Doran Crab Opener. Rescue and limit.

Doran Report

Short Story:

What a zoo! Lots of unprepared people out on anything that floated. I worked 3 rings for a limit in about 3.5 hours. No jumbos, lots of just keepers to a bit bigger. Also assisted with a rescue of a kayaker about halfway through.

Long Story:

I arrived at Doran around 640, following several other vehicles which all appeared to have the same idea. Big sign at the gate “Campground Full”, no surprises there. I made my way to the day use by the jetty, following a line of cars and trucks. I thought I was early, but it was already packed! The parking lot was already 3/4 full as I found a parking spot.

I saw I few familiar faces and said some hellos as I was getting unloaded. Made my way down to the beach, dodging the army of crab snare throwers who were already set up on the beach. I call it a beach, but there was no sand. I’m not sure how the currents worked out, but it was piled 3 feet deep with dead seaweed. Yuk!

At any rate I launched at first light to a beautiful sunrise, flat seas, cloudy skies and barely a hint of wind. The weather would slowly start to build through the morning with some rain and increased wind and seas, but it wasn’t too bad for the time I was there.

I head out past the jetty and run my 3 hoops. I spaced them far enough apart to get a feel for where the crabs may be and what depth would work. After dropping my third I head back to my first near the jetty. Now it’s light out and I can see almost every rock on the jetty has a crabber on it and there is a huge crowd of kayaks and boats.
I make small talk with different people I pass, everyone is happy to be out crabbing!

As I reach my first hoop I see a guy in a small sit in kayak working a hoop. It seems to be sitting pretty low in the water, but he seems like a bigger guy in a smaller kayak and I pay it no mind.

I start working my gear and I’m averaging a keeper per 30 minute soak, a few undersized, some barely, and some tiny, and  a few rock crabs thrown in for good measure.

So remember the guy in the sit in kayak? I’m back working my first  ring and I see him again working his ring. Now I’m thinking he’s really low in the water. In fact, the rear of his kayak is getting washed over by the tiny waves that are coming in. I’m pretty close to him so I call over “hey are you ok?” He responded with something like “yeah of course” or something to that nature. My response is “well you look like you’re f**king sinking, the back of your kayak is under water”.

That gets his attention away from crabbing and suddenly he seems to realize that he is in fact on a sinking ship. He sort of looks around and says in essence “I guess I may be taking on some water, I should head in” and starts to paddle back towards the beach.

Well folks, we are out past the jetty, probably 1/3-1/2 mile from shore and I am very doubtful that he is going to make it. I pause for a second and decide that the right thing to do is to shadow him in just in case he gets in trouble.

It doesn’t take long. Maybe a minute later he rolls and his kayak is upside down and barely floating. He’s sort of clinging to it, but not doing a great job. I put some basic info out and ask for help on 69, then roll my radio to 16 in case we need real help. I jam over and pull alongside.

I check in on him, he’s swimming ok and is alert and oriented. I look around and see several other kayaks coming to help. Ok, don’t need to hit the big red button just yet, maybe we can do a team rescue.

I start talking to him and he has the idea that he’s going to swim to shore with his kayak. I’m kind of watching him in the water and ask “hey what are you wearing”. I can see a big puffy jacket that is now totally waterlogged, but not sure what else. “My jacket, jeans, and boots” I already knew the answer, but I ask anyways “where’s your life jacket”. Yeah, you all know the reply. I take mine off and give it to him as quickly as I can and direct him to the back of my kayak and have him sort of lay across the flat back portion of my outback.

In my haste to get him into a life jacket I forgot that my radio was strapped to it, which was a mistake on my part. Luckily a crew of kayaks had gathered to help. Some people who were very prepared, and some who were not. I wish I had caught some names, but I didn’t.

We do a group assessment and it is clear that we won’t be able to drain his kayak or pump it out.

Now he’s been in the water maybe 5 minutes. Water temp is mid 50’s and air temp is about the same. Still not time to panick, but something needs to happen soon.

