kayakers swamped ! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

stairman · 12-22-2009, 10:15 AM

Surf-swamped kayak fishermen rescued

By Debbi Baker, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.

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SAN DIEGO — Two capsized kayakers had to be rescued by lifeguards from the cold, choppy waters off the coast of La Jolla early Tuesday morning.
The men left to go fishing for yellow tail about 5:30 a.m. from the boat launch at La Jolla Shores and were near the kelp beds about one mile offshore when they ran into trouble, San Diego lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma said.
“They were overcome by breaking swells,” Lerma said.
There was a group of 12 to 15 kayakers in the area at the time and some of them tried to help they had a difficult time due to the conditions which included white caps, four to five foot swells and strong westerly winds blowing at 20 to 25 knots, Lerma said. Some lost their paddles and at least one of the capsized kayaks was blown away.
The winds pushed the kayaks toward the shore and when they were about 400 yards out when a lifeguard paddled out to meet them. He brought one man ashore and then paddled out again for the second. Lerma said.
The service was alerted to the emergency by a mayday call. Lerma said.
The first man, said to be 52-years-old, was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia, Lerma said. The second was checked out and released by paramedics.
The rest of the kayakers returned to the beach, Lerma said. Lifeguards, assisted by the Coast Guard, searched the area for about an hour and a half to make sure all were accounted for.
The National Weather Service has issued a small crafts advisory for the coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexico border that will remain in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, are advised to stay out of the water.
“It’s not a good day to go fishing,” Lerma said

Freespool · 12-22-2009, 10:26 AM

Yikes, glad I opted out. I think I saw those guys. I was there about 5:20; thought it was a no go after seeing the palm trees in front of the house doing the limbo but just wanted to see what it looked like since I was up. I stood around for about 5 minutes looking at the conditions in the dark. The wind was enough to make my decision pretty quick. I was VERY surprised to see about 5 guys all just paddle off into the darkness in those conditions but thought they must be much more experienced dudes than I am.

I talked to 2 other younger guys with their stuff ready to go who were about to pack it up as well. If you frequent this site, glad you guys made the right call. Not a good day to test the ocean.

Quilted Germ · 12-22-2009, 10:42 AM

Yellow Tail Fever........I heard it will make you do crazy things...

DENNYh · 12-22-2009, 11:03 AM

tomorrow doesnt look so bad, might want to check it out

peguinpower · 12-22-2009, 12:33 PM

I am thinking about tomorrow too. But winds like these almost never go away in one day

Waiting,

/bing

blackcloud9 · 12-22-2009, 02:12 PM

I honestly cannot believe anyone would even try to launch today - enough
rescues and the lifeguards will have to start monitoring conditions to allow
kayak launches at the ramp ...

>>>
"tomorrow doesnt look so bad, might want to check it out"
"I am thinking about tomorrow too. But winds like these almost
never go away in one day"
>>>

To me tomorrow looks REALLY bad.

The winds will be mellow on Wednesday but with the remnant huge short
period waves at six to seven feet, the launch will be much much much
worse (dare I say, "IMPOSSIBLE") on Wednesday.

The windswell was only four feet this morning, but it has ramped to
TEN FEET now at the TPO buoy.

Thursday is looking possible however, light winds and smaller swell in the
forecast. We'll see.

Be safe out there, I hate to read about kayakers in the news.

emrliquidlife · 12-22-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcloud9

I honestly cannot believe anyone would even try to launch today .....

>>> "I am thinking about tomorrow too. But winds like these almost
never go away in one day"

The winds will be mellow on Wednesday but with the remnant huge short
period waves at six to seven feet, the launch will be much much much
worse (dare I say, "IMPOSSIBLE") on Wednesday.

The windswell was only four feet this morning, but it has ramped to
TEN FEET now at the TPO buoy.

Thursday is looking possible however, light winds and smaller swell in the
forecast.

Be safe out there, I hate to read about kayakers in the news.

I don't know if I'm thinking stupidly....My window of opportunity is pretty small for this, so i'm going to try for tomorrow. Worst case, the waves are too big, and I go fish Mission Bay....

