Don't Let This Happen To You - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dos ballenas · 04-20-2010, 02:24 PM

any numbers on the new artificial reef

, kidding... glad your alive... Im always amazed at the amount of $ people spend on outfitting their yaks... $ 4 g's can get you a nice little skiff

ful-rac · 04-20-2010, 02:48 PM

Glad you are Ok. Sorry about your yak and gear but it can and will be replaced. Your right, I hope everyone has their safety gear together and easily accessible. Even just a simple .99 cent whistle could save your life. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it's given me alot to think about.

steveooo · 04-20-2010, 03:35 PM

Yikes! That whole story had me all puckered up. Glad you are ok, and seem to have a decent attitude and perspective about the whole thing. The ocean is no joke. Being prepared is the difference between coming home safe and being fishfood. Thanks for posting.

peguinpower · 04-20-2010, 03:52 PM

"Easy Peesy Bilge Pump Holder"

1 teaspoon contact cement

2 foot length paracord

1 unit D-ring patch

Attach D-ring to kayak. Tie paracord to bilge pump. Cut to length. Tie Pump to D-ring. Optional - quick release device.

Forgot to say, thank God your ok!

/bing

dos ballenas · 04-20-2010, 04:16 PM

another thought for those less capable swimmers: maybe swimming out to where the boats are fishing isn't a good idea. I for one know I wasnt looking for any swimmers out that far, and I dont think I would have seen you while I was bombing around after those breezers... it all depends on water conditions... with that wind chop yesterday I couldnt see anything in between the crests... if I was you I would have probably swam to the cove or some other close spot. Boaters are dangerous to swimmers, plain and simple... you got lucky.

T Bone · 04-20-2010, 04:28 PM

Glad you are OK.Its great to see people offer help.This is a great bunch of folks here.Thanks to all who offered to loan me gear when I lost mine due to complacency.

Kiyo · 04-20-2010, 06:44 PM

Very glad your ok Tom! I had Andy install an automatic bilge pump that pumps water out of the kayak if the kayak reaches a certain level. There is a floating arm that goes up when the water starts to fill inside the kayak. I recommend this pump to everyone! That water flows out big time with a 12 volt battery. When I used to use the huge ice cooler as a bait tank on my Stealth 14, it was just too much weight and water would leak into the back hatch. I felt really safe with that pump.

GregAndrew · 04-20-2010, 06:51 PM

Great story and lots of invaluable info. Not just important to own the safety equipment, but it needs to be accessible and tethered when the chit hits the fan.

B Slate · 04-20-2010, 07:02 PM

Hey Tom sorry to hear about the loss but I'm glad your alright. The ocean can be tuff but glad you knew what you were doing and kudos to the guys at dana landing and the guys who gave you a ride back to shore.

TCS · 04-20-2010, 08:02 PM

Gnarly

Glad you're still among the living bro.

bellcon · 04-20-2010, 08:14 PM

Glad your safe,
thanks for sharing your story.

Maybe sticky post material?
Gave us all lots to think about.
Would be a good thing to re-read every so often,
Hate to see it lost in the archives.

Thanks again
and God Bless

buttchaser · 04-20-2010, 08:15 PM

Tom
Thanks for sharing, and glad that you are OK, If you need some gear to fish with until you get situated , shoot me a pm , I'll be down in Sd on sunday.

GregAndrew · 04-20-2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttchaser

Tom
Thanks for sharing, and glad that you are OK, If you need some gear to fish with until you get situated , shoot me a pm , I'll be down in Sd on sunday.

What he said exactly.

driftwood · 04-20-2010, 09:01 PM

You actually lived my nightmare! You have nothing to be embarrassed of because sooner or later everyone eventually will have a close call. There is an old saying "If you sail long enough you will run into rough weather" I'm glad you made it out alive.

bigbarrels · 04-20-2010, 10:29 PM

Thank you everyone for all the feedback, generous offers, and most importantly explaining what you do to make your time on the water safe.

My goal was to create some awareness and prevent someone else from getting into this kind of situation. Hope to be back out there soon

walrus · 04-21-2010, 10:19 AM

Wow, thanks for sharing. I've learned from this and I'm sure others will too.

blitzburgh · 04-21-2010, 10:27 AM

Holy crap!

