Maiden voyage - long - could be boring to some

[old_rookie]

Picked up a Trident Prowler 13 yesterday from OEX. Rik was helpful and took the time to help me strap it down to my car.

After wondering if it was too windy to go out on the kayak, (I've heard that the wind can be a real pain) I decided to go anyway - at least I'll get some experience. I strap down the kayak on the car and decided to drive Mission Gorge instead of taking Hwy 52 - I just don't have the confidence yet of the strap downs on the roof of the car. I ended up stopping twice on the road to fix things. Both times the strap on the stern slid to one side and got loose. I thought for sure I was following what Rik had done. I continue past Fashion Valley, then get detoured and eventually make it around the sports arena, then back to Mission Bay drive. Headed over to the parking lot across Belmont park - mistake - no parking - then went back over to the Bahia that I saw on the way in, then saw the parking along the back side - found a spot by the grass. Unloaded, set up everything and got on the water. Shoot - forgot my GPS, went back to get that - shoot batteries are dead. Finally, after an hour leaving the house, I'm on the water paddling around. I set up with a Rapala floater and let it troll behind me as I paddle around. I figure this is a good way to get familiar with things and fish. Occasionally I look back at the floater and see it skimming the surface. I reel it in and peel off some of the grass - it should dive instead of stay at the top. I'm cruising around between the hotel and Dana Landing - found an area free of floating kelp. About 30 minutes of this, my reel goes whizzzzzzzzzzzz - oh man, put the paddle away, grab the rod and yank to set the hook - I reel it in feeling nothing tugging. No fish, no grass, nothing - wha??? What was pulling it? Ok, send it back out, paddle more. 10 minutes later, same thing - nada. What gives? Well, another 45 minutes or so I realize I need to call it a day. I promised I'd be home by 6pm. Well, I have a few minutes to cast a little, figured I should at least do that a few times for my first time out. I send it out again for a troll - one last try as I head back to shore. Then whizzzzzz goes the reel - this time I'm going to set that m-f'n hook - I grab the rod and yank it, yes, I feel something on it. End up with a short barracuda - better than a skunk. Nothing like a #25 YT or a #40 WSB, but I'm glad to have caught something rather than nothing.

Now it is time to haul the kayak out of the water, up the sand to the grass.
Take everything down, throw it in the trunk - get the foam blocks ready to put the yak on the roof. I pick it up and lift it up - ouch - bang it into the rear quarter-panel while I lift it to the roof - ended up with a nice 3" scratch. Oh well - goes with the 18" 3 line scratch someone put on it in Vegas. Finally get it strapped on and head east on Hwy 52. Still wondering about this thing on the roof going 60mph. Eyes constantly on the straps. Then I see in the rear-view one of the straps on the stern is way too loose. I pull over and see the hook at the end of the strap is dangling - oh man - I figured out a different way to run the strap over the stern - tighten it down and on my way again. I feel a lot better now with how secure the yak is. For one, with a strap dangling, it didn't fly off - and two, it is strapped on the stern better than before.

If you stuck around - thanks for sticking it out. Looking forward to going out again - someday I'll paddle with the big boys on the big water.