/peddling outside of the jaws for salmon from Bodega Bay? I'm antsy to get on some but not sure how far out to go. Also, what to watch for? If I'm better by this weekend I may scout it out and try my luck on some yummu ocean salmon. Nom Nom.

I've never done it, but Otobepalegic just posted a report a few day ago from there, as did Jonesz.

I can tell you that you'd be better off launching from Doran Park and your biggest worry will be getting run over by one of the boats flying in and out of the harbor....especially if it's foggy.

Also, the whole Bodega Head area is a MPA, so you'll need to know where you're fishing in order to stay out of it.

Been anxious to do the same but can't find the time yet.
1 to 1.5 mile paddle to the Whistle Buoy from previous reports.
For daily reports, try usafishing.com and click on Bodega Bay. Been tracking it since last week when it was blowing like crazy.
Wish I can join ya.

Danny

Been anxious to do the same but can't find the time yet.
1 to 1.5 mile paddle to the Whistle Buoy from previous reports.
For daily reports, try usafishing.com and click on Bodega Bay. Been tracking it since last week when it was blowing like crazy.
Wish I can join ya.

Danny

1 to 1.5 miles to Whistle, is that right? I was told 8 miles. I hope the winds are down this weekend, would be awesome to make it out there.,

It's been foggy and the wind picks up quickly so be careful. How about Monterey instead?

It's been foggy and the wind picks up quickly so be careful. How about Monterey instead?

Where do you launch from Monterey and how far out do you go?

I'm trying to check the weather but I'm still new at this stuff, can't figure out this wind thing. Even just checked Sailflow that my friend told me about but sometimes it doesn't show the current conditions.

Steph - if this is your first time getting on the ocean in a kayak, an option to consider is booking a guided trip with Allen Bushnell (scallen on this site). He runs Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing. It's a great way to learn basic info on ocean safety issues and getting started fishing in the salt with a very experienced guide.  There are some nice launches in SC or MB with access to good fishing down that way to get started.  Well worth the investment and a great way to jump start the learning curve.  Good luck and see you OTW sometime - John

Don't mess with the wind and open water.  Learn the forecasts, buoys, reports, and know the lay of the reef as well as everywhere downwind where you may have to ditch.  Compass, GPS and VHF are as important as PFD, water, paddle...etc. when you're going offshore.

After you get some open ocean experience you should consider a tournament like Gimme Shelter or Albion where salmon have been caught during the tournies.  You can get some great experience with lots of seasoned ocean goers around.  I like your enthusiasm.   

I'll second Bird's advice of hiring a guide and I'll also add that Allen Bushnell would be my reccomendation (for both his experience level and fantistically manly moustache).  It's evident that you're eager to get in the mix but this thread sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster, especially at Bodega Head. 

As Mooch would say....kayaker frst. 

I heard through the grapevine that the southside of Seal rock was kicking out a few salmon earlier this week and a halibut was caught off Doran. Definitely watch that forecast. Good luck

I'll second Bird's advice of hiring a guide and I'll also add that Allen Bushnell would be my reccomendation (for both his experience level and fantistically manly moustache).  It's evident that you're eager to get in the mix but this thread sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster, especially at Bodega Head. 

As Mooch would say....kayaker frst.

+2
I can't agree more. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is true, safety first. As much as I'm eager to get out I need to slow my roll and get more experience on the water before making the quick decision to just go out. Very tempting though also hearing all these reports. But seriously thanks for the tips and advice. It is greatly appreciated and I hope to see you guys out on the water soon 

Allen Bushnell guided me on my first kayak/angling outing. It was a great learning experience. Highly recommend engaging his services.

As just practice - I would say this not good weather to go out from what the buoys read. Am I right? Anything about 9kts is bad? And a wave height of 4.6ft is no good. Sorry for all the questions.

(10:50 am PDT)
1750 GMT on 07/11/2012:  Unit of Measure:  English Metric   Time Zone:  Station Local Time Greenwich Mean Time [GMT] British Summer Time [GMT+1] Eastern Greenland [GMT-1] Azores [GMT-2] Western Greenland [GMT-3] Atlantic Standard [GMT-4] US/Eastern Standard US/Central Standard US/Mountain Standard US/Pacific Standard Alaska Standard [GMT-9] Hawaii-Aleutian Standard [GMT-10] Samoa Standard [GMT-11] International Date Line West [GMT-12] Western European [GMT+0] Central European [GMT+1] Eastern European [GMT+2] Moscow [GMT+3] USSR Zone 3 [GMT+4] USSR Zone 4 [GMT+5] USSR Zone 5 [GMT+6] USSR Zone 6 [GMT+7] China Coast [GMT+8] Japan Standard [GMT+9] Guam Standard [GMT+10] GMT+11 International Date Line East [GMT+12] 
Click on the graph icon in the table below to see a time series plot of the last five days of that observation.
 
 Wind Direction (WDIR): NNW ( 330 deg true )
 Wind Speed (WSPD): 13.6 kts
 Wind Gust (GST): 15.5 kts
 Wave Height (WVHT): 4.6 ft
 Dominant Wave Period (DPD): 7 sec
 Average Period (APD): 5.4 sec
 Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 29.91 in
 Pressure Tendency (PTDY): +0.04 in ( Rising )
 Air Temperature (ATMP): 48.4 ｰF
 Water Temperature (WTMP): 49.8 ｰF
 Wind Chill (CHILL): 42.4 ｰF

I like to use this site when I'm close to making a decision:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/firewx/fwpfm/fwpfm.php?wfo=mtr



This is what it says for Bodega Bay for the next three days:
I've made the wind and swells for today at 6am glow in red.

Forecast prepared by WFO MTR
37.984N 122.925W 0FT
0300 PM PDT Wed Jul 11 2012

DATE                 WED 07/11/12            THU 07/12/12            FRI 07/13/12
UTC 3HRLY         10 13 16 19 22 01 04 07 10 13 16 19 22 01 04 07 10 13 16 19 22 01
PDT 3HRLY         03 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 15 18

WIND DIR          NW NW NW  W  W NW NW NW  W NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW  W  W NW
WIND SPD           8  6  5  5  8 12  9  6  4  4  7 10 13 11  9  9 10 10 10 12 12 14
WIND GUST         10  7  6  6 10 15 11  7  5  6  9 12 16 14 11 11 12 13 13 15 15 17
CLOUDS            BK SC SC BK BK FW FW OV OV BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK BK
CLOUDS(%)         80 57 57 70 70 21 21 92 92 80 80 66 66 65 65 80 80 80 80 71 71 72
POP 12HR              0           0           0           0           0           0
QPF               0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00

SIG WAVE HGT       5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5     5
WINDWV HGT         1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1
SWELL HGT          4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4  4
SWELL DIR          W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W
SWELL PD           8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8  8 -- -- --
SWELL2 HGT         2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2  2
SWELL2 DIR         S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S
SWELL2 PD         13 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 -- -- --