Torrey Pines Kelp 1/18/13

[outdoorzen]

So I have always read that you need to pay your dues to land the big one in this sport. As a certified noob, I really didn't know what that meant until today. After another beautiful and flat day, I decided to paddle out to the kelp on the SUP after eyeing it the day before on a hike with my wife. It was warm and the launch looked easy. I put the fullsuit at half-mast and proceeded my entry. Rsther than wait and watch as I usually do, i just jmped in and found myself amongst some chest high shore pound, almomst dumping the board and its contents. Survived that and paddles out to the kelp, about 10 minhutes. There were birds galore ut they were just sitting and hanging out. I paddled around the kelp with the costas on and looked for signs of life. Nada, not even a ripple breaking the surface. The bird flock had drift off the kelp and was about 500 yads away now, still just sitting. I throw the sabiki for noting then switch to plastics, hoping to hang something. About and hour and a half pass and I am still skunked. My line gets angled around the guides and i launch a plastic about 100 yards. Put on a new one and birdsnest the calcutta 200te. Get that out and on the next cast the tail catches on the hook. WTF? Everything is not going smooth at all. A news chopper approaches and circles, appearing to be interested in me. I wave like a good citizen (and it will look good on the news) and whip a cast, smacking my rod against my other rod in the holder, causing me to lose my grip and SPLASH! I watch as my graphite usa and calcutta te start their slow decent to the bottom and how cool it is to watch over $400 in gear go by by. This thought process lasts about .5 seconds and I snap out of it and dive head first into he drink after my rod. Success! Thinking that was a sign, i pack up to leave but what the heck, one more cast. I hook a giant smelt, about 16 inches. I quickly nose hook him and start to troll him from the SX setup. I make about two passes on the outside edge of the kelp for not and ecide to pack it up for real this time and paddle in. Nothing caught but a ginat smelt and lots learned, paid my dues and even caught a few waves after packing the gear in he car. Beautiful day, paid my dues and maybe next time Aloha!