Team Sewer's Brush with (In)famy - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

PAL · 03-05-2014, 08:43 AM

Tony Park of Team Sewer shared a fun story of a case of seabass fever for the first issue of Kayak Fish. Several BWE regulars make an appearance. Now that the issue is out of print, I present the online version for your enjoyment.

Question: What criticism did angry readers aim my way for publishing this story?

http://www.kayakfishmag.com/features/team-sewer/

I get a kick out of Chris Charney's cartoon.

taggermike · 03-05-2014, 08:59 AM

Damn, that sounds like a rough day. Coming in is almost always tougher than going out. Mention famous surf break and you know it might be trouble. Nothing like seabass to destroy your judgment. Mike

ful-rac · 03-05-2014, 09:08 AM

Yeah Paul thanks for getting that story printed in the magazine, that was cool.
I love tell'n that story...I'm still bummed out on losing the rod...that was not fun.

Did any angry readers criticize you for printing that story?

And your right the cartoon...is hilarious...I like the fish that's laughing at us..!

PAL · 03-05-2014, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Did any angry readers criticize you for printing that story?

A few sure did! Not for giving away the spot, or some years-old bite. For this little tidbit:

Author Tony Park readily admits he wouldn’t have swallowed so much seawater if he’d worn his PFD during his crash landing. “Maybe someday I’ll learn my lesson, but not yet,” he says with a laugh.

ful-rac · 03-05-2014, 09:55 AM

I agree I should be wearing my PFD...Im guilty of not wearing one...even now..Of course I wouldn't recommend anybody not wear one of course.

Since you bring it up now, I will start wearing my pfd more often. I should...I have one.

jorluivil · 03-05-2014, 09:56 AM

I was one of the ones that didn't make it out that day and to be quite honest with you.........................I'm glad I didn't. I learned later that day that when the team launched earlier that morning the surf was up a bit but was nothing compared to how big it was when they landed; upside down, left side up and right side sideways

Hunters Pa · 03-05-2014, 10:00 AM

Looks like the new Team Sewer t-shirt

GregAndrew · 03-05-2014, 10:05 AM

Just a bit of poetic license in that story. Breakers on the way out were more like 3 to 5 max (2-3' swell). The swell did build, which was not forecast, during the day and we came in to 5 to 7 or 8 foot breakers (4-5' swells). The landing was right in front of a manned lifeguard station, so the only things likely to be damaged were our gear and/or our pride (I speak collectively of course

). Timed properly (aka waiting until the surfers say the set has passed

) there was no problem launching or landing. Almost nobody had the patience for that though.

YakDout · 03-05-2014, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I was one of the ones that didn't make it out that day and to be quite honest with you.........................I'm glad I didn't. I learned later that day that when the team launched earlier that morning the surf was up a bit but was nothing compared to how big it was when they landed; upside down, left side up and right side sideways

Another good choice of music would have been the song wipeout from the sandlot.
That whole video I waiting for a hard right paddle (u-turn)

Deamon · 03-05-2014, 10:48 AM

Love the way you wrote the story tony. Good job.

chxh8me · 03-05-2014, 11:19 AM

Fished that spot/bite many a time... But never in those conditions. You guys are nutty.

ful-rac · 03-05-2014, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chxh8me

Fished that spot/bite many a time... But never in those conditions. You guys are nutty.

Believe me...If we had known the surf was going to be 8ft coming back in..I don't think we would have launched. It was do-able in the morning and absolutely beautiful when we were out there...but when we came in...oh boy it was scary..! And once we had committed to coming in there was no return.

chxh8me · 03-05-2014, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Believe me...If we had known the surf was going to be 8ft coming back in..I don't think we would have launched. It was do-able in the morning and absolutely beautiful when we were out there...but when we came in...oh boy it was scary..! And once we had committed to coming in there was no return.

I hear ya. I have the luxury of living fairly close by. So if the surf report is off, and it's big out there, it's not a huge loss to turn around and wait for a better day. But if you're driving from a ways away, might as well make the best of it.

Dannowar · 03-05-2014, 11:44 AM

ive surf launched/landed well over 100 times to all sorts of conditions. only flipped 2 times, both coming in. even at a 2% flip ratio i still get butterflies out and in.

cool story Tony!

PAL · 03-05-2014, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

I agree I should be wearing my PFD...Im guilty of not wearing one...even now..Of course I wouldn't recommend anybody not wear one of course.

