A lesson in fog

Fog happens ...  and sometimes it happens fast.  I know I've read about it here.  I know I try to keep my eye on it always.

I was out today at Stone Lagoon, mostly because it's a beautiful place. I was fishing but not catching.

It was severe clear when I put in at about 1 pm, and severe clear as I pedaled and trolled up the eastern shore, headed north.



I was thinking of circumnavigating the lagoon while trolling just so I could get to see lots of shoreline and enjoy my last summer day up here.

I got to the far north corner where the sand spit joins the coastal rocks and saw several fish leaping and was getting hopeful -- and I also noticed a whisp of fog coming over the trees. I thought I should pay attention to this, perhaps drift my way back down the east side instead of continuing down the sand spit.

Within ten minutes it went from severe clear to being completely engulfed in fog.  I could not see down to the south end launch ramp at all.





So at this point I stopped fishing and decided I needed to get back to the ramp area immediately.  Luckily the wind was at my back and all I had to do was keep the shore on my left and work back the way I came.  I was pretty far afield, the opposite end of the lagoon.  For me, this was pretty thick fog, but I know it gets worse up here.

When I finally got down towards the ramp area, it was, for a moment, in the clear.   I turned around and looked where I had been.



So this was a good little reminder for me.  It was not bad, or scary, or risky, but MAN, that fog came in quickly.  It surprised me.  I was not expecting it when it was so severely clear.

I do have a compass.  It was with me, and I know how to use it.  Of course I didn't need it for this, I could track down the shore line, just fine.  And I had my radio, even though I was not using it, it was with me.  But it makes me think --- what if I'd have gone out of Trinidad this afternoon as I was considering to some of the rocks like flatiron?  And then suddenly be unable to see the shore.  It's easy to get disoriented.   That would have been a much scarier situation than this one.

I may be in the market for a gps.  That seems like it would make sense up here.

So I don't mean to be alarmist with this last post on my trip to Humboldt.  I've had a great time as I always do, but if I seem a little foggy this evening I hope you'll understand.   

Will post a few reports from Cabrillo again, then I should be back up here in November.   

Glad you trusted your gut feeling.  Thanks for sharing your experience with us Dave.

I've been out at Timber Cove just past the kelp and the shoreline disappeared in the fog.  Compass and radio always on my lifejacket also!!!!!!!!!  It does make things interesting at times

I thought you had GPS...   

Yes, time to get one!  Not just for Humboldt - you need it for down there too.

I'm glad you got out on your last day here.  Too bad we couldn't hookup this trip, but it was worthwhile for you to go see the Klamath.  Safe travels.   

PS - that wasn't real fog!   

@ Eric -- I know       but it still increased my "pucker factor"   

I have a personal life guard down where I fish.  They have their eyes on me most of the time I'm out.   

Will ask Santa for a GPS ... maybe one of those fancy fish finders with a GPS.

-- will hook up on the next trip... maybe crabbing in November....  -- 

Will ask Santa for a GPS ... maybe one of those fancy fish finders with a GPS.

When I first started kayak fishing I told my mom how Bob and I had already gotten lost in the fog twice...

I got a GPS for my Bday two months later!

in my mind a gps and radio are must have equipment for big water.  A compass can get you back to the shore line, but if your launch was from a relatively small slot in the rocks, you may not find it in the fog.  I think many people fail to remember how much we drift on the ocean, so just following a heading back to shore doesn't necessarily mean you end up in the right place

I know what you mean about the fog.  Hell, just last week when my brother and I were fishing Shelter Cove, the fog and drift threw us off course and we ended up miles south of the launch.  Instead of getting back to the launch at 3pm, we got back at 6pm.  I had a compass and could hear the surf, so at least we were able to reach the shoreline.  But it took some sleuthing to figure out just where exactly we were once we saw land.  For next year, I'll be going out there with a GPS for sure.  The extra hours of peddling/paddling when you're thrown off course ain't worth it!

We were out at the red buoy in Monterey when the fog crept up on us at around 10AM yesterday and we were all engulfed in the thick mist with huge boats coming and going from the harbor.     We huddled up and fished in a tight formation, and then after about 30 mins the fog blew off. I was happy for my compass, which to me is easier to navigate a straight line with than my GPS.  Really the two combined make me feel safest.  I even carry a backup GPS in my ditch bag in case my FF battery runs out (it doesn't last more than 5 hours).  Also I had forgotten my air horn, but still had my trusty Scotty Whistle with me at least. 

