Otter Cove 11/08/06

I went shorefishing at Corral St Beach yesterday and the conditions were summerlike.  So much so that it inspired me to make a plan to go out this morning and even to borrow another yak and take my Dad out for his first ever kayak fishing experience.  Late last night a pretty big front rolled in prompting small crafts for most of the coast in this area  ..  but not for Monterey Bay.  I was skeptical about what we would find when we got to Otter Cove, though.

Sure enough it was nasty.  The tide was really high and there was surf breaking on the beach at the bottom of the stairs.  I told my Dad we better forget it and check out Lover's Point or maybe even go home.  This is where the story gets weird because he says "You don't think we can make that?"  I say "Well . .maybe we could but . . ."

So we decide to launch.  I carried the yaks and gear down to the tiny beach area and set up his boat.  I then told him that he should get his yak lined up and wait and then I would launch him when the time was right.  Lesson #1 when dealing with first timers . . BE SPECIFIC!   He lined up his yak, alright . .but with the bow in the water and the stern on the beach.  Before I could even yell to him it was too late.  He had gotten himself between the boat and the shore, too . .so he took quite a pummelling as he washed into a rock and the yak repeatedly battered him. 

This is where the story gets even wierder.  He wants to try again.  This time we are successfull . .or so I think.  My instructions to him where to "paddle your arse off as soon as I launch you".  Well . . .he did for a few yards but then stopped.  I started yelling at him to PADDLE HARD!  PADDLE HARD! but he could not hear me.  He saw the wave about to break just before it crashed on him and he instinctively paddled into it.  It broke on him but did not knock him off the boat . .thankfully.  A 4 footer right in the kisser.

I then launched - getting out OK and paddling quickly to catch up with him.  To my surprise he was actually stoked.  "Did you see that?!?" he yelled to me as I paddled up.  So we started to fish and it was pretty slow.  A few blues and kelps but that was it.  We had been out for about 2 hours and my Dad was just getting the hang of fishing from the yak when the wind picked up heavy and cold.  It went from nothing to 10-15 in like 2 seconds.  So we decided to head in and had fun riding the wind and swell back to the launch.

Here's another unfortunate turn of events.  The tide was even higher now and the waves even bigger.  I told my Dad "We can either try to land or head for Lover's Point and walk for the car".  He said as long as I would take the gear he wanted to try and land . .so that's what we did.   I went first and it started off OK .. but I was not fast enough and got caught in a 4 foot wave headed for an exposed rock . .which I hit.  I  spun off the rock and got sideways in the next wave and skidded onto the beach and quickly dragged the yak up the now almost non-existant beach.  No yard sale .. but now I had a problem.  Before we landed we made a plan.  I would watch the waves and give him a hand signal when it was time for him to go.  Unfortunately we did not make a hand signal for "Forget it and go to Lover's Point and I'll meet you there".   As it turns out . .he did not see what had happened to me when I landed.

I knew any gesture on my part would start him paddling so I tried to time it the best I could.  He was pretty slow on the way in and did indeed get caught up in a nice surfing sized breaker.  He rode it like a champ, though . .perfectly straight and I grabbed the handle of his yak and dragged it up the beach.   As he was getting out a really big wave came in and starting taking the other yak .. filled with gear . .out to sea.  I ran for it and caught up to it no problem.  I turned back just in time to see the next wave of the set pummel my Dad as he was still struggling to get out of the yak.  So I ran back and helped him up . .this time no rocks . .just sand. 


Here's a few pictures I took after we landed.

Glad you both made it back safe......I've learned my lesson...foolishly seeking for Salmon at Linda Mar a few years back. Seeing those pics that you posted, I would have gone to a lake instead  White water is just a bad sign 

but..... sometimes you just have to push a little to gain experience and to learn your limitations 

Lotsa foam in the water down there...  You sure that was your dad and not some spirit-dude that Carlos Castaneda would've written about?  Glad you guys had an adventure and got back intact.   

Chris,

It looks like it was really nasty out there today.  Your dad impresses me with his attitude and I am glad you both made it back safely. 

Your experience brings up one of my concerns with regard to fishing/kayaking with others.  I am guessing if you were on your own, you probably would not have launched, easy desision you have proabably made many times.  Peer pressure can make us do things we might not do otherwise.  Additionally there is the excitement of fishing together and a greater investment to get there (for two people than for one) and therefore more incentinve to go anyway.  When fishing with others whether they are more or less experienced that oneself we are somewhat responsible for those we are with as well as ourselves.  This can work two ways depending if you are the more experienced one or the less experienced one, finding your self in conditions over your ability or finding yourself with someone else who is over their ability.  Neither is a really good situation to be in for either party.  We can not always be there to help out like in a surf landing situation.  The fact that you were successful and landed safely today probably had a lot to do with you and your fathers attitude but thay may have also been the main cause for being in those conditions anyway.

I am not in any way intending to be critial of your decision to go but want to provide food for thought.  I think what I am trying to say is that a decision to go or no go is more difficult with more people and especially if they are of different abilities.  We should be aware of this especially if you are the more experienced one, since you have the frame of reference and better knowledge of what might happen.

