Hey Paul,
Disclaimer : I'm just a guy that loves to fish, not a scientist or expert
.
I think you and I have the same trolling technique, "slow as possible". Although, I think you troll over more areas than I do (like the whole time once past the reserve). Over the years I've developed a different style of fishing La Jolla than most. For example: When most guys catch bait at the pier, and move to the particular grounds of the day they put out a bait and start trolling that way. When we fished north the other day, I didn't put a bait out until I hit my zone way up there. Sure, I probably flew over quite a few Yellowtail on the way, but I had an appointment for a bite pattern. When heading to the point from the pier I haven't trolled a bait on the way in probably five years now, until I make it to "my zone for that particular day". I know I'm passing fish on the way, but I have very little confidence in catching fish crossing this area, "most of the time"
. If you add up all the time I spent with no bait in the water while making it to my spots on the X-Factor......well you get the idea.....plenty of wasted fishing time. For me, the Hobie is perfect for my fishing style, as I can cover ground quickly and maximize fishing time. I also never fish with Spanish Mackerel even though in the past I've caught giant White Sea Bass and Yellowtail on them (I know crazy right
). Although this summer (when I knew Yellowtail were in my zone), I did some pretty exciting emperiments (for me exciting) with Spanish Mackerel. My experiment was to pull the "slow swimming Spanish" at "very high speed" (when I knew Yellowtail were very close by), and eureka. I don't think my test pilots liked my experiment, and they can only keep up for a short time, but I found another reason to love the Hobie.
As far as landing, I guess I've been real lucky over the years. I've never lost anything more than a pair of pliers in 10' Big Rock surf (timing is everything). Until this spring, in the midst of my WCW delerium, fishing for White Sea Bass until 11:00 p.m., with macking surf breaking way way outside I took a monster over my back. I have to admit, I had six cans of liquid patience watching giant White Sea Bass circle my baits in the dark with the glowing luminescence
before heading in. This was pretty funny, because I had just written a reply post about never losing it in the surf in ten years (and never leashing any of my gear), and how it's sooooooo easy "after you learn to surf your kayak with out gear in larger conditions" lol. I thought of Bing while I was swimming in my kayak with 8' waves bashing me repeatedly on the way in. Nothing against Bing, I thought he would of really got a kick out of karma catching up with me, never say never. Sure, I took a little hit to my pride (lost an old cheap gaff), but I didn't learn from that mistake, and had six more cans of liquid patience the next night, watching giant White Sea Bass circle my bait over and over again without ever biting in the glowing luminescence five feet below my kayak
. Same swell and beverage consumption coming in around 10:00 p.m., it happened again, giant wave hits me as I'm back paddling over a monster, atleast 8'+lol. I thought of Bing agian, and wished I had a helmet cam on for him to spit out his beer as he watched laughing. Note to self: Surfing your kayak is sooooooo easy, but not in the dark with giant swells that you can't see coming, after a six-pack of liquid patience and having your heart broken (again) by giant White Sea Bass. Atleast I learned from the night before, and tied a rope around all my rods, but I lost a $100 Henckel chef's knife that was my kelp cutter
.
Shortly after this experience I switched to the Hobie crafts, and started fishing them without ever taking them in the surf "without gear"..... to figure them out (not listening to my own advice
). I started with the Outback, and man what a difference from the X-Factor as far as surfing ability. I felt like I was riding my dad's surfboard
, and was a little scared the first couple of night landings. Being that the boat is 12' long and my 6' frame with feet close to the bow, I felt like it was a definate indo, but that never happened. I never took a spill on the Outback, and got used to the surfing characteristics pretty quickly. I'm sure we have similar experiences while paddling out on the Outback, as it's not the fastest craft, but that being said, with all that stability it's pretty challenging to flip the thing. When I switched to the Revo, man what a difference. At first, I didn't like the handling as much while coming in through the surf, as she is so responsive I thought she was unstable. After multiple trips through the surf, I realized she wasn't unstable at all, just responsive, kinda like my little shortboards that turn on a dime, as apposed to my dad's stubborn boards.
To answer your question, my launching and landing technique is somewhat determined by the fact that I don't own the Hobie crafts outright. They belong to Fastlane, and I respect their property. Thus I'm very careful, with their kayaks and especially the Mirage Drive. Sure, they told me to use the Mirage Drive coming in and going out through the surf, as many Hobie users do, but I use the paddle in most cases (when I don't forget to bring it). I don't like to put the Mirage Drive in while on the beach, and let the weight of the kayak rest on the fins, even though I see plenty of guys doing it without any negative effects.