A rough ocean?

I'll mark it down crash. It would be great to meet you.

NotaSeal

I hate wind and don't really care too much about the wave/swells being up.  If the wind is down and the swell is up ill go out.if the wind is up over 10-12 I won't make the drive.

Wuss

Here's one of the best threads on the subject,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,32677.0.html

Here's one of the best threads on the subject,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,32677.0.html

The ocean reports aren't given that way anymore. The wind chop and long distance swell aren't seperated out anymore. The old way was better and I hope they go back to it.

Here's one of the best threads on the subject,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,32677.0.html

The ocean reports aren't given that way anymore. The wind chop and long distance swell aren't seperated out anymore. The old way was better and I hope they go back to it.

This way? Still works for our area.

PZZ545-031600-
POINT REYES TO PIGEON POINT TO 10 NM-
858 PM PDT WED OCT 2 2013

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PDT THURSDAY


TONIGHT
NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 6 FT.
W SWELL 6 TO 8 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

Don't forget about "the fog" 

I almost never fish if the wind is up even in freshwater.

That's cuz for you the wind aint up until it's 30kt. Ya crazy bastard.

Very funny.

Here's one of the best threads on the subject,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,32677.0.html

The ocean reports aren't given that way anymore. The wind chop and long distance swell aren't seperated out anymore. The old way was better and I hope they go back to it.

This way? Still works for our area.

PZZ545-031600-
POINT REYES TO PIGEON POINT TO 10 NM-
858 PM PDT WED OCT 2 2013

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PDT THURSDAY


TONIGHT
NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 6 FT.
W SWELL 6 TO 8 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

Yes, but I noticed that a lot of, or most always of, the time the "point & click" weather forecast option which includes the weather graph option to break down the forecast on an hourly basis is not working for the northern waters. Like if you click on the water off Trinidad all you get is the general forecast of the waters out to 10nm. But if you click on the town of Trinidad you can get the separate am & pm forecasts with the link to the weather graph & hour by hour info. Maybe NOAA does this because the weather off the Cape & north is so unpredictable?

There are sooo many variables on this subject. One thing for sure: "wind from the south, fish close their mouth!" Online forecast's should only be used as a general rule, its best to GO see/look how or what the conditions are. Worst thing that can happen is you just get to hang out on the coast.

Here's one of the best threads on the subject,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,32677.0.html

The ocean reports aren't given that way anymore. The wind chop and long distance swell aren't seperated out anymore. The old way was better and I hope they go back to it.

This way? Still works for our area.

PZZ545-031600-
POINT REYES TO PIGEON POINT TO 10 NM-
858 PM PDT WED OCT 2 2013

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PDT THURSDAY


TONIGHT
NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 6 FT.
W SWELL 6 TO 8 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

Yes, but I noticed that a lot of, or most always of, the time the "point & click" weather forecast option which includes the weather graph option to break down the forecast on an hourly basis is not working for the northern waters. Like if you click on the water off Trinidad all you get is the general forecast of the waters out to 10nm. But if you click on the town of Trinidad you can get the separate am & pm forecasts with the link to the weather graph & hour by hour info. Maybe NOAA does this because the weather off the Cape & north is so unpredictable?

I don't know why they stopped here. Thanks for the clarification about where the forecast is available in the old familiar format.

Lots of good advice here. Swell size is important, but unless it's really large (don't go out), wind is usually a greater concern. A big open ocean swell with a long period can be very fishable, and safe, as long as your launch is protected. Also be careful of a mixed swell, as the combination can make for some nasty random choppy conditions. If conditions seem marginal but worth a try, paddle out in a direction where the wind will be at your back on the return. If you have to claw your way back home, you don't want the wind and swell in your face.

I agree that the most uncomfortable days are those with mixed short swells - like 6' at 8 secs, but from two different directions.  Not necessarily unsafe, but I just wind up half woozy, not able to find the rhythm.  Wind over about 8 K and rising is not worth it for me.  If I fished the north coast, I couldn't be so picky.