how to look for flat water ?????

Hi All: smt006

 

I have fished in salt water but never had the opportunity to find the ocean in a “flat water” mode; does any body know what conditions I can look for in the weather report to predict flat water? Also, what can I use to slow down wind drift? 

 

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or advice.

 

~ramón~

 

The quickest method is to check the National Weather Service Marine Forecast.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KMTR.html

Note, that this forecast if for offshore waters.  However, you find a day with winds around 5 mph or less and waves in the less than 3 ft range, the ocean is going to be pretty flat.

Other options are various surfer forecasts.  Wetsand is a pretty decent one.  http://www.wetsand.com but there are a bunch of others.  Here you are basically looking for similar things.. low wind and small swell predictions.

Another option is to fish in highly protected coves.  These will often be extremely flat even on days with 6 ft swell and 5-10 mph winds.  Up north in Sonoma County, places like Fort Ross and Stillwater Cove provide a fairly flat launch and are very fishable in these conditions.

To slow down your drift you can either deploy a drift chute or tie up to a piece of kelp.

Brian

For me it is usually a combination of the NOAA bouys and a few other sites. Wetsand is a good one, but for cen-cal you have to calibrate a little bit.  They tend to add about 5 feet to their swell sizes. Here are a couple of links to ones that recently found but have not really been put to the test. 

http://www.pacificwaverider.com/36n/

http://www.wunderground.com/auto/sfgate/MAR/PZ/530.html

Also when you watch the weather on the news or wherever, listen for Mr./Mrs. weather person to say high pressure moving in and/or offshore flow.  With the exception of south long period south swells, in the summer time the majority of the swell comes from the north westerlies that blow down our coast.  The result is short period wind waves that can be a pain to be out in.  If the forcast says that the winds are calming it usually takes a day or two for that windswell (depending on how big) to move through.  If there is a high pressure moving in after that, then the coast could be in for flat water, for example last week.

For me it is the Bodega and Pt Arena buoys along with the Mendocino and Bodega web cams.

Mendocino cam:
http://weather.mcn.org/

Bodega cam:
http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu/facility/webcam.html

Fish days with a north wind in area like Half Moon Bay.  Fish places like Linda Mar on a south wind day.  Have a VHF radio and listen to the buoy reports.  Before going to bed, when you wake up and when you get there.  I am always looking at the National weather Service Forecast and trying to pick the better days.

Play it safe.  If it look marginal with you get there.  It probably will get worst.  Pick other spot or save it for another day.  Santa Cruz and Monterey are always calmer than the more north you go.

Earlier mornings are usually calmer than later in the day...most times.  Also, a mixed swell can be trouble..you will get the washing machine effect.  Always, keep an eye out to the open ocean.  So a sneeker wave won't hit you from your back.

Ken kickfish