Glad you made it!

h2ofishfo · 04-21-2010, 03:21 PM

could've been saved by a piece of velcro attched to the hand pump staionary so u always knoe where it is but glad u are o.k.

yakrider · 04-22-2010, 05:25 AM

WOW!
sh*t happens really fast!
thanks for sharing your story..
I must now attach my pump somehow...
never thought about the floating pump floating out of reach...
kinda makes me feel stupid!!
No...REALLY makes me feel stupid...
I have had a leaky Hobie on more than one occasion...
and my tackle tray was floating, my sponge was floating,
but my pump was in the bow and had not floated...yet....
F*ck I feel so retarded...
never even thought about the pump floating out of reach...
just goes to show...even when prepared...things can still go wrong...

I really dig that you fished the the rescuers!!!! way cool!!!!

bigbarrels · 04-22-2010, 08:24 AM

[QUOTE=yakrider;55599]WOW!
sh*t happens really fast!

I agree 100 %

Be Prepared and have a plan. Between luck, comfort in the water, good physical fitness (I mtn bike regularly and have been swimming laps recently to prepare for my Mentawaii Islands surf trip next month) knowing the waters I was swimming in (ie. currents, fishing grounds, landmarks, etc), remaining calm (I work in emergency medicine and thus trained to stay calm when the stuff is hitting the fan), and staying focused on the task at hand (but had brief thoughts of my wife and cats (no kids yet) and AquaHunter's picture holding his half eaten WSB with the Condo in the background.....but very brief). Thankfully, it all worked outI was able to get out of a gnarly situation. Went to IHOP for the first time on the way home and ate breakfast (a few bites anyways) and at home laid in a pool of sweat with a high fever (probably a stress reaction) that night and was called into work the next day due to a colleagues family emergency....I was a little tore up but Life is Good ! Hypothermia was my main concern out there! My feet were feeling cold forsure and I think along with Churchill fins I will pack one of my wetsuits in my emergency bag. Again, I appreciate all information that everyone is sharing to help everyone stay safe out there.

[QUOTE=Billy V;55544]Go Play a Lottery Ticket Today - you might still have some of that lucky Karma attached to You.

I did that twice this week

04-20-2010, 02:24 PM	#1
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	any numbers on the new artificial reef, kidding... glad your alive... Im always amazed at the amount of $ people spend on outfitting their yaks... $ 4 g's can get you a nice little skiff __________________ ____________________________________________

04-20-2010, 04:16 PM	#5
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	another thought for those less capable swimmers: maybe swimming out to where the boats are fishing isn't a good idea. I for one know I wasnt looking for any swimmers out that far, and I dont think I would have seen you while I was bombing around after those breezers... it all depends on water conditions... with that wind chop yesterday I couldnt see anything in between the crests... if I was you I would have probably swam to the cove or some other close spot. Boaters are dangerous to swimmers, plain and simple... you got lucky. __________________ ____________________________________________

04-20-2010, 04:28 PM	#6
T Bone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 871	Glad you are OK.Its great to see people offer help.This is a great bunch of folks here.Thanks to all who offered to loan me gear when I lost mine due to complacency. __________________ Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1 "Who among you,if your son asked for a fish would give them a serpent " Jesus Matt. 7:10

04-20-2010, 06:44 PM	#7
Kiyo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Anaheim Posts: 122	Very glad your ok Tom! I had Andy install an automatic bilge pump that pumps water out of the kayak if the kayak reaches a certain level. There is a floating arm that goes up when the water starts to fill inside the kayak. I recommend this pump to everyone! That water flows out big time with a 12 volt battery. When I used to use the huge ice cooler as a bait tank on my Stealth 14, it was just too much weight and water would leak into the back hatch. I felt really safe with that pump. __________________

04-20-2010, 08:14 PM	#11
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Glad your safe, thanks for sharing your story. Maybe sticky post material? Gave us all lots to think about. Would be a good thing to re-read every so often, Hate to see it lost in the archives. Thanks again and God Bless __________________

04-20-2010, 02:48 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Glad you are Ok. Sorry about your yak and gear but it can and will be replaced. Your right, I hope everyone has their safety gear together and easily accessible. Even just a simple .99 cent whistle could save your life. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it's given me alot to think about.

