Confused about not using an anchor when kayak fishing in the ocean....

Hello all,

New member here.  I joined this forum mostly to be able to learn more about anchoring when fishing in the ocean, as I've lost a few anchors over the years and finally figured I must be doing something wrong.  But as I'm searching these forums, I'm reading a lot about how most kayak ocean fisher-people don't actually anchor their kayaks.  I've never heard of this, I thought that most people anchored.

I mostly fish in the rocks off the SF bay area coast, where there isn't a whole ton of kelp to use those kelp clips.  I've found that when I don't anchor, I move pretty quickly if there's any kind of wind or drift.  I've never actually tracked it with a GPS or anything, but I bet it's at least 2-3 miles an hour sometimes. When I've forgotten my anchor and it's windy, I found that I spend probably 80% of my time paddling rather than fishing... I'll paddle for 5 minutes to get in place, but then I drift out of position within like a minute and have to paddle back again.

So for those of you who don't anchor, how do you actually fish?  I have to say, I've never felt unsafe anchored, although it's worth noting that I do all of my fishing within a mile of the shore and I tend to avoid days that are too big to launch from the beach.  Is there some other way to keep stationary if anchoring isn't a good idea?

Side note, is there a better nor-cal ocean anchor than the little 3 pound grapple anchors that I keep losing?

Thanks!

I have a Hobie so I'm able to pedal against the drift to hover over structure.  I was also taught to cast into the drift so the lure has a chance to stay in the zone longer.

I've heard of folks using drift socks to slow their drift as well.  Never considered using an anchor because better men than me always said it was dangerous. .

Imagine getting a snag and your drag is tight on the 50lb braid line and a big swell lifts you up. Now imagine being anchored with a rope that cannot be easily cut and a big swell lifts you up.

I do all of my fishing within a mile of the shore and I tend to avoid days that are too big to launch from the beach

I hear what you're saying - you are out on the flattest days and stay close to shore, and you still lose anchors.  What you're doing doesn't sound more dangerous than other types of fishing on the calmest days, but you're losing significant gear, and you didn't discuss how it feels to not be able to pull that stuck anchor and then have to decide to leave it.  It's not cool to be out there trying to retrieve heavy gear from the bottom on a rope.  What you're doing isn't recommended because even on super calm days you're looking at dilemmas and losing gear, and on rougher/more average days, it is a safety hazard to anchor in the ocean because of how swell action can affect your stabilty.

Not passing judgment - just trying to help out.   

Last thing one needs is a long rope and anchor with countless other objects attached to themselves and kayak. In the ocean ,the ocean can be dangerous.

I mostly fish in the rocks off the SF bay area coast, where there isn't a whole ton of kelp to use those kelp clips.  I've found that when I don't anchor, I move pretty quickly if there's any kind of wind or drift.  I've never actually tracked it with a GPS or anything, but I bet it's at least 2-3 miles an hour sometimes. When I've forgotten my anchor and it's windy, I found that I spend probably 80% of my time paddling rather than fishing... I'll paddle for 5 minutes to get in place, but then I drift out of position within like a minute and have to paddle back again.

So for those of you who don't anchor, how do you actually fish?  I have to say, I've never felt unsafe anchored, although it's worth noting that I do all of my fishing within a mile of the shore and I tend to avoid days that are too big to launch from the beach.  Is there some other way to keep stationary if anchoring isn't a good idea?

I do a lot of jigging, both on lakes and in the ocean.  For example, on Flathead Lake in Montana, I frequently jig for lake trout which are on the bottom in 170-240 feet of water.  I point the nose of my kayak into the wind and/or current and pedal to hold myself stationary over the bottom, with the assistance of the GPS features of my fish finder, which I zoom in close.  It's easier to hold yourself stationary over the bottom in a steady current than it is in a wind.  It gets harder for me to hold myself stationary over the bottom as the wind speed gets over 10-15 mph, but below that speed pedaling into the wind and/or current works fine.

When jigging in fairly shallow water, such as 50-70 feet, I used to occasionally anchor my kayak.  But as the wind shifted, my kayak would move a considerable distance over the bottom, and when the wind and waves increased, being anchored would get way too exciting.  And it isn't feasible to anchor a kayak in deep water, because there isn't enough room in a kayak for the amount of anchor rope required.  So I prefer to pedal to hold myself stationary over the bottom when jigging.