I hope we get a chance to fish together again before the end of the season and you move.  I was actually thinking of trying som crabbing off Del Monte Beach this weekend, depending on conditions.  What kayak did your dad end up using?  Last time we spoke you were thinking of borrowing my tandum.

I am guessing if you were on your own, you probably would not have launched, easy desision you have proabably made many times. 

Actually I would've done it . . but I wouldn't have selected it for a first-timer!  It was nasty but not "major injury" nasty.  More like "wet and possibly scraped" nasty.  One thing I did underestimate was how a first time yakker doesn't realize certain things like . . .not to put the bow of the yak into breaking surf and then stand behind it . .lol . . I've only been yakking 1 year but I forgot how awkward I was my first time on the water. 

BTW - We did turn back from Coral St this morning because that was definetly too dangerous.  No peer pressure from Dad on that one, either.

And I think AbKing was right because my Father is not a risk-taking adrenaline guy . . . .at all. 

I'm up for some yak fishing . .just ping me whenever.  I probably won't move until at least January.  I've been concentrating my efforts on lakes and streams lately but would be up for at least 1 more ling hunt this season.

I actually borrowed Sin_Coast's yak and my Dad was in my Prowler.  PK . . . .uhm . .sorry about crashing your yak into a rock.  Let me know if you sink next time you try to use it and I will . . .uhmm . .appologize profusely.  Just kidding, of course . . your yak is fine.

I saw the date on the post and said to myself that it wasn't possible with the way the bay looked this afternoon.  Goodness!!!!!  Glad it was merely an adventure.

The forecast looks a bit interesting for the next few days..............

The forecast looks a bit interesting for the next few days..............

Indeed . .I would like to practice surf launch/landing if anybody is up for it.  Del Monte SB should be great . . and can always move towards Seaside if Del Monte is not big enough.  We can stow rods and if we happen to make it we can fish for halibut.  Anybody?  I know I personally can't do it right now .  . but I believe Marina SB can and should be launched!

The whole time I'm reading...I am thinking, "OK. This is the part where my kayak sinks..." LOL!
Just kidding buddy!

I'm glad you got your dad out there and caught some fish. Too bad he didn't go out with us a month ago when it was waterski flat and we were catching 40+ fish.

Marina SB will have a gnarly shorebreak this wknd. I wouldn't go anywhere near there. But if you choose to launch at Lovers or Del Monte you can certainly borrow my yak again. I want your dad to catch a huge lingcod or halibut or something! And I'll be busy entertaining my parents this wknd so I can't go yak fishing. Might take my dad up to Los Padres for a couple hours Saturday but sans kayak.

Abking...I'm loving the Carlos Castaneda reference!

Thanks for the report,
PK

Marina always has a nasty shorebreak.  In my wildest dreams I might become a good enough kayaker to launch Marina on a nice day in August.  Think of the rewards if you could pull it off, though.   Thanks again for the loaner and of course my yak is yours to borrow if you ever need it.

I went to Fishermans Wharehouse today and got some stuff to try out Ling trolling.  I might try to get out this weekend . . . maybe Sunday.  My Dad says he's never kayaking fishing again, though.  Oddly it has nothing to do with the surf launch/landing . .he just felt too constrained fishing in a kayak.  Go figure . .I much prefer ocean kayak fishing to ocean skiff fishing for just that reason.  Being constrained means I'm not being tossed around the boat all day.   



 

I have launched marina state beach a few times  =)
usually end up swimming a bit in the proccess and get quite a cheering crowd every time I wipe out but its a blast.  get out past the breakers then turn around and surf back in  =)
and this is in my malibu 2

I have 1 or 2 friends who I actually go tandem style surfing too.  they all swim real good too  =)

never tried it with more than my paddle and pfd though
don't think I would want to try it with fishin gear  unless it was fairly flat. 

When in doubt; wuss out! That's my motto and I am sticking to it!

Kayak fisherman don't usually consider a helmet as part of standard equipment. What these guys were doing definatly requires a helmet.

Am I wrong about that? Do you guys all carry helmets in the surf zone?

When in doubt; wuss out! That's my motto and I am sticking to it!

Yea.Me too.

When in doubt; wuss out! That's my motto and I am sticking to it!

Yea.Me too.

....I think the best line I heard was from the movie "The Perfect Storm"....when they all voted to go to the Flemish Cap...but half way there, the Capt decided it was too dangerous. The crew was dissappointed but the Capt reassured them with this line....."The fish will gather again for the Andrea Gail" I LOVE THAT LINE...too bad they never made it back 

Kayak fisherman don't usually consider a helmet as part of standard equipment. What these guys were doing definatly requires a helmet.

Am I wrong about that? Do you guys all carry helmets in the surf zone?

I wear a helmet when I feel it's appropriate. So rafting all Class IV WW, and all WW kayaking. Kayak surfing, quite possibly, depending on conditions. But practically never when just transitioning through the surf zone during launching and landing. In fact, if conditiions were such that I felt it necessary to wear a helmet to transit surf, I wouldn't be in a SOT, I'd be paddling in a SIK.

Scott