A walkthrough Klamath is cruising our way and arrives not too long after. I wish I had caught there names as well. They roll up and quickly pull alongside me. They seem to know what they are doing and have great boat control while remaining calm. We transfer the swimmer from the back of my kayak into the boat. It takes a few tries (no swim step) but it gets done. They are kind enough to grab his kayak as well and drag it aboard, pouring water everywhere.

I grab my life jacket before they speed off and the boat asks “you don’t have a life jacket!!!???” Did I mention the boater looks like he knows what he’s doing? He’s in full foul weather gear and a fluorescent rescue PFD. I share a look with the boater. You know, the “can you believe this guy” look.
I share the same look with a few kayakers who helped as well.

Rescue complete and its back to crabbing!!

I go to the far ring and make my pull for 3 keepers, making a limit!! Yay for good karma.

Stow ring 3 and cruise to ring 2. I find a boat nearby and offer to let them pull my ring since I have a limit. They oblige and get 1 keeper and a few throw backs. Back to ring 1 and I extend the same offer to a kayaker. Only a rock crab in that one.

I head in and find nowhere to land but a wall of seaweed with a high tide. Gross. Uneventful stinky landing, load gear, chit chat in the parking lot, and then drive home in time for lunch. Not s bad day at all.

More pics

Damn... Lucky ..glad you scored..

That guy is so lucky you were there.  What was he thinking??!! 

Nice job on the rescue!  Every step had me nodding going, "perfect... yep..."  Well done!  The only thing that threw me off was the giving him your life jacket.  It makes total sense, but it breaks my SAR brain.  We had a saying "us; ours; them; theirs" meaning we needed to be alive to rescue them, we needed our gear to rescue them, they are more important than their gear.  But, we had throw rings, extra PFDs, etc.  It's got me thinking... can I carry a Type 4 PFD (throwable) on the yak without too much trouble?  You've definitely given me something to ponder.

Congrats on the limit!!  I think you left some karma in the bank, too.  Admirable job on that rescue.

Tedski that is a very good point. My train of thought was that I was in my drysuit, which when I have practiced self rescue in holds air and is very buoyant. I knew that it would float me without my PFD on and was confident with that knowledge. Had I been in a wetsuits I would have thought twice about it.

Tedski that is a very good point. My train of thought was that I was in my drysuit, which when I have practiced self rescue in holds air and is very buoyant. I knew that it would float me without my PFD on and was confident with that knowledge. Had I been in a wetsuits I would have thought twice about it.

I think you made the right decision, don't get me wrong.  It just highlighted a pre-programmed bit I have to think more about.  Also, good point on the drysuit -- plenty of flotation to wade if you got pulled out of your boat by the victim accidentally. 

WTG John on the limit and rescue. You seem to be in the right spot at the right time. 

Hell yeah John—well-deserved limit. Good to see you today.

Yay John!  I needed that good story.  Happy processing and melt that butter...love that Bordenave's Sourdough!

Tedski that is a very good point. My train of thought was that I was in my drysuit, which when I have practiced self rescue in holds air and is very buoyant. I knew that it would float me without my PFD on and was confident with that knowledge. Had I been in a wetsuits I would have thought twice about it.

I think you made the right decision, don't get me wrong.  It just highlighted a pre-programmed bit I have to think more about.  Also, good point on the drysuit -- plenty of flotation to wade if you got pulled out of your boat by the victim accidentally.

I had/have the same the same the exact same thoughts as tedski.  And I too, have to think about it more.

Great job on the rescue and limit.

-Allen

Way to go, John. Great story and a well-deserved limit!

Great job. I was there as well and heard it on the radio but was not nearby. Glad you were able to help him. There were indeed quite a few questionable looking mariners out there today. You earned your limit. As for me, I got a few and lost a ring with three keepers while trying to reach behind me. Doh! That was a nice day for an opener.

Wow, nicely done indeed.     good stuff

Great report. It’s a good karma saving someone’s life.