04-20-2010, 03:35 PM	#3
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	Yikes! That whole story had me all puckered up. Glad you are ok, and seem to have a decent attitude and perspective about the whole thing. The ocean is no joke. Being prepared is the difference between coming home safe and being fishfood. Thanks for posting.

04-20-2010, 03:52 PM	#4
peguinpower bing! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: socal Posts: 246	"Easy Peesy Bilge Pump Holder" 1 teaspoon contact cement 2 foot length paracord 1 unit D-ring patch Attach D-ring to kayak. Tie paracord to bilge pump. Cut to length. Tie Pump to D-ring. Optional - quick release device. Forgot to say, thank God your ok! /bing

04-20-2010, 06:51 PM	#8
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Great story and lots of invaluable info. Not just important to own the safety equipment, but it needs to be accessible and tethered when the chit hits the fan.

04-20-2010, 07:02 PM	#9
B Slate Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Verne Posts: 92	Hey Tom sorry to hear about the loss but I'm glad your alright. The ocean can be tuff but glad you knew what you were doing and kudos to the guys at dana landing and the guys who gave you a ride back to shore.

04-20-2010, 08:02 PM	#10
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	Gnarly Glad you're still among the living bro.

04-20-2010, 08:15 PM	#12
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	Tom Thanks for sharing, and glad that you are OK, If you need some gear to fish with until you get situated , shoot me a pm , I'll be down in Sd on sunday.

04-20-2010, 09:01 PM	#14
driftwood Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 1,086	You actually lived my nightmare! You have nothing to be embarrassed of because sooner or later everyone eventually will have a close call. There is an old saying "If you sail long enough you will run into rough weather" I'm glad you made it out alive.

04-20-2010, 10:29 PM	#15
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	Thank You Thank you everyone for all the feedback, generous offers, and most importantly explaining what you do to make your time on the water safe. My goal was to create some awareness and prevent someone else from getting into this kind of situation. Hope to be back out there soon

04-21-2010, 10:19 AM	#16
walrus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baja fish camp Posts: 478	Wow, thanks for sharing. I've learned from this and I'm sure others will too.

04-21-2010, 10:27 AM	#17
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Holy crap! Glad you made it!

04-21-2010, 03:21 PM	#18
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	could've been saved by a piece of velcro attched to the hand pump staionary so u always knoe where it is but glad u are o.k.

04-22-2010, 05:25 AM	#19
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	WOW! sht happens really fast! thanks for sharing your story.. I must now attach my pump somehow... never thought about the floating pump floating out of reach... kinda makes me feel stupid!! No...REALLY makes me feel stupid... I have had a leaky Hobie on more than one occasion... and my tackle tray was floating, my sponge was floating, but my pump was in the bow and had not floated...yet.... Fck I feel so retarded... never even thought about the pump floating out of reach... just goes to show...even when prepared...things can still go wrong... I really dig that you fished the the rescuers!!!! way cool!!!!

04-22-2010, 08:24 AM	#20
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	[QUOTE=yakrider;55599]WOW! sht happens really fast! I agree 100 % Be Prepared and have a plan. Between luck, comfort in the water, good physical fitness (I mtn bike regularly and have been swimming laps recently to prepare for my Mentawaii Islands surf trip next month) knowing the waters I was swimming in (ie. currents, fishing grounds, landmarks, etc), remaining calm (I work in emergency medicine and thus trained to stay calm when the stuff is hitting the fan), and staying focused on the task at hand (but had brief thoughts of my wife and cats (no kids yet) and AquaHunter's picture holding his half eaten WSB with the Condo in the background.....but very brief). Thankfully, it all worked outI was able to get out of a gnarly situation. Went to IHOP for the first time on the way home and ate breakfast (a few bites anyways) and at home laid in a pool of sweat with a high fever (probably a stress reaction) that night and was called into work the next day due to a colleagues family emergency....I was a little tore up but Life is Good ! Hypothermia was my main concern out there! My feet were feeling cold forsure and I think along with Churchill fins I will pack one of my wetsuits in my emergency bag. Again, I appreciate all information that everyone is sharing to help everyone stay safe out there. [QUOTE=Billy V;55544]Go Play a Lottery Ticket Today - you might still have some of that lucky Karma attached to You. I did that twice this week Last edited by bigbarrels; 04-22-2010 at 09:10 AM.*