[RPT] Santa Cruz 7/28

Launch from A dock around 6:45 and went straight out toward the mile buoy and passed it. The fog became pretty sick at some point and I couldn't see shore or even the buoy. I got a bit disoriented after untangling my line and not paying attention to the water and had no idea where I was. Luckily I have a GPS on my FF and my phone (just a reminder to always have the proper equipment....).
I was looking for halibut but only hooked a bunch of small rock fishes that were all safely released (browns, blacks, china, olives)
Back in the harbor around 10:45. It was nice to be on the water anyway

Story of my life!

It's nice isn't it?  Glad you got out there bro.

Do you have a compass mounted on your yak?  I find it helpful even though I have GPS.  Gives me an instant orientation when turned around in the fog.  And, I always get turned around in the fog. It can't be helped. My ideal set up is GPS, mounted compass, and an extra hand-held compass in my tackle box.  My dad's old boy scout compass.  To be used in emergencies.  I like to think when all else fails, he'll get me home and safe.

Bushy

Story of my life!

It's nice isn't it?  Glad you got out there bro.

Do you have a compass mounted on your yak?  I find it helpful even though I have GPS.  Gives me an instant orientation when turned around in the fog.  And, I always get turned around in the fog. It can't be helped. My ideal set up is GPS, mounted compass, and an extra hand-held compass in my tackle box.  My dad's old boy scout compass.  To be used in emergencies.  I like to think when all else fails, he'll get me home and safe.

Bushy

Don't have one mounted but keep a small one in my PFD pocket

Thanks for the report. Hope better luck next time.

Hey Frenchy it was nice to meet you yesterday. Let me know when you go out again and maybe we can meet up. 

I also had the same luck as Frenchy. I trolled straight out towards the mile buoy and when I got about 300 yards to the buoy I made a left towards west cliff and trolled down in 60ft of water. I landed and safely released a dozen or so rock fish, but  no Butts. Then my day took a turn for the worst...I was at the dock getting out of my kayak for the day and I didn’t realize the pocket on my PFD where I keep my keys was open and then my truck keys took a dive below the dock! 🤦🏻‍♂️
Luckily I live super close to the SC harbor so I could walk home to get my extra set. Once I made it back to the harbor with my extra set of keys one of the officers from harbor patrol was fishing for my keys with a huge Magnet! 🧲 and he found them!!! Lesson learned and a huge thank you to the Harbor Patrol.

-Zipper

Thanks for the reports Frenchy & Zipper.

Hey Frenchy it was nice to meet you yesterday. Let me know when you go out again and maybe we can meet up. 

I also had the same luck as Frenchy. I trolled straight out towards the mile buoy and when I got about 300 yards to the buoy I made a left towards west cliff and trolled down in 60ft of water. I landed and safely released a dozen or so rock fish, but  no Butts. Then my day took a turn for the worst...I was at the dock getting out of my kayak for the day and I didn’t realize the pocket on my PFD where I keep my keys was open and then my truck keys took a dive below the dock! 🤦🏻‍♂️
Luckily I live super close to the SC harbor so I could walk home to get my extra set. Once I made it back to the harbor with my extra set of keys one of the officers from harbor patrol was fishing for my keys with a huge Magnet! 🧲 and he found them!!! Lesson learned and a huge thank you to the Harbor Patrol.

-Zipper

that's pretty cool that harbor patrol was able to find them.
I often joke that there must be an artificial reef of lost cell phones, wallets, and keys directly under the Team Oniell catamaran net.

Losing my keys or locking them in my car at some out-there launch has always been one of my fears.
I have a piece of paracord looped on my truck/house keys and I lark's head that onto one of the little D-rings inside my PFD pocket. It has saved me from losing them in the ocean or in the sand 2 or 3 times now!

Do you have a compass mounted on your yak? ...

Great advice. No need for anything fancy, compass-wise.

And thanks for the reports!

Do you have a compass mounted on your yak? ...

Great advice. No need for anything fancy, compass-wise.

And thanks for the reports!

Yeah, if you have one mounted, you can refer to it: scan from GPS to compass and feel secure about your heading.

Zipper- that is so cool the Harbor Patrol fished your keys out.  yay them!  yay you for recovering.  Was your truck key ruined though with the dousing?

Bushy

Good stuff right on for the report!