Since you bring it up now, I will start wearing my pfd more often. I should...I have one.

One guy in particular (no one the BWE crew knows) accused the magazine of glorifying going without a PFD.

My response:

Quote:

Author Tony Park writes about his experience:

"I'm underwater in waders and no lifejacket in huge surf. I can't touch bottom. Waves pound me one after the other. I'm screwed, but manage to swim up for a breath. An eternity later, I feel sand beneath my feet."

Nothing in that harrowing description is an endorsement to forgo a PFD. The Happy Ending column is a subtle, non-preachy safety lesson. We won't lecture our readership. It doesn't work.

Park knows he was lucky to make it to shore. We think our readers can see that. It's the simple truth that despite his experience, Park still chooses to go without. We leave it to our readers to make their own conclusions over his decision.

All's well that ends well.

blitzburgh · 03-05-2014, 12:16 PM

Cool stuff! I love the cartoon, the guy is on a PA and everything

makobob · 03-05-2014, 12:22 PM

And THANK GOD it did end well, where would we be without our TONY??? Our community would be much poorer without him. Tony

ful-rac · 03-05-2014, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makobob

And THANK GOD it did end well, where would we be without our TONY??? Our community would be much poorer without him. Tony

Oh come now Bob...you guys would have Stinkymatt and yakjoe to entertain.

Fiskadoro · 03-05-2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAL

Question: What criticism did angry readers aim my way for publishing this story?

HHHhhhhmmmmm.......

Mention Seabass Malibu and Kayaking in the same article?!?!?!

I mean who could of seen that coming

TJones · 03-05-2014, 04:43 PM

. No pain , no gain. They are.coming. I can feel it.

03-05-2014, 09:08 AM	#3
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yeah Paul thanks for getting that story printed in the magazine, that was cool. I love tell'n that story...I'm still bummed out on losing the rod...that was not fun. Did any angry readers criticize you for printing that story? And your right the cartoon...is hilarious...I like the fish that's laughing at us..! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-05-2014, 09:55 AM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	I agree I should be wearing my PFD...Im guilty of not wearing one...even now..Of course I wouldn't recommend anybody not wear one of course. Since you bring it up now, I will start wearing my pfd more often. I should...I have one. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-05-2014, 09:56 AM	#6
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	I was one of the ones that didn't make it out that day and to be quite honest with you.........................I'm glad I didn't. I learned later that day that when the team launched earlier that morning the surf was up a bit but was nothing compared to how big it was when they landed; upside down, left side up and right side sideways __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer Last edited by jorluivil; 03-05-2014 at 10:04 AM.

03-05-2014, 10:48 AM	#10
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Love the way you wrote the story tony. Good job. __________________ Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2% Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98% Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001% "The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

03-05-2014, 11:44 AM	#14
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	ive surf launched/landed well over 100 times to all sorts of conditions. only flipped 2 times, both coming in. even at a 2% flip ratio i still get butterflies out and in. cool story Tony! __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

03-05-2014, 08:59 AM	#2
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Damn, that sounds like a rough day. Coming in is almost always tougher than going out. Mention famous surf break and you know it might be trouble. Nothing like seabass to destroy your judgment. Mike

03-05-2014, 10:00 AM	#7
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Looks like the new Team Sewer t-shirt

03-05-2014, 10:05 AM	#8
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Just a bit of poetic license in that story. Breakers on the way out were more like 3 to 5 max (2-3' swell). The swell did build, which was not forecast, during the day and we came in to 5 to 7 or 8 foot breakers (4-5' swells). The landing was right in front of a manned lifeguard station, so the only things likely to be damaged were our gear and/or our pride (I speak collectively of course ). Timed properly (aka waiting until the surfers say the set has passed ) there was no problem launching or landing. Almost nobody had the patience for that though.

03-05-2014, 11:19 AM	#11
chxh8me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 182	Fished that spot/bite many a time... But never in those conditions. You guys are nutty.

03-05-2014, 12:16 PM	#16
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Cool stuff! I love the cartoon, the guy is on a PA and everything __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

03-05-2014, 12:22 PM	#17
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	And THANK GOD it did end well, where would we be without our TONY??? Our community would be much poorer without him. Tony __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

03-05-2014, 04:43 PM	#20
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	Ready to do it again this summer? . No pain , no gain. They are.coming. I can feel it.