shark bait...?

I was wondering if anyone, besides myself, had any concerns regarding using their kayaks in the pacific ocean coastal zones in northern and central california and the fact that the mirage drive fins, in conjunction with the outline of the boat, could create an even greater attraction to sharks in those area's as it may resemble their favorite prey item on the surface..sea lions and elephant seals..?! Even if a great white just took one investigation bite it could be a very dangerous situation if you were a mile out to sea and the boat had a big hole in it and and or you did too. I suppose we should always travel in groups anyway in case of emergencies but we are a group of one at this point. Is anybody using floation bags in their kayaks when entering the ocean? What other sorts of special precautions and equipment are those ocean going kayakers taking into the water when they leave shore..? Im not trying to get anyone paranoid here, just trying to get information from the more experienced kayakers and be better prepared for doing an ocean trip in the future. What to do and what not to do etc.
thanks in advance..
- kepnuts-

Kepnutz,

Those fins are pretty natural looking and the shape of the kayak may look like a seal but haven't heard of anyone having a problem but you never know. If a shark did take a bite it wouldn't come back for a second one.
I put a couple of those long plastic foam noodles in the hull of each of our sports, but don't know how the kayak would fair if it did spring a leak.
Hopefully no one will ever have to report about an such an incident.

jack

Thanks Jack..
I see no one cares too much about the shark topic or maybe even going into the pacific ocean at all with their hobie mirages..maybe thats my answer right there or its a yawner subject. Perhaps they must be going mainly to inland bodies of water only... If I go out and get chomped I guess you can read about us in the paper. We have lost a few people out here in years past. From my years of surfing I know of some "Sharky Area's" out here that you dont want to be playing around in and I was hoping to get some tips from the folks around here about doing ocean trips in general as well.
So whats a foam noddle anyway...? I have seen some float bags at the kayak store that are shaped like a triangle would those be ok or are foam noodles better. My wife made some foam noodles for dinner once and it tasted like Dog S**T..
Thanks
-kepnutz-
ps. The sharks out here only need one bite anyway.. that first one usually does the trick..

Kepnutz, your topic is of interest to me. My work recently relocated me from TX to San Jose, CA. As I have scouted potential offshore and bay locations I have wondered about Sharks. I also agree that the yak and flippers are about the most ideal shark lure you could think up. Not sure what the answer is though.

Foam noodles are the long foam sticks that pool stores sell for kids to play with in the water. Some yakers place them in the hull for additional floatation. I have also considered float bags, but be careful since someone posted here in the forum that the self tapping screws Hobie uses on some fittings leave a point in the inside of the hull which will poke a hole in float bags or water sacks.

Jack's idea sounds right on target to me. Think I'd go for the "pool noodles" too for positive flotation. They would also come in handy if your hull gets pierced by another boat or if you capsize with your hatch open.

I'm guessing you can get them at a pool supply.

So thats what foam noodles are.. I will have to check those out.. As for the stainless self tapping "A" point screws that hobies uses for the hatch covers I have already filed those down to a blunt point. The purchasing dept at Hobie Mfg could order the same sized and type stainless screws for all the hardware in the boat with a blunt "A/B" type point or flattened type "F" point if they wanted too. Either they dont know about it or whoever is supplying the screws for the hatch cover does not know that they are available that way from the fastener vendors either. That would eliminate any problems using dry bags or floation bags in the hull. A fairly simple fix that might make somone at hobie look pretty smart IMHO.
Welcome to the "Red Triangle" new2yak. I have been trying to figure out where to launch over hi-way 17 in santa cruz myself. The beach at cowells seems easy if the waves are small but where do you park. If you park right there its only good for two hours worth of quarters if you can even get one of the 15 available spots. Anywhere else and you are walking a long ways to get to the water. The Harbor beach area usually has bad waves in the surf zone for launching a yak so that leaves the harbor launch which means heavy parking and launch fees, since it is the only marina for miles and miles I think.(half moon bay or moss landing) The rest of the Santa Cruz area is steep bluffs with or without several flights of steep narrow concrete stairs and railings that makes it hard for two people to pass each other on with just surboards never mind carrying a heavy 16 foot kayak up and down. It would be easier to just huck your boat over the cliff and then cross your fingers and try and jump in after it ..not a viable option either in fifty degrees water with surf and longshore currents. Thought about it quite a bit but after weighing the options ruled out Natural Bridges..long walk plus pounding waves...Four Mile the same..Davenport the same... Scott creek the same..Waddel the same ..plus sharks due to the close proximity to Ano Nuevo..which is a definite no go area. So if you have any thoughts let me know. the other thing you need to have before launching is the surf forecast..the tide and weather forecast too. Going out on the right day is tricky. So unless you live right there and can go when its just right one has to watch and plan carefully. We really do since we have to drive two hours to get there one way which I have been doing for 11 years to go surfing..but we are new 2 yakking too so have to re-learn some good spots and things. Let us know if you figure out a good launch spot. Im sure you have had your fill at Lexington already

