Maiden Voyage Report and Questions (Carmel)

Lost my kayak fishing virginity Saturday morning. Only success I had was not tipping over! Launched from Carmel Beach around 6:30am and quickly made my way to the inside kelp beds. Spent a while paddling around, shuffling positions, and grabbing/putting away gear in an effort to feel more comfortable. My seat (and butt), and lower legs were quickly wet due to water coming through the scupper holes and drips from paddling. I was wearing water-resistant pants and surf booties, which definitely helped, but my lower body was pretty soaked and cold after a 3.5 hours. Any way to mitigate these issues? Wetsuit? Water-proof pants? Can’t afford a drysuit.  I’m planning on getting scupper plugs, but the plugs I’ve seen online so far don’t seem to be the exact size as the scuppers on my yak (older Ocean Kayak Scrambler).

Started fishing around 7 and immediately realized that the wind (light SW) was pushing me very quickly, so I constantly had to reel in and paddle back into position. Is this standard? If not, how do I stay in position? Tie off to kelp? Drop an anchor? Couple guys out with the foot-paddle yaks were making it look easy!

All in all, it was a great first experience and I learned a lot. Definitely eager to get out and try it again. Thanks in advance for any advice/help you can offer! I’m sure most of these things have been discussed many times in previous threads, but I was having trouble finding info. 

You should always wear a wetsuit when you're out in the ocean

Sounds like a good learning experience.
1: dress for immersion, wetsuit, paddle suit or drysuit.  cost isn't an issue after hypothermia or worse...
2: don't plug scuppers in the ocean, they are there to keep the cockpit from filling with water.
3: drift is an issue, use heavier lures to keep the line close to vertical and its less of an issue as you can fish the drift instead of only fishing the first drop.


2c

Started fishing around 7 and immediately realized that the wind (light SW) was pushing me very quickly, so I constantly had to reel in and paddle back into position. Is this standard? If not, how do I stay in position? Tie off to kelp? Drop an anchor? Couple guys out with the foot-paddle yaks were making it look easy!

That was probably me and FA in blue Hobies? Come up and say"hello" next time. Always safer out in the ocean in numbers.
Definitely follow the advise from rockfish.
Drift is pretty normal, depending on what fish you're after and the type of rig you've got setup. I normally have 8-10oz sinkers.
 You can tie off to the kelp if you want to stay in the same spot. I personally like to drift or troll.
Remember, dress to immerse. Farmer John wetsuits are probably the most reasonable but your butt will still be wet. I've seen some people wear a wet suit inside a set of waders. lol!

Be safe!

If the drift is to much I like to grab a piece of kelp and just pinch it with my leg against the side of the kayak. That way I stay in place for a bit and it's easy to let go of if you need to just by lifting your leg then go find another piece of kelp, repeat.

I also second the use of a farmer John wetsuit. I mostly fish Sonoma/Mendocino area and even early in the morning I stay plenty warm even if my feet and legs get wet. A thin coat or pants over the wetsuit will keep you even much warmer than that if it is super windy and your suit gets wet. Anytime I wear much besides a light sweater outside my wetsuit I get overheated but sometimes it's nice early on

Like others have said, farmer john with windbreaker should keep you warm. And be sure that you can self-rescue and that you've got the essential safety gear. I'm sure you'll soon be killing plenty of rockfish and lingcod.

That was P-Sherman and myself you saw.  We have 2 blue Hobie Revo 13s.  You can tie your yak to the kelp and do kelp hole jumping.  You can buy a kelp clip or make your own to stay in place.  Don't use an anchor.  I like to use 1 oz weedless bass jigs with a 5 inch swim bait and drop it down.  Work the water column, the bigger fish tend to be closer to the bottom. Its common for school size RF to hit your jig on the up or down. 

Lately the best area is the outside edge of the kelp to about 100 ft out.  This is where a Hobie shines.  You can cover a lot of area and do hands free fishing.  A good FF is a big plus because the bottom changes rapidly and you can see school fish marks. 

