Kayak in the rips

[mdrew9]

I got my self out of sheltered water last weekend for the first time. Next time I go out I would like to travel a little farther away from shore. I have a T140 can I fish in the rips? What type of rough water can my yak handle?
Mike

[detra]

With a tight sprayskirt, its not what the boat can handle but what YOU can handle. Take yourself into some nasty beachbreak and play around, catch some waves, paddle back out through the surfline, etc. If you feel comfortable in these conditions, and can self-rescue. I would begin to think about off-shore if I knew the water well and had a partner with me.

[Ray]

I agree, the roughest water you can handle is only that which you are comfortable in. In my P140 I can get in just about any water. The wide beam makes it very stable. Though I haven't had waves curving over my head, I've been close.

[SamRiley]

detra nailed it.

Learn to love the rough stuff closer to shore and you will be on your way. Do not fall for the "well it's a FAC day, I'll give it a try" thinking. Do the math...

Four miles an hour over distance in ideal conditions turns in one to two in four foot seas head on. Doesn't take much for such water to build.

Not trying to scare you just advise from experience.

[mdrew9]

I think I need some mods before I jump into the rips anyway, I had some problems last week inshore. I have a milk crate set up with 3 rod holders the 3rd is down the side pointed toward the back. To remove the rod from the holder I have to lean back and reach I almost lost it at one point. I think I am going to have to mount some ram holders pretty soon.

Any idea where I should play in the surf? I don't know too many places that are really rough? Wasque? lol

[SamRiley]

Any of the south facing beaches should due on MV but aren't the best. Lobsterville could be good in a SW blow. What you want is a broad area of shallow water before the beach. This will give you more times to work to waves.

[joev]

The kayak can handle real rough water.The question is can you the paddler handle it.Like the rest said you have to gain experience before heading out into the rough stuff.Practice your self rescue .Use your head.Its one thing paddling thru that stuff but you cant usally fish it any way its just too much trying to fish and handle the yak.If you do flip it and cant get back on wait till you get thru the rip into calmer water then re enter the yak.
Loose the milk crate and use some good rod holders. The crate just adds alot of drag in the wind .When fishing in the rougher stuff I only use 1 rod keeping a back up stowed inside the yak.The less stuff you have on top of the yak the easier it will be to get back into.
Good Luck and play it safe.

JoeV

[mdrew9]

Thanks JoeV, I think I need to get bashed around in the waves and dump it a few times to get some experience in that type of water before I head out. I need to find out my limits and how far I can tip before I go over. Additionally I haven't had to get back into the yak yet. Water is warm enough now to give it a try.

[ruge13]

West Tisbury has some shallow longer wave sets. I am sure you know the spots. Follow the surfers. Wasque is a steeper beach, shorter wave period to dump you on the sand. No good for practicing. What Joe, Sam, Ray and Detra said about the Kayak vs. the Paddler handling the waves is most important. I think your decision to get beat up in the surf first and play with the boat is a good one. No better way to learn.

[Ray]

On the Vineyard I would first get some experience paddling the water you will be fishing. For example if your going to be drifting 200 yards off LVB or SB, don't risk trying to navigate middle ground or Wasque on a crappy day. You'll get there eventually.

Regarding your rod holders, sit in your cockpit and figure out what you can comfortably reach. Keeping in mind the stability concerns. If you have to lean way out to the side to reach your rod, it's not in a good spot. My boat has two rod holders mounted directly behind the cockpit to either side. I can easily reach back in any conditions to get a rod.

One more thing, take with you only what you need for a given trip. I use a small dry bag as a tackle box. It includes:

- fly boxes (as needed)
- jigs / plugs (as needed)
- leader material
- knife
- small first aid kit
- lighting (as needed) and extra batteries (always needed when you don't have them)
- tape measure
- cliff bar or two
(pliers are clipped to vest)

I also carry a lip grip and water bottle

I hope to be on the island in a few weeks for some golf. I'll let you know. Maybe I can take a look at your setup and techniques.

