Bean Hollow this Sat. 8/26 anyone?

I guess I missed the slug fest last weekend; it sounded like everyone had a great time.  Finally got a free weekend to fish.  Been thinking about Bean Hollow since it was so good last week.  Hope Sat. will be as calm as last weekend.   Never fish there before.  Need some expert advice on were to fish.  Anybody interested?

I'd be interested though I've never paddled there before either.

Forecast doesn't look too good for that spot, the south swell could bomb the cove with sleeper waves.   I'd take a good look at the surf, figure it'll get 30% worse by the time you come in, then decided if you want to do it or divert to HMB or another more protected spot.

On the other hand, bean hollow on a sorta rough day is a great place to practice landing since there aren't rocks about to really mess you up when you fall in. 

I have a clinic this weekend, so i won't make it up there.  I thought about Friday, but work is getting rough, and I'd better show up.

While fantasizing, I though about what I'd do if I could make it  up there, and if the swell was up....

My strategy would be to go very minimal, just one rod, no crate, safety equipment and gaff  and clip only.  Artificials only, no bait, just megas and swimbaits....Minimalize.

I'd stow my rod and (small) tackle box for the launch and recovery, wear my wetsuit,  just bull my way out, and pray my way back in.

I was not going to use a FF, even. 

If you go straight out from the beach and work the area of 40-70 FOW, work off the rocky points on each end of the bveach or even straight out in front you will get plenty of fish, including lings and cabezon, as long as the swell doesn't drive them to deeper water.  If not catching, go deeper.  Tons of fish there last weekend, they are likely to stick around. 

Good luck and remember to unclip your paddle when landing!

Allen

For the record, Ethan and I launched and landed successfully (albiet stressfully) in a 10-12' swell.   This weekend should be less than that.  Since the break is short, even if the surf is huge you can generally zip in and out between the waves rather than have to punch through several like at linda-mar.  That makes the whole theory of the bean hollow launch/landing different.  Coming in backwards will not work well and you need to be decisive and fast in crossing the surf zone.  Because the beach goes from suicidal to fairly easy (when understood) in a short distance, this is a very good place to practice surf skills.  Start at the end and practice launching/landing as you work your way to the middle and see where, why and how you wipe out. 

I've never seen anybody successfully launch or land from the middle of the beach, so launching/landing should only be done at the north or south edge depending on which way the swell is coming in.  Getting lazy and trying to land close to the parking lot is a 100% losing proposition.

Usually pescadero is a little easier getting in/out than bean hollow, but the south swell will probably make this weekend an exception - and the pescadero boulderfield is not a good place to fall in with rough surf.

Here are a couple photos.  Note how the break is only a couple yak-lengths from the sand.  That last photo is a sleeper wave that tossed Ethan's kayak end over end with him still on it.   I've only seen sleeper waves on that particular day, so they aren't much of a worry unless there is a small craft advisory and it's a low tide.  Note that we launched and landed fine dispite these conditions.

Good launch!

Not so good launch:

Best bet: abandon ship!

GREAT PHOTOS That place gives me the heebee jeebees 

I think we should have a "surf kayak launch & land" contest at the "Hollow"  - when the conditions are at it's worst  Anyone up for that? JTF????

Remember on the launch,  when you are taking a wave in the face, lift your arms up so the paddle does not catch the wave and start to turn you.

-Brian G

Will you leave to me your floating lip grip, Mooch????

Yeah, I tried to get eaten by a sleeper wave like ethan did, but the ocean didn't oblige.  I did get airborn off a couple, but they didn't pitch over enough to flip me over.  It's pretty fun, sort of like a kayak rodeo.

The conditions are at their worst in the middle of the beach pretty much every day.  It is more fun to get knocked down farther out than do an endo and get pile driven into the sand though.

>Remember on the launch,  when you are taking a wave in the face, lift your arms up so the paddle does not catch the wave and start to turn you.

And remember to move the paddle out of the way if you're catapulted through the air towards a headfirst entry.  It's natural to keep holding your arms out when you dive, but the paddle will stop a lot quicker than your face will.

GREAT PHOTOS That place gives me the heebee jeebees 

I think we should have a "surf kayak launch & land" contest at the "Hollow"  - when the conditions are at it's worst  Anyone up for that? JTF????

Sounds like fun! 

the south swell is quite south, 200 degrees. so it's possible that pigeon point itself will shield the hollow somewhat
this weekend, not to mention the cove arms themselves.  there should also be a good gap between sets, maybe
even 10 or 15 minutes.  best time to launch would be right after a good set.

likewise, there's a north swell from mendocino wind but it's super north, like 330 or something.

So I don't think it'll be too bad, but probably not cake like last weekend. stowing gear and unclipping paddles from leashes is probably wise. If you are driving down 1, I'd stop and look at it for sure.

J

Remember on the launch,  when you are taking a wave in the face, lift your arms up so the paddle does not catch the wave and start to turn you.

-Brian G

But don't do this until the last moment.  Up until that time you should be paddling HARD.  I see too many people let up way too early, their momentum slows, and they get pummelled!

-Allen

Great pictures. They remind me of Limekiln Surf that day. Sets of breaks were rolling in continuousely. I lost a few items. I valued these tips high.  Wish I would have known them then. Instead, I learned them in a hard way.

Fish is and will be there. If you can't get them now, wait and get them later.

Eric

Sunday looks a bit calmer...  3-5 NW and 2 S swells...  I'd be game for Sunday early - 7-ish, if anyone's up for it.   I won't mind getting pushed around landing - seems to happen half the time anyway.    Along with gear, I'd already have plenty of fish stowed by then I hope!

Well, thanks for all the tip.  I am still going.  I'll be there between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. Life's too short to be sitting around wishing I had gone fishing.  Getting a free pass to go fishing doesn't come often these days.  So, wish me luck My cell # is 510-299-4840.  Sorry, I don't have a VHF.

Eugene