Go get them!

This is excellent advice. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to offer up some advice.

FishingAddict and P-Sherman  - Yep, I saw you guys! Was closely watching in an effort to pick up some knowledge. As I said, you were making it look easy. Did you guys end up getting anything on Sat? I will absolutely come say hi next time.

Any recommendations on a farmer john?

Unless I know it's going to be warm enough that wet pants are welcome to cool me off I always wear pvc rain pants. They are pretty tough and keep me dry from paddle drip, water on or under the seat and anchor rope. I even wear them over my wet suit. They aren't too expensive and will keep you dry until you decide if you want to spend more for a dry suit.

Any recommendations on a farmer john?

anything w/in ur budget, 5mm.  2 way relief zipper helpful.  MBK will probably have some demo suits on sale.  if not obviously, just axe them to sell you one, if'n u want used

Drop an anchor?

No no and no! 

This is excellent advice. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to offer up some advice.

FishingAddict and P-Sherman  - Yep, I saw you guys! Was closely watching in an effort to pick up some knowledge. As I said, you were making it look easy. Did you guys end up getting anything on Sat? I will absolutely come say hi next time.

Any recommendations on a farmer john?

Fishing was a bit slow. I got lucky with a 33 inch ling and 5 RF.  P-Sherman got a nice ling too. After 9:30 am the bite died.  All I was catching was loose kelp floating around and conditions were getting sloppy. 
Go to MBK and try on a 3 mil Farmer John with a relief zip.  Check out the Mysterioso Fleece sweaters that keep you warm even if it gets wet.  I posted a report at the Members only Fishing Report, after you put in 10 posts and you can read them. 

Definitely going to check out the farmer john's. I've got numerous 3/2 and 4/3 wetsuits that I use for surfing. Was thinking about just using one of those, but the comfort zipper on a farmer john in the difference maker! One thing to pee in your suit when your surfing, but crosses a couple lines for me to pee in my suit while semi-dry on my yak! 

Fishing was a bit slow. I got lucky with a 33 inch ling and 5 RF.  P-Sherman got a nice ling too. After 9:30 am the bite died.  All I was catching was loose kelp floating around and conditions were getting sloppy. 
Go to MBK and try on a 3 mil Farmer John with a relief zip.  Check out the Mysterioso Fleece sweaters that keep you warm even if it gets wet.  I posted a report at the Members only Fishing Report, after you put in 10 posts and you can read them. 

Nice, FA! Knew I should have tried to model what you guys were doing! Let me know next time you are coming into the area.

Fishing was a bit slow. I got lucky with a 33 inch ling and 5 RF.  P-Sherman got a nice ling too. After 9:30 am the bite died.  All I was catching was loose kelp floating around and conditions were getting sloppy. 
Go to MBK and try on a 3 mil Farmer John with a relief zip.  Check out the Mysterioso Fleece sweaters that keep you warm even if it gets wet.  I posted a report at the Members only Fishing Report, after you put in 10 posts and you can read them.

Nice Ling.  That pict really shows just how massive their mouths are.  Regular eating machines!

I have a Revo-16 and would love to see some pix of how you're rigging yours for fishing.  I'm happy to share some pix of what I've done to mine so far, but I haven't had time to go out and test the additions.  My key addition has been a pair of T-slots to each the footwell gunwales.  As great as the Revo's are for our difficult local conditions, I find they don't offer many ways/places to add on accessories that fishermen like.

Anybody in the Revo crew put fishing crates to use?  Anyone have any good ideas on how to safely stow rods for surf entries and landings?

TIA, Bradley

SeaScum -- If you have old surfing wetsuits you can also consider cutting the upper half off of one to make high waist pants. I use that and a neoprene jacket -- solves the need for a relief zipper and gets more use out of an old suit retired due to a busted zipper.

Cheers,
Brad

Thanks for the fishing reports and pictures guys.