Got a link for where i can get the wave height info?

the dude · 12-23-2009, 08:10 PM

it can happen scary fast...you flip, one of your hatches opens and your kayak will fill with water in about 1/2 second. I had that happen on my WS Tarpon 160 coming through the surf once. The front hatch comes off too easy IMO. I added a few bungees to keep it from re-occurring. Glad they are OK.

12-22-2009, 10:15 AM	#1
stairman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	kayakers swamped ! Surf-swamped kayak fishermen rescued By Debbi Baker, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. Satellite: Image Radar: Image Weather forecast NWS rainfall totals Traffic update Robert Krier's Weather Watch SAN DIEGO — Two capsized kayakers had to be rescued by lifeguards from the cold, choppy waters off the coast of La Jolla early Tuesday morning. The men left to go fishing for yellow tail about 5:30 a.m. from the boat launch at La Jolla Shores and were near the kelp beds about one mile offshore when they ran into trouble, San Diego lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma said. “They were overcome by breaking swells,” Lerma said. There was a group of 12 to 15 kayakers in the area at the time and some of them tried to help they had a difficult time due to the conditions which included white caps, four to five foot swells and strong westerly winds blowing at 20 to 25 knots, Lerma said. Some lost their paddles and at least one of the capsized kayaks was blown away. The winds pushed the kayaks toward the shore and when they were about 400 yards out when a lifeguard paddled out to meet them. He brought one man ashore and then paddled out again for the second. Lerma said. The service was alerted to the emergency by a mayday call. Lerma said. The first man, said to be 52-years-old, was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia, Lerma said. The second was checked out and released by paramedics. The rest of the kayakers returned to the beach, Lerma said. Lifeguards, assisted by the Coast Guard, searched the area for about an hour and a half to make sure all were accounted for. The National Weather Service has issued a small crafts advisory for the coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexico border that will remain in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, are advised to stay out of the water. “It’s not a good day to go fishing,” Lerma said

12-22-2009, 10:42 AM	#3
Quilted Germ Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cardiff, Ca Posts: 185	Yellow Tail Fever........I heard it will make you do crazy things... __________________ Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

12-23-2009, 08:10 PM	#8
the dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Valley Center Posts: 271	it can happen scary fast...you flip, one of your hatches opens and your kayak will fill with water in about 1/2 second. I had that happen on my WS Tarpon 160 coming through the surf once. The front hatch comes off too easy IMO. I added a few bungees to keep it from re-occurring. Glad they are OK. __________________ The dude abides.

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12-22-2009, 10:26 AM	#2
Freespool Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: La Jolla Posts: 42	Yikes, glad I opted out. I think I saw those guys. I was there about 5:20; thought it was a no go after seeing the palm trees in front of the house doing the limbo but just wanted to see what it looked like since I was up. I stood around for about 5 minutes looking at the conditions in the dark. The wind was enough to make my decision pretty quick. I was VERY surprised to see about 5 guys all just paddle off into the darkness in those conditions but thought they must be much more experienced dudes than I am. I talked to 2 other younger guys with their stuff ready to go who were about to pack it up as well. If you frequent this site, glad you guys made the right call. Not a good day to test the ocean.

12-22-2009, 11:03 AM	#4
DENNYh Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chulajuana Posts: 81	tomorrow doesnt look so bad, might want to check it out

12-22-2009, 12:33 PM	#5
peguinpower bing! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: socal Posts: 246	I am thinking about tomorrow too. But winds like these almost never go away in one day Waiting, /bing

12-22-2009, 02:12 PM	#6
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	I honestly cannot believe anyone would even try to launch today - enough rescues and the lifeguards will have to start monitoring conditions to allow kayak launches at the ramp ... >>> "tomorrow doesnt look so bad, might want to check it out" "I am thinking about tomorrow too. But winds like these almost never go away in one day" *>>>* To me tomorrow looks REALLY bad. The winds will be mellow on Wednesday but with the remnant huge short period waves at six to seven feet, the launch will be much much much worse (dare I say, "IMPOSSIBLE") on Wednesday. The windswell was only four feet this morning, but it has ramped to TEN FEET now at the TPO buoy. Thursday is looking possible however, light winds and smaller swell in the forecast. We'll see. Be safe out there, I hate to read about kayakers in the news.