Ray

[mdrew9]

Yeah my set up is pretty ugly I use cheap twine for leashes, I made my rod holders out of electrical conduit and used really big zip ties to strap them to the milk crate, they were later torn off by big fish. I would like a FF too. I hate paddling across and area that I think is deep only to find out it is only 6 inches.

Ray, How is the golf game lately. I have had a pretty frustrating year. First season playing in leagues and I consistantly shoot 5 shots higher than I do playing on the weekends. I think its the extremely slow play of some of my partners (9 hole rounds of 71, 68)

[Ray]

Yeah my set up is pretty ugly I use cheap twine for leashes, I made my rod holders out of electrical conduit and used really big zip ties to strap them to the milk crate, they were later torn off by big fish. I would like a FF too. I hate paddling across and area that I think is deep only to find out it is only 6 inches.

Ray, How is the golf game lately. I have had a pretty frustrating year. First season playing in leagues and I consistantly shoot 5 shots higher than I do playing on the weekends. I think its the extremely slow play of some of my partners (9 hole rounds of 71, 68)

Twine, conduit, zip ties!!!!! That has got to be the ugliest setup I have ever heard of ;)

Invest in some good rod holders, maybe some paddle clips too.

The golf game has been pretty good. My driver is finally doing what I tell it to do. I had a guy at Farm Neck me if I was using a regulation club after a 310 yard drive on #4. OK it did have some nice rool to it!! I just wish I knew how to use the other clubs in the bag!!

[mdrew9]

Ray, not sure if anyone has told you this but Core .86 is illegal. Please put away your non conforming R500. I have never played Farm Neck. I know Mink Meadows like the back of my hand though.

My set up is ugly, but when I put it together its beautiful!

[Wes]

Definitely give the getting back in the yak thing a try before the rips. You'll get good experience surfing just give the surfer's and the bathing beaches plenty of room. Good idea to have a partner along if you're going for a swim, and make sure nobody is going to call in a premature rescue. A guy flapping around a kayak all looks the same from the beach. After a couple times in the surf you'll have it pretty well figured out. I can't see fishing much more than the fringes of a rip except near slack tides but currents can be hard to figure out and know just exactly when that is. There's usually too much going on paddling to screw around with a rod but those are the places where you can find some nice fish and you want to know that you can handle the water. Take a buddy for this kind of stuff and plan well, leave a float plan, call if you change it, etc.

Hard to keep anything in a milk crate if you blow a surf landing. Minimum gear at first, rod holders that will let you put the rods flush along the aft deck seem like a good idea. Use a line, preferably something other than bungee, for a paddle leash and anchor it to the bow. This way you can jump and keep control of the yak. Deck lines make good grabs as well. Don't get between yak and the beach, instead use the bow line to run it up the beach.

I can tell you for certain that pulling all-nighters in the kayak don't help your golf game on Monday.

[kayakninja]

Why reach back when you can troll up front. I like to watch what is happening when trolling. I use the rear mounts as transport only. Not only is it easier access after massive strikes you can also see if some debri has collected on your offering. Getting the rod out ninety degrees and low to the water is a plus too. I like tubular style rod holders like the scottys. The tubular style makes it easier to pull the rod out when a fish is running. I use Scotty rod holders. It comes with a solid base and I have it mounted with 1/4 inch SS hardware, bus or fender washers and lock washers. The rodholder is a quick release for storing when needed.

A rip is a rip but some are more dangerous then others.

[G-Man]

Most rips are fine if you can come up from behind it.
It's work to cast then paddle up to it again, but safer.

A peddle yak makes this easier, but that's another thing. ;)

Staying in front of a rip with wave more than 2 feet is asking for trouble, I think. If you catch something you'll go thru the rip with no paddle in the water and ask yourself if that seems "OK" for the rip you're looking at.

Fortunately, most of the rips near shore you can float thru with no issue.
Good luck.