Jimmwaller, you apparently have a paddle kayak.  Paddle kayaks have a lot of advantages, such as the ability to brace with the paddle when kayaking in big or breaking waves.  But a disadvantage of paddle kayaks is that most of us only have two arms, and it's hard to paddle and fish at the same time with only two arms.  A major advantage of pedal kayaks is that they free up both arms to fish, put on sun tan lotion, eat lunch, or whatever while you pedal your kayak around with your legs.  I suggest that you borrow or demo a pedal kayak.  The experience may immediately persuade you of the advantages of pedal kayaks for kayak fishing.  The ability to hold yourself stationary over the bottom when jigging is just one of the advantages of pedal kayaks over paddle kayaks.

It can be difficult to tell what direction the wind is coming from just by feeling it on your skin.  A simple wind direction indicator such as a streamer on a vertical shaft will help you keep the bow of your kayak pointed into the wind, and will help you stay stationary over the bottom.  I posted a description of the wind direction indicator I use at https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18212.msg195603#msg195603.

Imagine getting a snag and your drag is tight on the 50lb braid line and a big swell lifts you up. Now imagine being anchored with a rope that cannot be easily cut and a big swell lifts you up.

This.  If you do decide to use anchor, search for QRAS so you can release your anchor line quickly.  You dont want to experience a current pushing you or a swell pushing you up/sideways but you're stuck because you can't release your anchor. 

A lot of folks use anchor when they need to be stationary (i.e. fishing for sturgeon), but QRAS is a must.

ok, I see.  That makes sense from a safety perspective... I've just never been out in swells that are big enough for this to become an issue, but I see how it could be if even a slightly larger swell then I'm expecting just happens to roll by.

I guess I'll look into a QRAS, or a drift sock. Regarding anchor types, however, is there a better anchor for the central coast than a grapple anchor?  Those are the ones that get stuck for me, but I keep buying them because I don't know of a better alternative.

thanks for all of the information so far!

ok, I see.  That makes sense from a safety perspective... I've just never been out in swells that are big enough for this to become an issue, but I see how it could be if even a slightly larger swell then I'm expecting just happens to roll by.

I guess I'll look into a QRAS, or a drift sock. Regarding anchor types, however, is there a better anchor for the central coast than a grapple anchor?  Those are the ones that get stuck for me, but I keep buying them because I don't know of a better alternative.

thanks for all of the information so far!

No disrespect intended, but your response here is like an application for a Darwin Award.   

Seriously though, how deep are you fishing?  Just dive down and get your anchor if it's stuck, or don't anchor at all.  I've anchored in the ocean plenty of times while diving, and when the 3 pound dive weight gets stuck under a rock I don't reef on it hoping it'll pop loose - I'd never do that because it could tip me over, but you have indicated that you've done exactly that more than once.  Don't put yourself in that position!  The fact that you've read in this thread of specific instances of anchoring in the ocean being dangerous (too much gear on board; the dangers of any tether; the effects of swell, wind and current...etc.) and that you are dismissive of those warnings, AND that you have had to cut your anchor line multiple times tells me that maybe anchoring isn't something to pursue further.

We all take big chances out there - shark and hypothermia being high on the list.  Why add a novel hazard to your repertoire? 

sneak·er wave
noun NORTH AMERICAN
a very large, powerful coastal wave that approaches the shore suddenly and unexpectedly

@LoletaEric I'm a little confused about how my response is a bad one.  I have been anchoring for years without any safety issue, so it just never occurred to me that could be any.  However, I asked, got responses, and learned about a new danger that I didn't know existed. All of the replies here indicate to me that an anchor becomes unsafe when in a big swell, and I agreed that I could see how that makes sense.  However, due to the nature of when and where I fish, I've never run into that issue despite basically always having anchored in the past.  The danger just never occurred to me because I'm never out in big swells, opting instead to stay home or find a sheltered place to fish!

The lesson that I'm taking away from this is that anchoring can definitely be dangerous, but that, in situations where anchoring is appropriate or relatively safe, there are things that can be done to make it less dangerous (i.e. QRAS). For example, someone mentioned diving and/or sturgeon fishing, both activities that I'm interested in.  I'd also feel pretty comfortable anchoring inside of a harbor/protected bay or similar on a flat day, etc. I think it's very possible that there's a better anchor design than a grapple anchor for those situations, and I am simply wondering if anyone knows what a better option may be.  This seems like... a pretty reasonable question?  This doesn't mean that I'm going to go out and anchor up in a giant swell, or even that I'm going to keep anchoring in the same situations that I have been in the past (I believe I also mentioned that I was going to look into a drift sock, to avoid anchoring in the future). I just know that different anchors perform better in different situations, and I'm wondering, for those times in the future when anchoring is appropriate, if there's a design that is better suited for the central coast area than a grapple anchor.

