It Was Just A Matter of Time - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jorluivil · 06-14-2010, 12:22 PM

So my buddy Tone and I opted to stay local and launch out of Cabrillo on the open side. Got the truck unloaded, gear setup and headed to the waters edge. We sat there for a minute or two and saw that the sets were no more than 1' - 2' high so off we went.

I go first....yak in the water, board the yak and as the first set comes it's larger than the sets that we saw coming in, I take it head on and YIPEE!!! I got some water over the bow and got my first soaking but I made it though my first surf launch.

A quick celebration turned into a quick WTF

when I saw the next set coming...it was at least 50' away and still building

. THIS IS IT, NO TURNING BACK NOW!!!!! bow straight, gear fastened down, hatches closed, cell phone, keys and money in the pelican box and before I know it WOOOOOSH!!!! The crest of wave was at least 2' maybe 3' higher than the top of the kayak. The bow crashes into the wave just below the crest and SPLASHOLA, DIRECT HIT TO THE CHEST AND FACE, it even knocked my glasses off.

I took me at least 2-3 seconds to gather my thoughts together before I realized that I made it through my first ever large breaker.The entire sitting area was filled with water, my glasses are being held by one ear and before I realized it my fish finder was missing. The wave actually knocked it off the mounting brackets, it was floating in the water a few feet away from me. My buddy Tone was a few feet behind me and he was able to pick it up.

Mid afternoon comes and we decide to call it a day. My buddy Tone is a little worried about his first surf landing after what he saw me go through. He asked for a few Words of Wisdom, I said, "Good luck". As we were preparing for the surf landing we happened to come across some lady that was in a kayak/rowing outfit. My buddy asked her is she had ever made a surf landing and also asked her for some Words of Wisdom, she said, "Make sure everything is fastened down". He got to the point he figured he had no choice, he headed in and caught little to no wave height on the way in.

My turn. By this time my buddy Tone was already on the beach and it turns out that so was the lady we were talking to. I sit right in an area about 100' from the waters edge, look back and see a set coming in. I wait and it soon as it passes I make my move. Before I know I can here someone yell out, "PADDLE HARDER, PADDLE HARDER" as they're pointing at something behind me. I look back and

it's easily going to be another large wave, at least 3' - 4'....just my luck. I paddle for dear life, it crashes behind behind just short of the stern and started to take me in. My Yipeee turned into prayers as soon as my yak started to turned to the left, before I knew it I was parallel to the wave. The lady that was in the yak grabbed me before I could overturn.

All in all it was a great trip, we had a successful launch, caught some fish and landed safely...with some help of course.

. Next time I wait a few more minutes at the waters edge to see what the sets will be like. This is the last time I will say, "Looks good, lets go". Whoever that lady was that helped, THANKS!!!!

dorado50 · 06-14-2010, 02:22 PM

WOW! An adventure soon not to be forgotten.....

GregAndrew · 06-14-2010, 05:22 PM

There can be a nasty little shore break there, and some sneaky outer sets too. So it is worth a couple extra minutes to see what is happening before you paddle in/out. Good story though.

Vikingj · 06-14-2010, 09:43 PM

Is the lady single? Sounds like a good mate for a surf launching yakker!

Hobie-Pedaller · 06-14-2010, 11:05 PM

great maiden voyage & story !!

the surf LANDING still gets my adrenaline going EVERY TIME.

that sitting 100 yards out.... looking in at the dry beach.... wanting to have self & kayak on that beach....

but with the barrier of the waves & surf to get through, to make it to that beach.

one factor for me, is that I always stay out until dark, and that makes getting back in through the surf & waves even more exciting, when done in the dark.

