Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge  

Go Back   Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge > Kayak Fishing Forum - Message Board > General Kayak Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-07-2017, 05:26 PM   #1
JasonFish
Junior
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2
How rough is too rough.

I am heading down to San Diego this weekend from northern california. I was planning to bring my kayak and venture out of La Jolla to try my luck with yellowtail I see that the forecasts are calling for mixed swell 4-5 and wind from SW/SE building to 10-20 knts on the days I was planning to fish. It sounds a bit rough to me, but not having any experience with the area I didn't know if perhaps there is local relief from wind/swell off La Jolla. I also don't know about accuracy of forecasts. I know up here they are subject to drastic changes. The big question is do I leave the kayak at home? It would be a big bummer to go through the hassle of hauling it if I wasn't able to get out, but I have been really looking forward to giving this a go. Any advise is much appreciated.
JasonFish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 06:09 PM   #2
Buddhaa64
Member
 
Buddhaa64's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 30
Bring It!

I would definitely bring it. Magicseaweed predicts 2.5 to 3 ft swells which is manageable. The wind shouldn't pickup until the afternoon, so assuming you hit the water early you should be good to go. The intervals between sets will be tricky, but La Jolla usually fairs as an easy launch.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0443.jpg (48.5 KB, 194 views)

Last edited by Buddhaa64; 06-07-2017 at 06:24 PM.
Buddhaa64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 06:17 PM   #3
jorluivil
Senior Member
 
jorluivil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,855
If you have any doubts fish some other day.
__________________


www.facebook.com/Teamsewer
jorluivil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 06:39 PM   #4
Mr. NiceGuy
Manic for Life
 
Mr. NiceGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 838
It looks OK to me from now through Saturday, at least. We have had a "June Gloom" marine layer lately. It was a little too chilly for just a t-shirt when I went out a few days ago. Water temp was 64, which is pretty close to butt temperature. A hoodie would have been nice. I'm wearing my kayak pants and hoodie with my vest tomorrow at sunrise. That should be fine. The overcast marine layer has been along the coast. It's not wet or foggy --- just a low overcast. Bring your sunblock anyway.

Which forecast are you using? I am curious to check it myself for comparison to what I use.

Try this one, specific to La Jolla Shores launch area:

http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/...latest/six_day

If you like fishing, I would say to bring your kayak. If the weather is good, it's hard to kayak fish without one.

You can also check a live cam view of the launch area from the homepage of this site.

From now through Saturday morning, the forecast for waves is 1.5', which is easy. Wind is 5-10mph, which is also easy. Waves are forecast to start picking up from Saturday afternoon. I don't feel uncomfortable coming back in 3.5' waves. I like going out in nice weather, so if waves look like they'll be 3.5' or more, I think I would rather stay home and work on my cars, or garden, or drink beer or do something else.

This is where I go:



If you don't want to launch through the waves in La Jolla, you can also launch inside of Mission Bay at Dana Landing on any day. Play it by ear and paddle out according to your comfort level. Fishing in San Diego Bay is fun for kayak fishing too. Lots of variety there. Different tackle. No yellowtail in SD bay but you might get a nice halibut.

Welcome to San Diego
__________________
Another ho-hum day in Paradise

Last edited by Mr. NiceGuy; 06-07-2017 at 06:57 PM.
Mr. NiceGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 06:57 PM   #5
TheBentRod
Senior Member
 
TheBentRod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Murrieta, CA and Bonney Lake, WA
Posts: 424
It's relative

Most days I am out the wind changes direction during my trip. I usually go where the wind takes me. If in the morning the wind direction is from the south, then I go north. About mid morning the wind changes and blows from the north and I float south back to the launch. Also, this does go vice versa on some days.

If the wind direction does not change during the day, I stay close to the launch on windy days. If you are going out and there are 15+ knot winds expected against the direction you are going, then definitely stay away. This means if you are going South, don't go into 15+ South winds.

On days where the wind is < 5 knots, it does not matter, it should be manageable either direction.

(Disclaimer: This is not La Jolla)
TheBentRod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 07:06 PM   #6
JasonFish
Junior
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2
I was hoping "bring the kayak" was the answer I would get. I just looked at the NOAA forecast. Up here it is pretty accurate for where I fish, and when it says it is going to blow it picks up pretty early and mixed swells are packed in tight.