After getting lost in the fog at Albion a couple of years ago, I realized having a GPS was a necessity.  Fortunately I managed to find my way back without one but the "pucker factor" was enough to convince me not to try it again.  The PFD, VHF and GPS are on my check list any time I hit the salt.

Dave I'm glad you kept your head. I know you are a very smart and watchful individual. That being said, I have been out at Trinidad several miles when the fog rolled in quick and the power boats and loosing my fishing partner were my worst fear. We have GPS and compasses but when you can only see about 50' loosing who you are fishing with becomes very real even when you can hear each other. We had a power boat bearing down on us one time and we could hear it but not see it. They don't expect to see anything several miles out and don't pay attention a lot. Needless to say Cameron is o.k. but it scared the shit out me . I think for next season I will get a air horn and keep it in my lap in the heavy fog. If anyone has any suggestions I would like to hear them?

Great Post Dave,  My compass is attached to my yak, my air horn is below deck, my FF GPS has helped me get back without any undue paddling more than once.

But still posts like this change my behavior, For me, I think the compass needs to be on my PFD and the air horn needs to be more accessable probably also on the PFD (I already have a whistle attached).

Was fun once off Ft Ross, fog was thick enough to obscure the coastline but still had about 100yds of vis.  A good sized PB comes alongside and asks, "Do you know where we are?"   

in my mind a gps and radio are must have equipment for big water.  A compass can get you back to the shore line, but if your launch was from a relatively small slot in the rocks, you may not find it in the fog.  I think many people fail to remember how much we drift on the ocean, so just following a heading back to shore doesn't necessarily mean you end up in the right place

regarding the compass......true...but getting back to land would be my priority. An old salt once told to me never to rely on electronics when out to sea. Batteries die. Had a couple of incidents at Moss Landing back in the day. Good thing I set my bearings to the smoke stacks before I headed out. Fog was super thick

...just my 2 cents

in my mind a gps and radio are must have equipment for big water.  A compass can get you back to the shore line, but if your launch was from a relatively small slot in the rocks, you may not find it in the fog.  I think many people fail to remember how much we drift on the ocean, so just following a heading back to shore doesn't necessarily mean you end up in the right place

regarding the compass......true...but getting back to land would be my priority. An old salt once told to me never to rely on electronics when out to sea. Batteries die. Had a couple of incidents at Moss Landing back in the day. Good thing I set my bearings to the smoke stacks before I headed out. Fog was super thick

...just my 2 cents

Words of wisdom, Mooch. Electronics can fail; always have a compass as backup. Also a good idea to always keep a contingency plan in mind and keep an eye out for an emergency landing spot in case you have to get back in quick and can't make it back to your launch site, due to, let's say, a leaking hull or other emergency.

in my mind a gps and radio are must have equipment for big water.  A compass can get you back to the shore line, but if your launch was from a relatively small slot in the rocks, you may not find it in the fog.  I think many people fail to remember how much we drift on the ocean, so just following a heading back to shore doesn't necessarily mean you end up in the right place

regarding the compass......true...but getting back to land would be my priority. An old salt once told to me never to rely on electronics when out to sea. Batteries die. Had a couple of incidents at Moss Landing back in the day. Good thing I set my bearings to the smoke stacks before I headed out. Fog was super thick

...just my 2 cents

sorry I did not make it clear. absolutely need a compass.  I have a manual compass as well as the gps.  Also back up batteries for my handheld gps.  And my FF has a gps I dont use cuz its too far for me to reach easily.  I also have a whistle attached to my PFD

I know what you mean about the fog.  Hell, just last week when my brother and I were fishing Shelter Cove, the fog and drift threw us off course and we ended up miles south of the launch.  Instead of getting back to the launch at 3pm, we got back at 6pm.  I had a compass and could hear the surf, so at least we were able to reach the shoreline.  But it took some sleuthing to figure out just where exactly we were once we saw land.  For next year, I'll be going out there with a GPS for sure.  The extra hours of peddling/paddling when you're thrown off course ain't worth it!

this is the scenario that gps can help you avoid.  When under way, the GPS is not the greatest at getting you in straight line, but it will get you back to the narrow opening of a slot.  Places down south of carmel where the coastline all looks the same, and trying the wrong slot would put you in a world of hurt.  In a worst case scenario, compass gets me to shore, and I wait out the fog until I can visually ID my slot landing