Author Topic: Sept 9 th A day I will not forget to soon. (Warning its a long story) (Read 9629 times)

ped579 · « **on:** September 10, 2009, 01:24:11 AM »

Hi All,

Well a good friend Rich and I were itching to get out and fish the back of IBSP this evening so we checked the radars and saw no serious weather so we made a go of it. We loaded the kayaks into his pickup and headed for the island. Said hi to Fred at the gate and we were on the island about 20 after 6. Our plan was to fish for about an hour and a half with a quick row out to the back of the sedge islands and plug for striper's as Rich caught 3 shorts there on Monday.

As we unloaded the boats set them up and Rich drove the truck back out to the lot at A21. Upon his return we got into the kayaks and started to paddle out and once about half way out we noticed the wind started to pick up which was at that time no big deal, till a good gust of wind and wave action flipped me over. No biggie, I just stood up and untangled myself from the lanyards and got back in and it was at that time we kind of realized the wind is now really starting to kick.

Rich hugged one of the sedges and began to fish and had a good strike but did not land this one. I cast out and notices that I was drifting at a good pace, to good in fact. I dropped my new anchor and waited for the tug but the anchor was not holding. It was a new design and I thought it would work pretty good. No matter what the scope of line I let out it still was not holding. So I figured I would row over to Rich and regroup and decide our next move.

Well I never made it to Rich as fast as I was paddling I was going backwards, not good. So I figured I would paddle over to another sedge and wait till Rich realized I was not moving. I planted my bow into the island and with in a few minutes he was over by me. We had to make a decision here. By this time the wind was howling at over 20 with small whitecaps but what we realized the current was going out as well. Defiantly not good. At this point we were at the last sedge island before the secondary channel going out to the inlet.

We made the decision to walk the sedge island by foot and tow the kayaks in the water. Well that was a very slippery decision but the right one. It was a slow go but when we reached the small island off to our left we knew if we were able to get there traipsing in the water we were in a pretty good position to hoof it back the the small beach area.

By this time it was getting pretty dark and the water although warm was nasty. Rich was the smart one and he wore water shoes and all I had were my moccasins, again not good as if I kept them on the silt would of claimed them in an instant. So I barefooted it. Well needless to say it brought me back to my childhood traipsing back there looking for clams, cool but squishy.

I guess all the time I spent back there as a child paid off. We both knew the water was walkable from that point except for about 20 yards off the beach. We also knew it would be deeper, but because of the NE wind and the ripping current going out we thought for sure it was passable. We could make out the tree line as it is now totally dark and what was really cool were the jellies. As you would walk along and walk through the grass on the bottom you could see them fire off their luminescent glow.

Well we hit the section where we could sense the bottom getting deeper. We talked about it before we got to this point and made a ruling anything over chest high we would get back in the kayaks and paddle the rest of the way. We stopped for a while and rested had some water and just talked.

Okay it is time for the final push. At this point the water is at the limit marker where we made the decision, but just at that instant something weird happened. I am holding my kayak, Rich is holding onto his and all of a sudden I hear this strange sound. PFSSSSSSSSHT. I shouted What the Hell was that? I look over at Rich and his head is looking up at the sky and there is this big yellow thing around his neck. He started to laugh and then I realized what it was; his life vest went off, he for got to turn it to manual and when the water got high enough it automatically inflated. It scared the hell out of both of us.

From there is was an easy walk to the beach and safety. BTW we both were wearing life vests. Mine was a manual unit so I was safe from having it go off.

Well I guess the fish were safe tonight but what a hell of a ride and walk. Got home before 9:30 and unloaded my stuff and sent rich on his way. He only lives a few blocks away so it was not to bad for him.

There are a few good things that came out of this trip. Make sure you have a good anchor. Watch for the wind, sea, and tide conditions as they could change in an instant as they did tonight. Be aware of your surroundings as they can look very different in the dark. I have been fishing and walking those flats for about 50 years and it took both of us to get back safe.

I have to say that rigging for tonight's outing was a good lesson in what not to bring. I like to go lite anyway and I am glad I am that way. Everything was lanyard off and everything else was stowed in waterproof bags, pelican boxes are the greatest, and stowed below in water tight compartments. Neither of us lost any gear.

I am glad I had someone with me on a night like tonight like Rich who is a seasoned kayaker that knows the back about as well as anyone. We did not catch any fish but it was an experience that I soon won't forget.

Be safe...And Happy Catching

Can't wait for the next outing, What a RUSH.

Paul

captainbailey · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2009, 03:01:13 AM »

Glad to hear you made it out safe and didn't lose any gear.

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Author Topic: Sept 9 th A day I will not forget to soon. (Warning its a long story) (Read 9629 times)