Mooch was watching over us, or teaching us a lesson...

Take a banana along.  Heard the potasium helps to prevent cramping .... and catching fish.  I too get cramps.  Got one in Monterey about a month ago when I jumped in to help load my daughters on the AI tramps by MBK beack to keep from beaching the yak.  Just as I realized I was too deep to jump in (with legs already in the water), I cramped up & it was all I could do to re-board the kayak in 8' of water.

  Taking a banana along.  I heard taking along a fishing trip is bad luck. 
  We use to all gang up on a new guy when we see him with a banana.  Everyone else would jump of him for bringing the damn banana.  Comment would always be “AWE SHIIIIT,  NOW OUR WHOLE DAM TRIP IS JINX.  THERE GOES THE DAY.  HAVEN’T YOU HEARD THAT BRING BANANA TO A FISHING IS BAD LUCK?”.  Drives the new guys crazy.  Usually ends with an apology mode before we let him off the hook.  Fun trick to pull.  But everyone else had to be in on it.     

The cramps might have something to do with what you're eating (or not eating prior to--and during kayaking). I used to fish all day without eating anything, but my muscles would cramp up really bad by the time I got off the water. I believe it was due to lack of potassium or other essential nutrients. Now i force myself to take a break and eat/drink something if I plan to be OTW for a long time.

The cramps might have something to do with what you're eating (or not eating prior to--and during kayaking). I used to fish all day without eating anything, but my muscles would cramp up really bad by the time I got off the water. I believe it was due to lack of potassium or other essential nutrients. Now i force myself to take a break and eat/drink something if I plan to be OTW for a long time.

My thoughts exactly. When I find I am not eating or drinking is when I cramp.

Sitting side saddle, and cross-legged for a bit helps me.  I can't stand sitting on one position for a whole day on the water.  Even a slight position change helps keep the blood flowing.

sorry for the late reply. thanks herb for posting this up. and thank you for all the well wishers. the one reply that really hit home was . glad you guys didnt die. I will be making it a mission to practice self rescue. that day I was dressed only in dry pants and a splash top. unfortunately being immersed in that water for a brief 3 minutes already sapped all the energy out of me. and trying to flip my 85lb kayak over sapped out even more energy. going on 3 hours of sleep probably didnt help. and after a long day of paddling needless to say I was already tired. that is no excuse. I thank God for the help and Mooch for watching over us. and the boater Mike for saving my big ass. im truly thankful and glad to be alive. and for herb for talking me through the ordeal. time to start lifting again as I couldnt believe an 85 lb yak would be difficult for me to flip right side up. more so when you have no leverage. I did have my radio but as I hit the water it popped off I will tether it from now on. it see, s I tipped because I over extended just a bit. but it wss enough to scare me. not enough to keep me off my yak but enough. and I will now wear my dry suit I also have ordered underarmour cold gear to wear beneath some fleece. looking for polartec stuff. id rather be hot as hell than experience that freezing cold again. the splash top didnt do anything but let the cold ass water onto my delicate skin  thzt taught me a well deserved lesson. thank you all for the well wishers.

for the cramping. water and food even if it is just power bars does help. I also take pottassium gluconate the night before and morning of. helps with blood flow. also because I sweat alot ive found gatorade and a liter of water normally helps but the day I went out I forgot my water in the fridge. so 2 bottles of gatorade had to do.

thanks again everyone,

vin

ps maybe ill change my display name to capt. capsize. 

It's good to see you back on the saddle.  I was beginning for worry about you there.  Let's make an effort to do all these safety prepairness.  Still can't figure the manual on my VHF.

sorry herb been busy. I still hsve to read my manuals for the lowrance. need to buy a compact compass also for my vest. I think ill be sewing a strap to my pfd so it doesnt slip.

Glad you guys made it back ok. HMB scares me specially on foggy days. There's a shallow area between the jaws of the harbor and the green can that produces some steep rollers on low tides. You can actually see the pinnacle sticking up on low tide days. Always be prepared and dont be afraid to call it off if you think its questionable.

