Stupid El Niño

There was finally a window of good weather...on Friday when I had to work 10 hours....

I snuck out anyway for a night dive to look for stripers...didn't see any so shot a black and yellow off a reef at the end of the beach instead. 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2097

Weekend conditions weren't great but still looked ok...

Saturday I had to work OT so couldn't go.

Sunday I got greedy and went to an exposed area instead of the more sheltered areas that I have been forced to dive in all winter.

Launch went fine but once out on the water I could feel the power of the long period swell...and see it on the waves exploding on the shore and on underwater pinnacles and washrocks all around me...

Picked my way through the white water to an area I know and clipped up the yak to some kelp and jumped in...

Super surgy, ton of particulate matter in the water, bunch of sealions including one big bull cruising around...

Started hunting out a little deeper to try and find some fish...felt a big set coming through the water and looked up to see my yak getting POUNDED by a big wave. 

No clue how it didn't rip off the kelp or capsize...those kelp clips work great when you use them right on healthy kelp!! 

Booked it back to the yak, jumped in and get the heck out of there....

Next spot I spent some time finding a safer spot to secure the yak...no kelp here so had to bust out the anchor...ended up anchoring out in 50+ feet well away from any pinnacles and wash rocks.

Hunting was challenging to say the least...surge was strong and wasn't seeing anything real exciting and if I had it would have been hard to stay in place to shoot it anyway. 

Took a blue, a 27/28 inch Ling that swam right at me (and I still almost missed cuz of surge and him darting to the side right when I pulled the trigger), and got a cool 2For1 shot on two blues...which was really cool cuz the one I aimed at and shot was smaller than the one I hit behind it. 

 http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2114

Decided to not push it anymore, dove down and pulled the anchor and paddled back to an inlet I know that is usually very calm...it wasn't calm.

Took a small 16 inch cab and then carefully picked my way through the breakers back to the beach and dashed into shore between sets and landed safely without wiping out.

The Kraken 15.5 handled the conditions really well and I was glad to be on it and to have all my gear stowed safely inside the center hatch in case I got took out unexpectedly. 

Was totally exhausted and a little frustrated that I didn't get bigger/better fish, but it was still fun getting out there and giving it a shot, and in hindsight I probably should just be happy that I made it back to shore safe and sound. 

Here is a quick vid and some pics.



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Way to persevere and get out there on these not so welcoming windows.

It's getting a little frustrating brother 

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for the report and video, Jim, always interesting.  I
Part diving stud and part crazy man.

Holy poop Jim..those swell were nasty..watching that yak pitch and roll... .. but as always great video....you stud muffin 

Thanks for the report and video Jim.  You're a hard core diver!

Nice 2 for 1 shot.  Just a little choppy out there. 

those swells where nasty.

cool video of the kayak on the water.

Geezzz!  That's nasty!!!  Wonder if you can hunt the SC harbor entrance, since the boats aren't going in and out 

Super crazy out there, that yak is super stable even w/ no one in it. love the two for one, way to go.

That makes me miss my free diving days you got it in and it was a soup sandwitch out there you go with your bad self that's food. Love it good hunt man.

Burly conditions Jim, love the vid of your yak dancing!

BEAST MODE!
Pretty badass Jim.

Cool 2 for 1 shot, gotta have fun even if conditions are not good. But, We won't think less of you if you  decided No Go and hang on the Beach. It's OK to Beach it once in a while Mr BigJimBeastmanStudMuffin Diver  .  By the way did you give the furbag a bellyrub??

But, We won't think less of you if you  decided No Go and hang on the Beach. It's OK to Beach it once in a while Mr BigJimBeastmanStudMuffin Diver  . 

I agree 100% Russ...

I could have easily paddled a couple miles to a more sheltered area, or drove to a more sheltered launch...but honestly never really felt in danger, just had to keep on my toes (not letting surge take me into rocks, not cutting too close to pinnacles/washrocks while paddling like I have a bad habit of doing etc), and I didn't push depths/bottom times either.

The set that came through at the first area really surprised me...biggest one I saw all day to be honest...the next area was actually more exposed but I picked a better/deeper/further offshore spot to park the yak, and was checking on it after each drop...no problems at all.

In hindsight I should've launched from the more protected beach (would have been easier diving with better viz and less surge and less rough on topside as well, and I probably would have found more fish), but I know this area pretty well and felt confident that even if things got out of hand (like if wind or swell picked up...they were forecast to be dropping and wind going in the direction I needed to get back) I could escape to other beaches to land and be safe.

If I hadn't been studying the forecast and didn't know this area and the "plan b" escape routes, I def would have either sat out the dive or dove elsewhere.

 

I tried to give the furbag a bellyrub but he didn't want to play. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

You Sir, are an animal!!!