How big is too big?

If the wind is 5kts or less and you have a protected launch, how big is too big?  Mixed swell would change the calculus as well I would think.

Whatever you feel comfortable with.

What I can safely handle.  I went out with someone once out of Oyster Point and it was choppy as could be, the waves weren't huge, but after a solid 45 minutes of paddling we weren't making much progress and called it a day.  Just wasn't worth the effort.  Been out at HMB with larger swell and rode it out fine, and other days said no way.

8-10ft. is tough to keep your offering near bttom long enough to get seen/bit.

,,but 10 ft @ 10seconds(or less) is a very nasty combo i won't even go look at.

Its sooo fun riding the big waves! But wind I don't like.

So many variables...swell height/period/direction....mixed swell...wind strength/direction....location...how well you know the area...paddlers level of comfort/experience...

A call each person needs to make for themselves, but it is always better to be safe than sorry...if you get to the beach (or even launch out!) and it sucks and doesn't feel right, paddle back in, enjoy the beach and/or head home.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

As far as swell alone, I find that fishing get annoying before I start to feel uncomfortable. It's hard to fish when your bobbing up and down 8-10 feet. Imagine what your offering must look like if you're trolling!

Wind is another story, as are confused seas (mixed swells).

Imagine what your offering must look like if you're trolling!

It would have more action and tantalizing to the fish!

I can tell you that on the opener at Timber Cove I found myself getting a little uncomfortable.  Not from a safety stand point but I'm fairly sure that the swell got a bit bigger than what was forecasted.  I saw some mighty big waves come at me while I was out there.  Evan kept getting hung up and breaking off so much from the swell causing his jig to lay on the bottom that I spent a lot of time retying his lures.  All that looking down and concentrating on my hands got me feeling a little queezy after a while.  Not so much that I needed to come in but enough to make it not so fun to be out there fishing. 

I wasn't the only one on the beach that felt that way either.  I agree, it's just something that each person needs to judge for themselves upon arriving at the launch.  Make the decision then based on your gut feeling.

When the swell is bigger than your boat is long... Took the 13' Raptor out for it's maiden voyage in swells that were around 14'. That was hairy!

14' swells .... come on ..... 

14' swells .... come on .....

 
Albion 2010 there was a 10'+ like playing see saw to a person next to you, you hear your kayak swooshing on the swell like you are surfing....That was fun. NOT!!!

14' swells .... come on .....

They weren't forecasted to get that big and it went from 8' to 14' in about an hour. We made it to the spot and turned around and came back in.

14' swells .... come on .....

 
Albion 2010 there was a 10'+ like playing see saw to a person next to you, you hear your kayak swooshing on the swell like you are surfing....That was fun. NOT!!!

Aw come on...I only puked about 3 times that day   Honestly in a sick way, that was one of the funniest times I've had on a kayak  

14' swells .... come on .....

 
Albion 2010 there was a 10'+ like playing see saw to a person next to you, you hear your kayak swooshing on the swell like you are surfing....That was fun. NOT!!!

10' with a decent period is pretty doable. Most of our swell stay at 6.5'+ down here in SLO. I guess it's all about where you're at and how comfortable you feel. Most of our landings are in protected coves thankfully.