Offshore Kayak Fishing: Surf, Swell, and Safety

Very clearly explained swell and wind conditions for offshore kayak fishing.
Highly recommend for beginner kayak fishermen like me.



Paul

Good info.  Thanks for the post Paul.

Good info.  Thanks for the post Paul.

This video confirms what I been practicing. 
I need to show this to my fishing buddy (wife).
She wants to go fishing during a hurricane.

Paul

Really well explained video for a noob like me. Thank you

Very informative.
Do you use specific forecast app or site for swell and wind?

Very informative.
Do you use specific forecast app or site for swell and wind?

I typically use the following websites:
https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Timber-Cove/forecasts/latest/six_day
https://tides4fishing.com/us/california/fort-ross

Paul

Great clip, thanks for posting.  As someone still searching for understanding wave safety, this was very helpful.  Can't wait to use the knowledge....

I dont recommend leaving the game clip in the water like he does.  Maybe his next video will be bleeding fish safely in pinniped country.

This video was pretty useful and well done.   

I dont recommend leaving the game clip in the water like he does.  Maybe his next video will be bleeding fish safely in pinniped country.

This video was pretty useful and well done.

Agree on both counts. He didn't bleed the fish, and the vibrations they send out would likely bring a lot of unwanted attention in the waters where I fish. Looked like maybe where he was, there aren't haul-out spots, so maybe fewer furbags.

I was out in a "stacked swell" once, on a 40' charter boat, and that was an interesting experience. It was 8 feet at 8 seconds and 8 feet at 16 seconds. Every now and then a 16-footer would come along. That was hairy enough outside, but when we got back to the entrance channel to Noyo Bay, those monsters really piled up and sent that boat sideways - twice. Exactly like that moment we all know when the kayak goes sideways and you know you're about to get dumped, only it was a bigger boat with twin diesels, so we rode those waves in.

Ever since, I have been very wary of such conditions. Surf landing a kayak in even a small stacked swell would be really risky. Those long-period waves can really climb up the beach.

Last week the ocean went flat here, with a "groundswell" - shallow but very long-period swells that reach all the way to the seafloor. My fishing mentor tells me the fish don't like that and it will shut down the bite for a few days. It was interesting to see what looked like a flat ocean produce big shore breaks.

some good tips. i surf a bunch. can recommend magicseaweed and surfline - this one having beach cameras. If not at your spot, somewhere close enough to where you are planning to launch. I took my 5yo out of cowels yesterday. Surfed the yak in. Saw a SUP'er get destroyed on his way out..

Another good instructional video
"Best site for Wind and Swells forecasting for kayak fishing"


www.windy.com

Paul