HMB Saturday first time ocean. need guide.

You can get by without a fishfinder for a little while by using a GPS app on your smartphone.  It'll give you basic locations and depths for HMB, but also have at least a compass.

My Chartplotter bombed out on me as I was leaving the harbor this past sunday, lost all satelite connection.  I downloaded the Navionics App on my phone and was surprised at the level of detail in the mapping. $15 bucks for the download but I was able to bump around in the fog for a couple hours, it saved the day for me. 

You can get by without a fishfinder for a little while by using a GPS app on your smartphone.  It'll give you basic locations and depths for HMB, but also have at least a compass.

My Chartplotter bombed out on me as I was leaving the harbor this past sunday, lost all satelite connection.  I downloaded the Navionics App on my phone and was surprised at the level of detail in the mapping. $15 bucks for the download but I was able to bump around in the fog for a couple hours, it saved the day for me.

Not meaning to thread jack but... same thing happened to me on Veteran's Day!  My FF battery was dying at the end of the day, so I quickly marked my crab traps on my phone.  My phone got me to my pots and the day ended with 9 keepers.  Always have a Plan B!

Thanks everyone for the kind responses. I have always believe you should never underestimate the water. I think i will either go out there on Saturday but just stay within the harbor fish a little, paddle a little to get the feel for it. Maybe dunk myself and feel the water. Or maybe leave my kayak at home and just fish from the jettys and observe the conditions and people.

Any tips for fishing in the harbor? Good spots for crabs/fish?
Any tips if i do decide to just fish from the jettys?

The vhf radio will be the first thing i get when i have money. I don't want to get a garbage one, nor to i want to spend money on features i do not need. Any recommendations? Of corse preferably a waterproof/floating one.

Thanks in advance

+1 on all the comments regarding a VHF; for HMB a VHF is not optional.

You can find all of my HMB lessons at this link.  That was my maiden voyage and I thought I was taking it slow.   
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=56130.0

Thanks piscis great writeup, i was reading that thread right before you responded here. That's good stuff.

Late update: saturday. I ended up leaving the yak at home. Fished off the north jetty. Long walk and had a hard time climbing the rocks. Roughed up my shin. Spent abount an hr and a half. Didn't get anything. Waves were big. But i did see some dolphins in the wild for the first time. The harbor looks like a great place to train for the big blue. Im glad i did not go out that day.

Went to pacifica next. It was shoulder to shoulder packed! Fish/crabbed for about half hr. Got annoyed because everyone was crossing lines.

Headed to oyster pt next fished for a few hrs. About 12 people there. I didn't get anything, but saw 3 keeper halibut landed. Biggest was 34" 14lbs. I wanted one so bad, but no luck.

Anyways, putting hmb aside, i looked up capitola, it looks like a nice place to start. Short paddle from beach, calmer. Would you guys agree?

I want to get a vhf radio soon, don't want to spend more than about $130, i know i need at least 3w. But i read a lot of them are not water proof, just splash proof, the last thing i need is a radio that gets water damage when im in trouble. Can anyone recommed me one? Or have a used one for sale?

There are usually sales on VHFs on black friday. Get a Standard horizon if it is in your price range.

Capitola has parking issues and sometimes in the winter get's enough surf to be an issue and is sharky. MBK or the CG station has better parking less/no surf and a short paddle to the kelp. Bushy guides those areas. There won't be many days that the WX will be good enough for a first ocean trip this year. If there is, there will probably be a hookup posted. Sign up for Crabfest. It's a good place to meet people and practice self rescue and surf launching/landing. There will be be extra crab gear people can loan you. Crazy fun event even if you don't catch any crab.

I fish out of capitola a lot. You do have to drop off you're kayak and go park up the hill. For sure not as convenient as most places but it's not to bad. It is all beach break so you don't have to paddle out through any waves and with smaller swell is very easy. If some large swell is rolling in I would absolutely avoid it though. Drop me a PM some time if you want to give it a shot. As long as the swell isn't to big it's a good beginner spot. I got a standard horizon also and would recommend it.

Brian

So an update: i decided to hold off on ocean kayaking until i learn enough of what needs to be learnt. Waiting for the weather to warm a little to go to a local lake to do some self rescue training, and done bass fishing.

Im looking to get some tutorial, but not necessarily take a class, as id like to work with an instructor 1 on 1 or a small group so we can go over all the safety stuff like self rescue, gearing, paddling, etc. Preferably someone who also into kayak fishing. Is there anyone on this board that provides that kind of service? If so please pm me with your rates, etc.

Also, to add, i am out of san jose, so im thinking either hmb or santa cruz area would be nice.

That is a good idea that you are holding off. You should join up on the CCK 3/7 class. We just took one about a week ago. I can't emphasize enough on it. It was the best $120.00 I ever spent. We got to practice self rescue in the harbor and a surf launch. I do recommend wearing a 5mm farmer John. It was a little bit Chilly.  Take the class first, and then work on a one to one later on. There is just so much information in the class. You can save yourself a lot of time.

Keep an eye out for power boaters at HMB and anywhere for that matter, especially at the jaws, most are cool but some are complete a-holes and will dump you if your not aware.....keep an eye out on your 6 o-clock when you hear a boat. My 2 cents.