Thanks for the link to La Jolla Shores, and the back up plan ideas. I usually cherry pick the best days, but this trip is already booked so I am at the mercy of the conditions.

Tight lines
JasonFish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 07:39 PM   #7
DanaPT
Senior Member
 
DanaPT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South OC
Posts: 1,605
Quote:
Originally Posted by jorluivil View Post
If you have any doubts fish some other day.
I think you have to go when you can even on less than ideal situations. It will allow you to appreciate the "perfect" conditions IF you ever find them.
DanaPT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 07:55 PM   #8
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
http://stormsurf.com/page2/forecast/shortcast/scal.html

I think the forecast for La Jolla, from a swell perspective, looks awesome for this weekend. On a south swell then the shores are in a swell shadow, and on a NW Or W swell I expect the canyon to "suck in" (defract or refract/warp) the longer period swell towards the pier area and away from the launch.

Of course I was schooled 2 Saturdays in a row in May when returning to the launch after fishing and made "wet landings".


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2017, 06:22 AM   #9
FullFlavorPike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 809
There's such a thing as "too rough"?
FullFlavorPike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2017, 10:06 AM   #10
dos ballenas
Vampyroteuthis infernalis
 
dos ballenas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 585
La Jolla is often miserable given the conditions forecasted below. It's important to check what the wind is doing on the day and night before the day you plan to fish. Looking at Friday night tells me Saturday morning will be pretty mixed up...

It should be still fish-able this weekend and the moon phase is right for it to bite, but the swells are going to be lumpy and bumpy and when the wind gets on it it will be

Inshore and offshore waters look lame this weekend.... not trying to say don't go as it should be safe enough to attempt fishing. But if you do go don't expect it to be nice out there.

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.ph...750&syn=pzz700

FRI
Wind SE to 10 kt...becoming W with gusts to 20 kt in the
afternoon
. Wind waves 2 ft or less. Mixed swell W 3 to 4 ft at
10 seconds and S 2 ft at 14 seconds.

FRI NIGHT
Wind W 10 to 15 kt. Gusts to 20 kt in the evening.
Wind waves 2 ft or less. Mixed swell W 3 to 5 ft at 10 seconds
and S 2 ft at 13 seconds.

SAT
Wind W 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or
less. Mixed swell W 3 to 4 ft at 10 seconds and S 2 ft at
13 seconds.

SAT NIGHT
Wind W 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Wind waves
3 ft in the evening...becoming 2 ft or less. Mixed swell W 3 to
5 ft and S 1 to 2 ft.

SUN
Wind W 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Wind waves 3 ft.
Mixed swell W 4 to 5 ft and SW 1 to 2 ft.

If you see gusts to 20 then you know it's gonna be blowing!
__________________
____________________________________________

dos ballenas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2017, 01:49 PM   #11
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
I guess I'm too focused on the surf zone launch and landing and not how bad the fishing will be. My bad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2017, 04:01 PM   #12
GregAndrew
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,384
The real answer is that it depends not only on the wind speed and swell size, but which direction they are coming from and for how long. Very large swell sizes can have little impact on beaches that are protected or more parallel to their direction. On the other hand, a couple of smaller swells from different directions can create some nasty breakers at times. The swell interval can also be a big issue. The first swell swamps you and takes away your momentum, and the second wave takes you backwards.

Higher wind speeds (10mph - 20mph) can be fished, but you will probably want to pick a location that is protected from at least the wind swell building (not too much distance between you and the nearest wind break up wind). The longer time and distance the wind stays coming from a particular direction (even at lower speeds) the more the wind swell is going to build. While off-shore winds are better for keeping the wind swell down, they are worse for safety when it gets above 20mph. On-shore winds are not much worth fishing when they are over 15mph. Especially when the regular swell is in much of a different direction (washing machine conditions).

All of this being said, predicting the wind is every bit as difficult as predicting the weather. It seems to me that the forecasters err towards the higher speeds, the further out the prediction. And tomorrows forecast will look very much like today's results (short of new weather moving in).

So, for your original question, the swells are mixed and building at LJ. The wind appears to be up and consistently out of the West for the weekend (day and night). Not good conditions if the forecast remains the same (sloppy at least). The good news is that the forecast will change between now an then (often). So make your decision when you have to, or have a backup plan for one of the bays.
GregAndrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 2002 Big Water's Edge. All rights reserved.