Lesson learned Oyster Point!

Today I tried fishing for halibut in the bay for the first time.  The water and wind was calm as we set out to fish around 10:30 am.  We caught a few undersized halibut using the bouncing ball with a dodger and anchovy, near the channel marker.
Then the wind picked up big time around 12:30 pm, out of the west at 25 mph!  We were to far out and it took 45 minutes of tough paddling into the wind and chop to get back in!  I knew it gets windy out there but didn't expect the wind until the afternoon. Anyways, lesson learned, get out earlier and be prepared!  I was hoping to run into others on kayaks...maybe they knew how windy it was going to get

Thanks for the report.  Glad you got back OK.

Thanks for the report.  Glad you got back OK.

+1. OP is no joke. Once the wind pickup start heading in and fish the inside. Spoke to guy one afternoon a month back that flipped. Thankfully he made it back in.

Seriously Yeah we got blown almost to ARW one time. It took over an hour to come back and a big ship had to turn to avoid crossing paths with us.

Make sure you’re not fighting the current as well. That would make a really bad combination.

Glad you are well.  I spend most of my time on this site and the rest of my time looking at windy.com.  Other than that I eat, sleep, and fish. Nah....I remember paddling back at paradise in brutal steady hopeless wind and putting my anchor down to rest only to lose 30 yds pulling it up.  My mind was not helping.  I had to head straight to shore and parallel it to know I was making headway.  I remember Tomales feeling like I'm traveling one foot per minute.  Defeating moments that made me strong.  I hate the wind but love the breeze.   

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. Finally hit the beach at mbk and rolled out of the kayak with crab claw arms and hands, dead exhausted and cramping. Was doubting our ability to make it back in.

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. ...

That offshore wind in Monterey can be brutal!

I'm glad you are ok. The winds at O.P and many places in the bay can be treacherous on certain days. It
is very deceiving because the mornings can sometimes resemble a lake.  It is always best to get near shore around noon so you can make a b-line for the shoreline if the wind picks up. Thanks for sharing, i'm sure
many others can benefit from the reminder.

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. ...

That offshore wind in Monterey can be brutal!

Been there. I thought I was gonna die from exhaustion 

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. ...

That offshore wind in Monterey can be brutal!

Been there. I thought I was gonna die from exhaustion 

At least you were pedaling. I was paddling.

Glad you made it back.

Been there done that.  It helps to have some buds on VHF checking in and giving you perspective on the conditions in their particular locations. 

Always have a plan B. Is there another place you can land if the wind picks up and you are not able to get back to your launch? It may involve wheeling your kayak back to the launch, or calling a buddy or uber for a ride back to the launch. Any port in a storm.

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. ...

That offshore wind in Monterey can be brutal!

Been there. I thought I was gonna die from exhaustion 

At least you were pedaling. I was paddling.

You are an animal Tim. I've never seen anyone paddle I harsher conditions as you. 

Monterey chasing ghosts, ripping current and strong off shore wind. If you stopped paddling, you lost 100 yards. ...

That offshore wind in Monterey can be brutal!

Been there. I thought I was gonna die from exhaustion 

At least you were pedaling. I was paddling.

You are an animal Tim. I've never seen anyone paddle I harsher conditions as you. 

Except that day we towed him back in Shelter Cove while he had his fish dangling on the side creating all that drag  if I remember correctly, you still haven’t paid Herb N’ Smokey’s Towing Services