Don't Let This Happen To You

[Billy V]

Go Play a Lottery Ticket Today - you might still have some of that lucky Karma attached to You.

I'm glad to hear you survived the ordeal and would like to offer a suggestion to our kayak fishing community. Your calm head played an important part in your survival.

- As a former search and rescue firefighter, and motorcycle instructor I have survival mindset and carry this along to my kayak fishing, and many other things in my life.

On the bikes I used to teach students to Dress For the Crash.
This also applies to kayak fishing.
You have to assume you will be quickly parting from your vessel and in a fight for your life - on your own - in open water.

There are several things I don't leave home without:
PFD with Attached Water Whistle, Tethered Floating Icom VHF, Cell Phone in a small dry bag with SD Lifeguard Number on Speed Dial, Attached Knife, Water Proof Laser Flashlight (Its very bright even in daylight)
-A fresh charge on all your batteries.
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Its no joke out there, look out for your fellow kayak fisherman. By this time you should have a trained eye to spot the signs of a distressed kayak fisherman.
ie. Paddle waving in the air, whistle blowing, unusual noise (its usually quiet as a church out there), a person signaling with a flashlight.
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I caught one of my best fishing buddies while kayak fishing off La Jolla a few years ago using the perception I described above.

-He is Still the largest catch I have landed there to this day.
A 220 lb. Pilipino.

[sandydiego]

I'm thinking about stuffing some empty 2 liter soda bottles in the empty areas of the yak.

[troutnut]

Originally Posted by sandydiego

I'm thinking about stuffing some empty 2 liter soda bottles in the empty areas of the yak.

2 liter bottles will only keep your kayak from sinking to the bottom, that's it. They only provide flotation when the water level pushes then against the hull. It is better to wedge pool noodles in the hull for positive flotation. I have 10+ stuffed in the stern of my Trident 15, some large size, some the skinny Walmart ones. The large ones are under the seat, and I put the rod butts in the holes to keep my reels off the bottom. But I am going to tether my pump today, and I have a spare bilge pump for my other boat in the garage, I'm going to wire it up and install it this weekend.


Glad your ok Big Barrel. I'm also glad it was your "teachable moment" and not mine. I would have been waving as I sunk to the bottom.