.

mtnbykr2 · 06-18-2010, 03:32 PM

very familiar story and a good ending at that, I myself have only a fey surf launches myself and happy to report good outcome in all cases. I must confess that I was trained on the launch and land by a real nice guy named Jim Sammons but still a bit skiddish on the landings...great job on the first launch and successful landing and fishy's to boot...be careful out there and tight lines....b

06-14-2010, 12:22 PM	#1
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	It Was Just A Matter of Time So my buddy Tone and I opted to stay local and launch out of Cabrillo on the open side. Got the truck unloaded, gear setup and headed to the waters edge. We sat there for a minute or two and saw that the sets were no more than 1' - 2' high so off we went. I go first....yak in the water, board the yak and as the first set comes it's larger than the sets that we saw coming in, I take it head on and YIPEE!!! I got some water over the bow and got my first soaking but I made it though my first surf launch. A quick celebration turned into a quick WTF when I saw the next set coming...it was at least 50' away and still building . THIS IS IT, NO TURNING BACK NOW!!!!! bow straight, gear fastened down, hatches closed, cell phone, keys and money in the pelican box and before I know it WOOOOOSH!!!! The crest of wave was at least 2' maybe 3' higher than the top of the kayak. The bow crashes into the wave just below the crest and SPLASHOLA, DIRECT HIT TO THE CHEST AND FACE, it even knocked my glasses off. I took me at least 2-3 seconds to gather my thoughts together before I realized that I made it through my first ever large breaker.The entire sitting area was filled with water, my glasses are being held by one ear and before I realized it my fish finder was missing. The wave actually knocked it off the mounting brackets, it was floating in the water a few feet away from me. My buddy Tone was a few feet behind me and he was able to pick it up. Mid afternoon comes and we decide to call it a day. My buddy Tone is a little worried about his first surf landing after what he saw me go through. He asked for a few Words of Wisdom, I said, "Good luck". As we were preparing for the surf landing we happened to come across some lady that was in a kayak/rowing outfit. My buddy asked her is she had ever made a surf landing and also asked her for some Words of Wisdom, she said, "Make sure everything is fastened down". He got to the point he figured he had no choice, he headed in and caught little to no wave height on the way in. My turn. By this time my buddy Tone was already on the beach and it turns out that so was the lady we were talking to. I sit right in an area about 100' from the waters edge, look back and see a set coming in. I wait and it soon as it passes I make my move. Before I know I can here someone yell out, "PADDLE HARDER, PADDLE HARDER" as they're pointing at something behind me. I look back and it's easily going to be another large wave, at least 3' - 4'....just my luck. I paddle for dear life, it crashes behind behind just short of the stern and started to take me in. My Yipeee turned into prayers as soon as my yak started to turned to the left, before I knew it I was parallel to the wave. The lady that was in the yak grabbed me before I could overturn. All in all it was a great trip, we had a successful launch, caught some fish and landed safely...with some help of course.. Next time I wait a few more minutes at the waters edge to see what the sets will be like. This is the last time I will say, "Looks good, lets go". Whoever that lady was that helped, THANKS!!!!

06-14-2010, 11:05 PM	#5
Hobie-Pedaller Fish On !!! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 194	great maiden voyage & story !! the surf LANDING still gets my adrenaline going EVERY TIME. that sitting 100 yards out.... looking in at the dry beach.... wanting to have self & kayak on that beach.... but with the barrier of the waves & surf to get through, to make it to that beach. one factor for me, is that I always stay out until dark, and that makes getting back in through the surf & waves even more exciting, when done in the dark. . __________________ Hobie Kayaks: Use Your Legs to Pedal.... Use Your Arms to Fish !! Kayak Fishing is a DRUG.... and I'm addicted !!

06-14-2010, 02:22 PM	#2
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	WOW! An adventure soon not to be forgotten.....

06-14-2010, 05:22 PM	#3
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	There can be a nasty little shore break there, and some sneaky outer sets too. So it is worth a couple extra minutes to see what is happening before you paddle in/out. Good story though.

06-14-2010, 09:43 PM	#4
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Is the lady single? Sounds like a good mate for a surf launching yakker!

06-18-2010, 03:32 PM	#6
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	very familiar story and a good ending at that, I myself have only a fey surf launches myself and happy to report good outcome in all cases. I must confess that I was trained on the launch and land by a real nice guy named Jim Sammons but still a bit skiddish on the landings...great job on the first launch and successful landing and fishy's to boot...be careful out there and tight lines....b