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#1 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 228
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Use this link above from the National Weather Service. ..they up date I even in the A.M I'm talking round the clock. Gale force winds this evening and still a small craft advisory. It's a great day to practice surfing a yak...obviously without the rods. If you do flip never be between your kayak and the beach unless you like x - number of pounds of hard plastic smashing into you. Get on the other side most west so if a wave crashes you will be away from danger. Try playing in the surf...there are youtube videos to learn from. I find it easier to ride a wave then going straight in if the waves are big. Stay to your strong side I.e. i go right lower body remains straight upper body facing the wave face with my paddle dipped to the rear for control. When you ride a wave for some distance you can also pull out by applying pressure and a short stroke to help you turn right...it will slow you down the wave passes so quickly turn left to face the beach to paddle in safely. At this point you will be way past the impact zones and will have less powerful whitewater to deal with. Even if you try to pull out of a wave and cant you'll just scurry sideways as long as you remain calm and don't lean too far right. As for launching always keep your bow facing directly at the wave...If you are crooked the wave will turn you sideways and you'll be taken back with it. Remember speed and plow through straight. ..If you are straight and not paddling. ..another no no. You want momentum so paddle hard up until the wave crashes on you...If they were big like the ones I took today lift your paddle quickly over your head until the water passes through. For small waves just keep paddling. If you are trying to avoid getting wet take a few minutes to watch the sets...sometimes 5 minutes or until you see a pattern. Waves come in sets 3 or five or more just watch. ..The last few are the biggest so get ready to boogie when you think it's the last big wave of the set...This intuition comes from studying the waves prior. Don't delay when it's time and paddle through hard...you can rest past the breakers. Don't half ass it...If you timed it wrong and just sit there like a lame duck hoping the wave will pass you by you won't have momentum and you'll get tossed. Kayaks are buoyant and are really hard to push under water...with enough momentum and buoyancy you will plow through waves. Think about riding a bike you are less stable going slow and you are very easy to push over...with more speed you are less rocky...ever been on a boat anchored in rough swells? A lot if rocking. ..not so much with speeds. Hope this makes sense. Also try jumping out of your kayak and getting back in...have your pfd. You may find out certain things you have on your pfd get snagged on your kayak...or a rod holder mounted in a bad position acting as a barrier. Try flipping your yack and getting it up right. Try from the side then from the bow and stern. .. you never know if a shark may block you from flipping on the side as he's biting down...get further away flip from the bow and enter from the bow. It's a fun day at the beach doing this...try it in the bay first then practice at the beach. Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk |
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#2 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 48
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Quote:
I will add a story that may help people in the event of a big wave in the face. Was paddling out in the dark one time in March several years ago (seabass around). There was big surf. Could not see it. No stars or moon. Could here it. After years of surfing and kayaking there was no confidence lacking. Stood in knee deep water for a long time counting sets and trying to find a lull. Thought I found one, jumped in and paddled like there was no tomorrow. Could barely see a horizon. Kept jamming out to where I thought I was getting close to the end of the surf line. Could feel a big wave coming in. Getting sucked out, horizon disappears. knowing big wave is going to break completely over me I am paddling as fast as possible to pop out the back of the wave. It happens. Big face comes completely over me. I am going at least 5 mph and fly up and out the back of the wave. As I am going airborne, something is not right. When the face broke over me, I ducked at the last minute. I did not do anything with my paddle. It was perpendicular to the wave. Wave snapped it in two. Had a good landing out the back of the wave but with the paddle snapped in two, and the next set wave approaching, there was not much to do. Bailed just before it hit me, and held on to the yak to prevent full yard sale. Got nailed, but made it back to the beach without any loss of gear. Drove home, got my extra paddle, and made it out on the 2nd try-though it was light at the time. Note to self and others: when going through a wave, tuck and point paddle straight into the face. |
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#3 |
Manic for Life
Join Date: May 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 839
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Today was a good day for a yard sale.
If you want more challenging conditions, try again tomorrow. Waves are predicted to be 10-11.5' with winds 20-30mph. http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/...recasts/latest If you conquer that and catch a nice fish, I will be in awe of your talents. Personally, I think I'll stay home and take care of some overdue bills and paperwork. Do my laundry. Clean my house. Weed my garden. Maybe grill a steak for dinner. Maybe drink some dry, full-bodied red wine and watch a movie at home :-) I need to re-wire my fish finder. Tomorrow is a good day for that. We always have options.
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Another ho-hum day in Paradise |
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#4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 228
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Quote:
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk |
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#5 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 228
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Quote:
A few weeks back in pitch black darkness a wave smashed my deck...plowed through but my lowrance fishfinder snapped off its base and good thing it didn't rip it from the cable because that was the only thing keeping it onboard. Now if there are waves that are bigger than shin slappers I will stow the fish finder....same coming back if it's rough. Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk |
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#6 |
Junior
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 19
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Yes it was a challenging day to say the least. I did get wet going out. Took a creeper wave in the face. Once out I had this thought of "wow it's gonna be interesting coming in" swells were tall. Once you made the ride to the top you could see where you were...
Finding bait was easy. Dogs were hard to manage due to the swells. Lost 3 greenies to them. Headed to condo and stayed inside. Seemed to be really rough inside today. Very tall swell. Got hit with a screamer around 8:45 ish. Didn't stick. 15 mins later in 60 ft water fish on the fly line. It was a kelp battle but I prevailed. Headed in knowing the winds were a coming. Boy did they. Timed my landing patiently and rode the white water to the sand. Fish weighed in at 27lbs. Thanks for the beer Gary 👍 |
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#7 | |
Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Riverside
Posts: 431
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"A Reel expert can Tackle anything ![]() ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13 |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla
Posts: 2,643
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Congrats Superduper. Hard work getting out on those high surf days, the wind though is the real killer because of all the white caps between large swells once you are out there. Smart to come in before the wind picks up and makes it really dangerous. Nice fish.
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MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vista
Posts: 326
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Super attitude Stevie. I have to pick my days from now on because of core injury. Guess picking a more mellow day or doing the practice thing is the way to go. Had a good laugh when you mentioned your "walk of shame". I am sure you will have lots of success in everything you do with the attitude you have. Always good to not take ourselves too seriously. Good on ya mate.
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#10 |
Junior
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 29
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I have the stealth 14 as well. I've had several yaks and like the stealth but it has to be the worst yak for paddling through surf. I say through because unlike others it doesn't go over waves or white wash for shit it goes through them so your face takes the brunt of the wave. And water doesn't drain off deck fast enough. And let's not get into the hatches. Again great fishing yak but not made to go through surf at all and unfortunately I only surf launch at countyline. Surfed my whole life so my timing is good but one small white wash and you are now paddling a bathtub. My stealth has sunk in the surf as well no pump would have helped. Sank to the bottom. I clipped on a rope and slowly worked it in with the wave. Piece of crap. My solution now 2 yaks. Calm day stealth 14. Chest high or over the trusted old style prowler with limited hatches. Always the trade off.
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#11 | |
Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Riverside
Posts: 431
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Quote:
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"A Reel expert can Tackle anything ![]() ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13 |
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