Respect the ocean and weather - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ceruleandrms · 05-13-2014, 04:05 AM

Same thing happened to me at Topanga State Beach last month. Not as dramatic as your situation but scary just the same. I launched fairly easy (by myself) and paddled over in front of Wiley's bait shop to fish the kelp in about 40 ft of water. My buddy was shore fishing and I figured I'll catch some fish and maybe encourage him to invest in a kayak. I've only been kayak fishing for a few months and was completely over confident to a point of being reckless. The swells were amazingly stupid and between them was the only time I could see him and the beach but I figured it wasnt a problem. Caught a nice calico and hooked it to my clip. Wind picked up big-time and I never really noticed cuz I was too busy fishing. Got done fishing and like an idiot I went to hold up my fish and try to show it to my buddy who was onshore, knowing he couldnt see it cuz I was too far out but to "cherish" my feel-good moment. The timing was perfect. Right when I grabbed my clip and unhooked it the wind and the swell had great timing and all I knew was I went head first over the side. I remember my leash around my leg and the panic that sped thru me. So many things went thru my mind so fast I honestly dont know how I managed to get the leash off, flip my yak over and get back in it. I was about a half mile from the launch point so I b-lined it to the beach where my friend was and didnt care how I made it out of the water as long as I did. My buddy called me an idiot and said the swells were so big, he saw me on it between one, lost sight and between the next one all he could see was the bottom of my Tarpon. My gear loss was minimum and my kayak took a beating from hitting the rocks on shore but that situation I was in made me realize that (1) I'm pretty insignificant in the ocean and (2) mother nature will have her way with you if you dont respect her. That fear is always with me now and it helps me to put my safety before anything while I'm out there. Lesson learned the hard way.

William Novotny · 05-13-2014, 06:14 AM

Thank you for sharing. I don't think it would be a bad idea to make a sticky for stories like this. Then when new guys join this site it would make it allot easier to explain why we take the precautions we do. We could just be like "welcome to the addiction, read the Oh Sh*t sticky".

jorluivil · 05-13-2014, 06:19 AM

Speaking from experience I will have to agree with you, NEVER, EVER PANIC.

addicted2sp33d · 05-13-2014, 06:30 AM

Thanks for sharing - you came out of it, so lesson learned and party-on.

Good job keeping your wits about you.

I would add one more thing to your list: to keep a knife clipped to your PFD at all times, so that you can reach for it even if you can't see it.

That way you can cut lines if you're wrapped up in them and underwater, like in your situation.

ful-rac · 05-13-2014, 06:55 AM

Glad you survived so you could learn your lesson. Malibu is just one of those places that can be VERY dangerous if the weather picks up. To any newbee that has read this thread, take it seriously, don't let this be you. You might not be so lucky.....

StinkyMatt · 05-13-2014, 07:14 AM

Thank you for having the courage to post it up.

Someone may learn from it.

Glad you are OK.

wiredantz · 05-13-2014, 07:52 AM

A good lesson for all of us!

It's always important to kayak with a buddy. ( I don't care how hot the bite is)
SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST IN MY BOOK!

I know for a fact that our kayak buddies are not always on the same schedule, but having a partner out there in the water with you can be the difference of life, and or death.

Thank you for giving us more knowledge about what can happen on the water, hopefully someone can gain wisdom and put it do good use.

WildernessWanker · 05-13-2014, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by addicted2sp33d

Thanks for sharing - you came out of it, so lesson learned and party-on.

Good job keeping your wits about you.

I would add one more thing to your list: to keep a knife clipped to your PFD at all times, so that you can reach for it even if you can't see it.

That way you can cut lines if you're wrapped up in them and underwater, like in your situation.

I used to keep my knife secured to my yak for ease of use until I had a friend wipe out in the kill zone and get tangled in his leash, his knife was on him and it still took him a few seconds to get it out and sever the leash. No harm was done but it dawned on me that if I was in the water and my yak was upside down or sideways it would take me far longer to locate and get my knife, and that is to say if I was able to grab it at all. The thought of being helpless scared me and luckily I realized it before I was put in that type of scenario.

gunghosd · 05-13-2014, 07:37 AM

Glad you posted, I think everyone has had their oh sh!t moments, its better to stay humble and learn from our own mistakes and others! After all were all just dudes floating in tiny plastic toothpicks in a huge ocean.

