Planing my first trip to La Jolla this weekend

[danjor]

So i think i am ready to take the venture out to la jolla for the first time to begin the hunt for the exclusive YT and WSB.
Plaining on heading out either friday or saterday eairly morning depending on conditions. Thursday im finally gonna build me a bait tank so i will be all ready to head out this weekend.
If anyone is heading out either of those days let me know and maby we can head out togeather. It would be nice to get some pointers from somone who knows what there talking about so im not out there all alone while not knowing what to expect since first time in open water. I belive i have most of what i need my only concerns are i dont have a gps or compass besides on my phone.. idk how much that is needed but it has been concerning me.
So any tips you guys may have on what to expect or to make shure to bring would be apreciated
And if anyone wants to hang out and by my fishing buddy for the day that would be great.

[bus kid]

Go to big 5 and get a compass, make sure you got a whistle and some sort of signaling device besides a radio just ask wade. Best of luck and have fun.

[danjor]

Hmm... I don't have a radio yet I should prob try to find some money to get one.

[dorado50]

"just do it"

[inshorefisher]

i'm thinking about going out early friday with a friend (his first time and my second at la jolla). still busy with personal stuff so i haven't done the research on the conditions. i don't like being out on open water if it's more then 10 knots wind and big swells. i'll let you know asap.

[inshorefisher]

Originally Posted by danjor

So i think i am ready to take the venture out to la jolla for the first time to begin the hunt for the exclusive YT and WSB.
Plaining on heading out either friday or saterday eairly morning depending on conditions. Thursday im finally gonna build me a bait tank so i will be all ready to head out this weekend.
If anyone is heading out either of those days let me know and maby we can head out togeather. It would be nice to get some pointers from somone who knows what there talking about so im not out there all alone while not knowing what to expect since first time in open water. I belive i have most of what i need my only concerns are i dont have a gps or compass besides on my phone.. idk how much that is needed but it has been concerning me.
So any tips you guys may have on what to expect or to make shure to bring would be apreciated
And if anyone wants to hang out and by my fishing buddy for the day that would be great.

Read the information page on this site. a lot of helpful information and Brain Long made a good checklist of items to bring/have.

[maui jim]

NEW GUY BRINGS THE BEER!!!

[danjor]

So what time in the morning do most people launch at la jolla?

[old_rookie]

anytime between 4am and 9am +/- 1 hour.

I plan to head out Sat. morning, but I don't know what I'm talking about, so you might not get much if you troll around with me.

[coxtanker421]

i didnt see beer on brians list?

[chris138]

Definitely launch after dawn for your first trip. You need to be able to see the sets coming.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled and have respect for the ocean. You'll be fine!

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by danjor

So i think i am ready to take the venture out to la jolla for the first time to begin the hunt for the exclusive YT and WSB.
Plaining on heading out either friday or saterday eairly morning depending on conditions. Thursday im finally gonna build me a bait tank so i will be all ready to head out this weekend.
If anyone is heading out either of those days let me know and maby we can head out togeather. It would be nice to get some pointers from somone who knows what there talking about so im not out there all alone while not knowing what to expect since first time in open water. I belive i have most of what i need my only concerns are i dont have a gps or compass besides on my phone.. idk how much that is needed but it has been concerning me.
So any tips you guys may have on what to expect or to make shure to bring would be apreciated
And if anyone wants to hang out and by my fishing buddy for the day that would be great.

Before I did my first La Jolla Launch I watched these videos, and they were very helpful, and a good way to kill time at work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LLg3...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPL1vPW25kg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ksXUNGkig

La Jolla launching and landing not a difficult as some make it out to be.

Launch with someone who has done it before your first time, for the buddy system, and you should be alright.

[old_rookie]

I might be skipping Saturday too.
1. Magicseaweed predicting 3ft swells, 6 second interval from the west all day.
2. low temps
3. funeral to go to on Thursday which means cutting out of work which means making up work on Saturday.

[Aaron&Julie]

This is a good link for weather and swell reports:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/

We usually click on the map 3 times. Once, to capture the La Jolla area. A second time to isolate closer to the launch. Then the third time to isolate right off of the southern point of the reserve. This usually gives us the most accurate information to the area we will be fishing.

Keep in mind, 3-4 foot ocean swells usually equate to larger surf at other locations, but smaller at the launch, but not always. Lately, 4 foot ocean swells have caused 5 foot surf at the launch, but that is unusual. With 3 foot ocean swells you are typically safe at the launch. This website's reports often are more accurate than what you get on TV.

Here is a website we also use when checking current wind conditions:

http://w9if.net/cgi-bin/torreywx/wx.pl

It is for the Torrey Pines gliderport, just north of Scripps pier, so it is fairly accurate in regards to La Jolla.

Additionally, if you want tide information, which is useful when launching use this link:

http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/3220.html

Scroll down the page and look for the date you are going out. Any high tide above 5 feet and you might not be able to drive your vehicle onto the beach. It is also good to know when launching and landing whether the tide is falling or rising. When you go to and from your vehicle, you don't want a rising tide to sweep your kayak away.

We start checking these websites 4-5 days in advance, then check them every day until we go, as conditions can sometimes change significantly.

Be safe, and good luck.

[JoeBeck]

My 1st launch at LJ. I didn't think about it at all I just woke up and went . I'm sure you have swam in the ocean before, at least seen it. Put a life-jacket on and GO GO GO!!!! you only have to paddle out, if you are not comfortable turn around and paddle back, if you are paddle farther.

