Trinidad 9-13-13 ???

I am working on being over there Friday 9-13-13, I will be taking a newbie out again. This will be my 4th trip this year, I think I may have a problem !!!!!!!!!!! 
Jeff

I'm stoked for your stoke, Jeff!   

The current forecast looks pretty good:

.FRI...NW WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WAVES NW 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

I'm not sure what gear you guys are running with, and I hope a little presumptuous checklist isn't uncool!

- Always wearing a PFD on the ocean should go without saying...   
- Dress for immersion - always figure you could end up in the water for an extended period and what you're wearing directly affects your survival rate in those circumstances.
- VHF - gotta have this for ocean yakking.  To be linked to the USCG as well as other boaters is unbelievably valuable.  I use waterproof handhelds by Cobra, and I carry a backup with a charge.
- Compass and GPS - if your GPS or any other electronic device fails it won't be so surprising, but the first time you didn't have at least a compass to guide you should be your last.  I carry a GPS that is only used when needed or wanted, and my compasses are 1) deck-mounted, and 2) backup in drybag.  I constantly use my compass.
- Water, food - mostly water.
- "Fishfinder" - the depth finder is an excellent asset for fishing and it turns out to be an incredible tool for overall orientation as well.  The combination of a compass and a fishfinder can keep the use of GPS on an as-needed-only basis.
- Spare paddle, bilge pump, throw-bag, first-aid, repair kit, flotation, whistle, reflective device - these are things I always have on the ocean and that I've never needed.  So far.

I'm not trying to come down on your trip, Man!  I just know that I learned the hard way and took years to figure out some of the basics that we can help make sure others pickup much more quickly now, and I know you've been taking some friends and family out who are also new to the ocean.

Have a great time - good luck - have fun!   

Check list are always a good thing, and should always be appreciated Eric.  All of my post to any newbies preach safety and making sure you have the right gear for where you are at!!! That said do I have everything I need? Not yet, but that is why I stay close. This year has been a blast on the ocean, teaching others how much fun it is to fish from a kayak has been great. This will be my fifth person I have turned on to kayak fishing this year, and have a list of five more that want to go! When I sold my Striper, I thought my ocean days would be limited, to fishing with buddies who have boats. Now I would rather fish from my yak that be in a boat!!! Now if I can just find a way to move to Humbold !!!!!!
Thanks Eric,
Jeff

What gear don't you have? I'm working Saturday and hit Trinidad yesterday so I'm out of WAF for a few weeks. If you need to borrow something let me know

I will be out there if Im not chasing longfins on a powerboat.

Thanks Jeff, it's the extra stuff I don't have yet, extra paddle, Bilge pump, throw bag, things like that.
I have the major things wet suit, pfd, vhf, gps on my phone, first aid kit ect. Thanks for the offer, I keep picking up things as I go to add to my go bag.
thanks,again
Jeff

Good luck man, have fun!

I'm going to try to go out on Friday. Planning on Wednesday for sure, Friday I have two games that night in mckinleyville. What time are you planning to launch?

7:30 ish hopefully

I'm heading up early Tues am from SF..first night at Shelter Cove Wed am mooch around blindly w/o a FF looking for barndoors or chromers  (chances are it'll be choppy), put it back on the car and spend second night at Patrick Beach State park then hit Trinidad Thurs hopefully can jig up *something*..could be epic or just a nice trip away from the City, either way I can't lose.. I'll be on CH 69 ..

I'm heading up early Tues am from SF..first night at Shelter Cove Wed am mooch around blindly w/o a FF looking for barndoors or chromers  (chances are it'll be choppy), put it back on the car and spend second night at Patrick Beach State park then hit Trinidad Thurs hopefully can jig up *something*..could be epic or just a nice trip away from the City, either way I can't lose.. I'll be on CH 69 ..

Fishing is usualy really good!!! The locals up there use ch 78 instead of ch 69. weather is looking good so have fun and catch some big blacks and lings!! We might be there on thursday? Hoping wx is good for sat and sunday also... Fishunter...???!!!

+1 on the extra paddle just in case somebody else forgets theirs... JBaker knows what im talking about.   

I'm heading up early Tues am from SF..first night at Shelter Cove Wed am mooch around blindly w/o a FF looking for barndoors or chromers  (chances are it'll be choppy), put it back on the car and spend second night at Patrick Beach State park then hit Trinidad Thurs hopefully can jig up *something*..could be epic or just a nice trip away from the City, either way I can't lose.. I'll be on CH 69 ..

I will get the lowdown on the salmon bite.  As for barndoors, aka pacific halibut, I do know that it has been a slow year south of Punta Gorda.  My friend who lives in Shelter Cove caught his biggest++++++ salmon while fishing for CA halibut in 14ft of water just off of the beach. I know the exact location and I have talked to another guy who got some big ones there too.  There are some big CA halibut at the Cove.  I may be down there for some 200pt AOTY salmon and CA halibut so I can put the hammer down on ATD and Racin Rob.

thanks for all the tips you guys.  I'll check 78 regularly.  Yea Matt if your down at SC try me on the raddidio.  I'm sailing a 96 blue toyota corolla w/ 200K on it and drivin a dune revo.

Eric, thanks for your list:

i have pfd, radio, immersion ready, compass (have taken orienting classes) headlamp, first aid, water, surf entry and self rescue classes from MBK.  i do not have an extra paddle, i do however leash everything (had my first capsize a year or so ago outta HMB and lost some stuff).

hope I can hook up w someone this week

let's all be safe

James aka Rroland

James are you going to be there Friday too or just until Thursday?
Jeff