05-13-2014, 04:05 AM	#1
ceruleandrms Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: OC Posts: 80	Glad you are ok Same thing happened to me at Topanga State Beach last month. Not as dramatic as your situation but scary just the same. I launched fairly easy (by myself) and paddled over in front of Wiley's bait shop to fish the kelp in about 40 ft of water. My buddy was shore fishing and I figured I'll catch some fish and maybe encourage him to invest in a kayak. I've only been kayak fishing for a few months and was completely over confident to a point of being reckless. The swells were amazingly stupid and between them was the only time I could see him and the beach but I figured it wasnt a problem. Caught a nice calico and hooked it to my clip. Wind picked up big-time and I never really noticed cuz I was too busy fishing. Got done fishing and like an idiot I went to hold up my fish and try to show it to my buddy who was onshore, knowing he couldnt see it cuz I was too far out but to "cherish" my feel-good moment. The timing was perfect. Right when I grabbed my clip and unhooked it the wind and the swell had great timing and all I knew was I went head first over the side. I remember my leash around my leg and the panic that sped thru me. So many things went thru my mind so fast I honestly dont know how I managed to get the leash off, flip my yak over and get back in it. I was about a half mile from the launch point so I b-lined it to the beach where my friend was and didnt care how I made it out of the water as long as I did. My buddy called me an idiot and said the swells were so big, he saw me on it between one, lost sight and between the next one all he could see was the bottom of my Tarpon. My gear loss was minimum and my kayak took a beating from hitting the rocks on shore but that situation I was in made me realize that (1) I'm pretty insignificant in the ocean and (2) mother nature will have her way with you if you dont respect her. That fear is always with me now and it helps me to put my safety before anything while I'm out there. Lesson learned the hard way.

05-13-2014, 06:14 AM	#2
William Novotny The carpetbagger Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: tha newps Posts: 1,474	Thank you for sharing. I don't think it would be a bad idea to make a sticky for stories like this. Then when new guys join this site it would make it allot easier to explain why we take the precautions we do. We could just be like "welcome to the addiction, read the Oh Sh*t sticky". __________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." http://www.badinfluencetattoo.com/gallery.php?artist=21

05-13-2014, 06:19 AM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Speaking from experience I will have to agree with you, NEVER, EVER PANIC. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

05-13-2014, 06:55 AM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Glad you survived so you could learn your lesson. Malibu is just one of those places that can be VERY dangerous if the weather picks up. To any newbee that has read this thread, take it seriously, don't let this be you. You might not be so lucky..... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

05-13-2014, 07:52 AM	#7
wiredantz Currently @ MLO Territory Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Under the Shadow Posts: 2,290	A good lesson for all of us! It's always important to kayak with a buddy. ( I don't care how hot the bite is) SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST IN MY BOOK! I know for a fact that our kayak buddies are not always on the same schedule, but having a partner out there in the water with you can be the difference of life, and or death. Thank you for giving us more knowledge about what can happen on the water, hopefully someone can gain wisdom and put it do good use. __________________ Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it

05-13-2014, 06:30 AM	#4
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	Thanks for sharing - you came out of it, so lesson learned and party-on. Good job keeping your wits about you. I would add one more thing to your list: to keep a knife clipped to your PFD at all times, so that you can reach for it even if you can't see it. That way you can cut lines if you're wrapped up in them and underwater, like in your situation.

05-13-2014, 07:14 AM	#6
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Thank you for having the courage to post it up. Someone may learn from it. Glad you are OK.

05-13-2014, 07:37 AM	#9
gunghosd Let's Do This! Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: san diego, ca, usa Posts: 63	Glad you posted, I think everyone has had their oh sh!t moments, its better to stay humble and learn from our own mistakes and others! After all were all just dudes floating in tiny plastic toothpicks in a huge ocean. __________________ -Matt finbomb.com Don't hate me, Just my humble opinion Tight lines my fishing brothers