One of my favorite readings about the Sierra Mountain range, I think it is applicable to any outdoor adventure

“All of your life someone is pointing the way, directing you this way and that, determining for you which road is best traveled. Here is your chance to find your own way. Don’t ask me how to get to McGee Canyon or Lake Double Eleven. Go, on your own. Be adventuresome. Don’t forever seek the easiest way. Take the way you find. Don’t demand trail signs and sturdy bridges. Don’t demand we show you the mountains. Seek them an find them yourself… This is your birthright as an animal, most commonly denied you. Be free enough from intentions to find goodness wherever you are and in whatever is happening. Here for once in your life you needn’t do anything. Be anywhere at a determined time, walk in a certain direction. You can now live by whim. Here is your one chance to get lost, find a beautiful place.” quote from a park ranger.

[old_rookie]

Originally Posted by JoeBeck

My 1st launch at LJ. I didn't think about it at all I just woke up and went . I'm sure you have swam in the ocean before, at least seen it. Put a life-jacket on and GO GO GO!!!! you only have to paddle out, if you are not comfortable turn around and paddle back, if you are paddle farther.

That's funny - I think back to my first launch, I didn't look at any weather/tide/swell report. I just went and paddled out - then back-in and rolled, went out again, then back-in and rolled, went out, back-in, success!!

Now I look and the reports and analyze and think too much about it.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by JoeBeck

My 1st launch at LJ. I didn't think about it at all I just woke up and went . I'm sure you have swam in the ocean before, at least seen it. Put a life-jacket on and GO GO GO!!!! you only have to paddle out, if you are not comfortable turn around and paddle back, if you are paddle farther.

One of my favorite readings about the Sierra Mountain range, I think it is applicable to any outdoor adventure

“All of your life someone is pointing the way, directing you this way and that, determining for you which road is best traveled. Here is your chance to find your own way. Don’t ask me how to get to McGee Canyon or Lake Double Eleven. Go, on your own. Be adventuresome. Don’t forever seek the easiest way. Take the way you find. Don’t demand trail signs and sturdy bridges. Don’t demand we show you the mountains. Seek them an find them yourself… This is your birthright as an animal, most commonly denied you. Be free enough from intentions to find goodness wherever you are and in whatever is happening. Here for once in your life you needn’t do anything. Be anywhere at a determined time, walk in a certain direction. You can now live by whim. Here is your one chance to get lost, find a beautiful place.” quote from a park ranger.

Funny how this is true....when you live 90.2 miles from the LJ launch you don't think about swells or current, or waves or whether or not the bite is on, you just go. I've made close to ten trips to LJ and have never arrived at the launch and said....'Ummmm, waves look spooky, think I'll turn around and go home.'


JUST DO IT!!!! With caution of course.

[Deamon]

Originally Posted by JoeBeck

My 1st launch at LJ. I didn't think about it at all I just woke up and went . I'm sure you have swam in the ocean before, at least seen it. Put a life-jacket on and GO GO GO!!!! you only have to paddle out, if you are not comfortable turn around and paddle back, if you are paddle farther.

One of my favorite readings about the Sierra Mountain range, I think it is applicable to any outdoor adventure

“All of your life someone is pointing the way, directing you this way and that, determining for you which road is best traveled. Here is your chance to find your own way. Don’t ask me how to get to McGee Canyon or Lake Double Eleven. Go, on your own. Be adventuresome. Don’t forever seek the easiest way. Take the way you find. Don’t demand trail signs and sturdy bridges. Don’t demand we show you the mountains. Seek them an find them yourself… This is your birthright as an animal, most commonly denied you. Be free enough from intentions to find goodness wherever you are and in whatever is happening. Here for once in your life you needn’t do anything. Be anywhere at a determined time, walk in a certain direction. You can now live by whim. Here is your one chance to get lost, find a beautiful place.” quote from a park ranger.

Very nice quote...So I beach it at dusk this week and a lady walks up and starts asking: Did you go out by yourself? How far out did you go? Oh really? By yourself...hmm. If you think about it, you just might pucker up. If you're prepared, able-bodied and understand all of the benefits: GO FOR IT!

[danjor]

Thanks. Now I am all pumped up and want to go, sadly can't go this week. But I am so ready for next week. Workig on bait tank. Still deciding on runnig the pump on 12v or 6v for the tank.

[stairman]

If you want to launch in the dark it is important,if the waves are big or short period, to understand how sets form.Sets being the large waves that periodically come in that are substantially bigger then the average.Lauching into the first of a large set can ruin the trip for you.
Waves rarely ever consist of one group of swells.Most often the waves are the result of two or more different height and wave speeds coming together to either cancel each other out,or build each other up.
If you have three two foot swells each ariving at the beach at different intervals here is what happens,
When the swells arive at ever so slightly different times you have a series of tiny waves closely packed and that is a good time to paddle out.
When the swells are timed so the peaks occur at the same time they amplify the height of the waves...or a set of big waves...a bad time to paddle out through the bigger waves.The concept is called constructive and destructive interference.The constructive part is what you want to aviod.
If it is dark and you cant see whats happening you need to wade out to knee deep water(of course not when the waves are tiny...then just go)and just stand there and watch what is happening.Ten minutes will give you an clue as to when to go.As you stand there and the waves keep getting bigger passing you in the knee deep water that is the remnents of a set.Wait for the next one to come and get on the yak while the biggest of the knee deep swells are hitting and paddle out.This willput you in the breaker zone just after the last of the big set goes through giving you the time to get passed the breaker zone before the next set comes through....most of the time...lol.
Face it if you are gonna launch before light you might get pounded before getting passed the breaker zone.Lj is one of the smallest wave areas in san diego,anything two foot or less is a cake walk.Three or four foot is very doable depending on swell direction.nw swells being the toughest.South to sw swells are deminished as they wrap aroup punta la jolla and into the shores.