I realize that I've been lucky to not have run into any danger while anchored in the past, and it seems like seeking for more information about a subject I'm not very knowledgable about isn't something that should be shamed.  There may very well be a situation in which I'd like to anchor in the future (hopefully sturgeon fishing, but who knows!), so it seems like not a huge deal for me to want to take this opportunity to learn more about how to do that in the best way possible if and when the situation comes up someday. I don't think I was being dismissive of the warnings at all; its not like I said, "Screw a QRAS and drift socks, I'm fine out there"—quite the opposite.

Or, what about my response offended you?  I guess I'm just not seeing how trying to get more information is bad. In my response, I recognized the danger that I didn't realize was there, indicated that I was going to look into the proper equipment so I didn't have to anchor when doing my normal fishing (drift sock), and plan to look into a QRAS so that IF i ever find myself needing anchor in the future, it is as safe as possible. Now, i'm hoping to learn more about anchor designs and uses.

Appreciate any light you can shed so I don't similarly offend anyone in the future. thanks!

This link will have all your answers 
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=52787.0

I had written out a fairly long response, then thought better of it and will just leave this.   

Directly to your question, the smaller the anchor the better,  a 3-5# ball sinker would work, or make your own by pouring some lead into a section of pipe that would probably be less prone to getting stuck in the rocks.

But not to leave the wrong impression, I would almost never think of anchoring my yak in the ocean, it's not safe.

@LoletaEric I'm a little confused about how my response is a bad one. 

........ snipped ....

Appreciate any light you can shed so I don't similarly offend anyone in the future. thanks!

Jim,  the crowd means well, there is no doubt about that.  Delivery could suck a little since most of the people had encountered the questions and just skipped straight to the end, no sugar coating in between.  You will see once you are around for awhile.

@LoletaEric I'm a little confused about how my response is a bad one.  I have been anchoring for years without any safety issue, so it just never occurred to me that could be any.  However, I asked, got responses, and learned about a new danger that I didn't know existed. All of the replies here indicate to me that an anchor becomes unsafe when in a big swell, and I agreed that I could see how that makes sense.  However, due to the nature of when and where I fish, I've never run into that issue despite basically always having anchored in the past.  The danger just never occurred to me because I'm never out in big swells, opting instead to stay home or find a sheltered place to fish!

The lesson that I'm taking away from this is that anchoring can definitely be dangerous, but that, in situations where anchoring is appropriate or relatively safe, there are things that can be done to make it less dangerous (i.e. QRAS). For example, someone mentioned diving and/or sturgeon fishing, both activities that I'm interested in.  I'd also feel pretty comfortable anchoring inside of a harbor/protected bay or similar on a flat day, etc. I think it's very possible that there's a better anchor design than a grapple anchor for those situations, and I am simply wondering if anyone knows what a better option may be.  This seems like... a pretty reasonable question?  This doesn't mean that I'm going to go out and anchor up in a giant swell, or even that I'm going to keep anchoring in the same situations that I have been in the past (I believe I also mentioned that I was going to look into a drift sock, to avoid anchoring in the future). I just know that different anchors perform better in different situations, and I'm wondering, for those times in the future when anchoring is appropriate, if there's a design that is better suited for the central coast area than a grapple anchor.

I realize that I've been lucky to not have run into any danger while anchored in the past, and it seems like seeking for more information about a subject I'm not very knowledgable about isn't something that should be shamed.  There may very well be a situation in which I'd like to anchor in the future (hopefully sturgeon fishing, but who knows!), so it seems like not a huge deal for me to want to take this opportunity to learn more about how to do that in the best way possible if and when the situation comes up someday. I don't think I was being dismissive of the warnings at all; its not like I said, "Screw a QRAS and drift socks, I'm fine out there"—quite the opposite.

Or, what about my response offended you?  I guess I'm just not seeing how trying to get more information is bad. In my response, I recognized the danger that I didn't realize was there, indicated that I was going to look into the proper equipment so I didn't have to anchor when doing my normal fishing (drift sock), and plan to look into a QRAS so that IF i ever find myself needing anchor in the future, it is as safe as possible. Now, i'm hoping to learn more about anchor designs and uses.

Appreciate any light you can shed so I don't similarly offend anyone in the future. thanks!

I think that it's mainly because people are trying to get you to not use an anchor, not use it smarter.

A discussion like this was one of the main reasons I got a hobie, because I had seen people get snagged yanking their lure from a rock and get flipped by a sneaker wave that happened to hit at the right position, and that was just right when they got snagged, instead of been anchored up for the last 10 minutes. 

personally I'm not an experienced kayak angler, and I just drift or slow troll the areas I want to fish, if it's a fast drift, I'll slow troll, if it's too slow of a drift, I'll slow troll.  I have looked at drift socks, but that was before the hobie, and was more looking at it for a lake.