GS9 - Super Long Report on Page 61 - NCKA Rules!

In the spirit of the new tournament regulations, there will NOT be a rockfish side bet this year.

However, pending Eric's approval, I will have a big fish jackpot for Friday and Saturday. I will take $10 bets  if there is any interest. Each day there will be a big fish jackpot like on a charter boat. Winner must have the longest fish each day. All fish species (including sharks) are legal. I will not be going camp to camp to collect money. You have to bring the bet to me at site #37 (on the way to the restroom). I don't expect a huge jackpot. I don't want to measure a bunch of fish, so it will be on the honor system. Just have somebody else in the bet witness your measurement. Thanks everyone. Good luck.

wow, there are just so many ways to win…..or in my case lose. no matter, once my flip-flops hit the sand,.i have already won.

wow, there are just so many ways to win…..or in my case lose. no matter, once my flip-flops hit the sand,.i have already won.

Yep. I'm gonna compete but really just need a break from this work thing. 

Assess yourself.  What do you know about the buoys and dangerous reef areas just offshore at the Cove?  Picture yourself having to launch in pea soup and find your way to where you want to go, or, even worse, picture yourself encountering pea soup that sets in while you're out there.

You MUST have the tools to navigate in zero viz - no question about it.  You MUST have a basic understanding of the layout of the Cove and where you would need to go in order to safely return ashore.  You MUST have as much redundancy in your navigational, communications and other gear as you can - I carry 2 compasses, 1 GPS and 3 VHF's, plus other gear like extra paddle, water, flares, first aid kit...etc.

Here are some pieces to get you started on your study session for the Cove:

- what direction is it, precisely, from the launch to the Bell Buoy?
- what direction is it, precisely, from the Bell to the Whistle?
- what points of shore and shallow reef would factor in if you land in pea soup and need to get back to launch?

Before you get to the Cove, even if you've already been there, please study the maps and nautical charts -

After reading Eric's admonitions I purchased a basic Suunto compass  for 15 bucks and downloaded the Shelter Cove chart (18620) from here:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/PDFs.shtml
My fish finder has charts and GPS, my VHF  has GPS and DSC.  Got a whiste abd signed up on a team. Hopefully ready to to participate in GS9

After reading Eric's admonitions I purchased a basic Suunto compass  for 15 bucks and downloaded the Shelter Cove chart (18620) from here:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/PDFs.shtml
My fish finder has charts and GPS, my VHF  has GPS and DSC.  Got a whiste abd signed up on a team. Hopefully ready to to participate in GS9

Thanks for the link! and thanks to Eric for encouraging us to take time to think about what they are about to get themselves into. 

Besides the GPS on the FF, I've got a Ritchie dash mount compass installed.  On my PFD I have pinned to the top of the shoulder, a zenon Divemaster safety strobe.  Also, a mirror, whistle and dive knife are on the vest and my VHF radio is tethered so I can't accidentally drop it.   

All those things aren't so I can go out in any conditions.  Those are for, hopefully, getting back when the conditions deteriorate. 

Safety is always #1 on my mind, especially since I am deaf. I keep a VHF radio with DSC emergency button. I also keep a ResQLink ACR Emergency PLB on me. I consider them essential since I cannot communicate with responders through VHF radio.

- what direction is it, precisely, from the launch to the Bell Buoy?
- what direction is it, precisely, from the Bell to the Whistle?
- what points of shore and shallow reef would factor in if you land in pea soup and need to get back to launch?

Every time I guide at the Cove I give all the info I can about all of this, and I'll talk about much of this at the group safety meeting Friday evening at 5PM at the launch, the evening before the tourney.

Since this is my first time at Shelter Cove, to some extent I am relying on guidance from my sponsor and others to learn the important safety issues. As of this moment I don't know how to get to and back from the fishing areas because I don't know where the fishing areas are. Can you do an online version of the safety meeting? The more time the better. The safety gear I pretty much have in order. Navigation is where I need to study up. You never know what might happen to leave you alone out there. The more details I can get ahead of time the more familar I will be with the navigation requirements. Especially, where not to go. Thanks for keeping everyone safe.

Just got off the river and will followup with some info later.

I will say this:  the powerboats head SSE out of the harbor until about 1/3 of the way to the Bell before adjusting their course to go out to the SW.  That is what we need to do as kayakers too.  Trouble for yaks in the past has been in close from in front of the hotels to out from the lighthouse - that is the area to avoid.  I advise that you adopt this general rule:  paddle from launch SSE toward the Bell, always staying on the east side of Pilot Rock, and don't turn SW to head to the Whistle or go out front until you're well on your way to the Bell. 

Ed - that sounds great. 

I think I can see the problem area.

Thanks for the maps! I'm going to have the one from Traildad laminated and attached to the back of my bait board.

I Zod Out

Good map.   

Good map.   

Navionics mobile. I have it on my iPhone also. The little reddish square x marks are rocks. The oval with the hash marks is a shipwreck.

I also like the compass measurement tool.

I just paddled over all of that all day!  It's a trip to look at that map and think of all the places I've caught fish there.  The Cove rules.

I'll have to get me some of them fancy maps at some point.   

Keep on studying.