- the Other Herb -

Hello other Herb. And now it is official, there are two Herbs in the club. Not only that, there are now two Daly City Herbs. How about that. We will have to do some fishing sometime to get to know each other.  I actually like the pinnacles. There are some great blue cod spots to the left of the pinnacle. But the last two trips nothing was biting in that spot.

Wow, cool everything turned out OK.
I learned my lesson at the cold waters of Albion,
 lesson 1 use a proper fitting PFD.
 lesson 2 do not wear a fleece under splash/ dry top, when it gets wet, it gets heavy and makes for more difficult re-entry to kayak
lesson 3 do not put leashes on fishing poles, net, etc. they just get on the way when you try to get back on the kayak. now i use pool noodles to keep them floating.
some other things i learned was to put my feet on the water if you are trying to help someone, it keeps you better balance.
I also learned years ago that if you drink a lot of caffeine you may get cramps so eat a lot of bananas and drink a lot of water to reduce the chances of cramps.
don't forget the plastic whistle, they are cheap and attach to your pfd.

somebody told me also not to put a rope to the fishing pole. He did not say why. What you said made sense. I think I will put one of those pipe insulation on the fishing pole instead. A little bit smaller in diameter.

Another trouble that Vin had, was that his PDF was too lose. It was hanging too high in the water.

I wear fleece under my paddle suit and it is fine. It is cotten that gets heavy and looses insulation. I leash everything, and I mean everything. I use either coiled plastic or retractable cords. I have flipped with 4 leashed rods and no problems climbing back in. I have seen people get tangled in rope leashes if they are too long.

I think besides being dressed for immersion the other lesson is don't panic. When you end up in the water, the first thing is to take a deep breath and compose yourself. Then assess your situation and make a plan then execute the plan. This is particularly important in the surf zone where climbing back in may not be the best plan. When you panic, it keeps you from executing the self rescue steps properly. I have seen a lot of people struggle to self-rescue on the ocean over the last 10 years and the reasons are as follows:
1. Never learned self-rescue or haven't practiced it recently
2. Overweight or out of shape
3. Panic

Believe me the OG's are just as guilty as newbies as far as self-rescue. If you are properly dressed and have the skill, flipping over should not be a life threatening situation or even end your day of fishing. I flipped at the jaws of Moss Landing when a PB waked me. I self rescued and paddled 8 miles to the Pajaro and fished for 5 hours and paddled back. Even went for another swim at the Pajaro because there was water in my hull which I didn't know and it destablized the yak. Etienne thought it was pretty funny. 

Dehydration will cause cramping. Drink lots of fluids (non alcohol).

We will have to do some fishing sometime to get to know each other.  I actually like the pinnacles. There are some great blue cod spots to the left of the pinnacle. But the last two trips nothing was biting in that spot.

Definitely bro. Crab season is just around the corner. We usually do a combo crabbing/fishing trips. And yes, that pinacle can produce some big fish. A friend of mine caught a 21"ish Black RF around that area last time (Thats big for a HMB blacks). But I still avoid that area.

lesson 3 do not put leashes on fishing poles, net, etc. they just get on the way when you try to get back on the kayak. now i use pool noodles to keep them floating.

+1. The only thing I leash is my mirage drive when not in use (landing/launching). Pool noodles on my rods and net. You really don't need a thin diameter one. There is a way to use/attach even the bulkiest pool noodle without getting in your way when casting.


Herb Superb

  Is there a way to get the clip full of fish back to the rear well.  I  tried to lift the fish up with my body turned.  I never knew my head was over the side of the kayak when I lost it. 
  When paddle back, the fish clip was in the water dragging me to a crawl.  Since I lost it working on the clip, I did not want to try to reach back to cut the cord.  I was by myself then.  Losing it then would be bad news.
  I did came home with 9 RF, 1 good size Cabbie.  Vin lost his catch.