- kepnutz-

Thanks for the tips on locations. You just saved me a lot of time, effort, and driving. I have been scouting the coastal areas since arriving here and haven't found anything yet. Until I do, I thought I would just drive to Monterey and launch off the beach, or go inland to Elkhorn Slough (watching tides closely). Back in TX I was eagerly awaiting the new Revo, but now out here it looks like the Adventure will better meet my needs. My Sport is definitely too small for the likes of Half Moon Bay.

I fish out of Bodega Bay in my Adventure and don't really worry about the sharks, but that doesn't mean that I don't think about them at times, like when I'm hanging my legs over the side. A young woman surfer was attacked there last October and there have been a couple of recent sightings off Tomales Point at the south end of the Bay. Positive floatation is always a good idea, as is the buddy system. If you haven't already, check out the discussion on Great Whites and kayaks at
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/

Thanks for the info. I assume you go out of the bay, past the water break/beach? Do you ever go up the river exiting just south of bay? Any more advice to give? Do you wear a wetsuit or drysuit? I really didn't know that sharks were common in these areas. Any chance sharks are an issue inside the bay? This whole open ocean kayaking thing is totally new to me

Hey windrider..
Was thinking about going to "T-Bay" this weekend but now it looks like the fogs setting in according to N.W.S. forecast of that area. We launched at Hearts Desire Beach a few weeks back near Inverness and went up to Hog Island and back.. really a nice trip...but I heard that you should not go too far past Toms Point into the Dillon Beach area..any truth to that advice.. ? Where do you launch and play out there? Are you going out into the open ocean past Bodega Head..? I heard that can be pretty rough on the right day.The surfer-girl who was attacked was around the corner from Bodega Bay at Salmon Creek Beach but I know there have been plenty of hits down at Dillons Beach in years past and this is the time of year for that sort of stuff..now until November if Im not mistaken. So whats biting in Bodega Bay..rock fish ..bass..?
tight lines
-Kepnutz-

New2Yak,

When I have company, I like to launch off the little beach at Campbell Cove which is just inside Bodega Harbor (it's free). Help is appreciated carrying the kayaks down the bank because it is not too much fun carrying a 70 lb kayak over your head down a steep twisty trail, even if it is a short distance. When I'm alone, I launch from the Doran Beach ramp ($6 day use). Both are very close to the breakwater at the harbor entrance and there is no surf to contend with. I have a wet suit but usually wear waders with a dry top.

I'm not sure what you mean by "inside the Bay" and I'm wondering if you are not confusing Bodega Bay with Bodega Harbor which is the area inside the Doran Beach sand spit. Bodega Bay is the area east of a line from Bodega head to Tomales Point (over 4 miles) and Great Whites definitely venture into Bodega Bay at times. They occasionally harass the sea lions around Bodega Rock which is just outside the Harbor.

I'm also not sure what you meant by "the river exiting just south of bay".
There are no rivers which flow into Bodega Bay, but there are two creeks, Estero Americano and Estero de San Antonio and I have not tried either of those. The south end of Bodega Bay is the entrance to Tomales Bay which is a great place to sail or kayak. Hope this helps!

kepnutz,

You posted while I was responding to New2Yak, so I missed your questions. Yes, the woman was at Salmon Creek Beach, I just consider it all the same area.

I do go out into the open ocean but not passed Bodega Head, because big waves frequently break between the Head and Bodega Rock. They also break south of Bodega Rock for a ways, so I go south to the Gong Buoy and then go west which is much safer.

Going out of Tomales Bay can be a problem for the same reason which is breaking waves across the bar. It can be done safely but you have to watch the conditions carefully and it is best to stay to the west side to avoid the waves. I was sailing in Tomales Bay a couple of weeks ago and we went out over the bar because conditions were good, but I have had big waves rise in front of me there and smash down on my little Windrider 17. That is not much fun!!

Bodega Bay was hot for salmon last month, but the water has warmed up and they have moved off shore a ways. On my last trip I caught my limit of Salmon (2), a 2 foot Ling Cod and a rock fish while trolling for Salmon. My biggest Salmon was 28 lbs & 39" long. There are some good rock fish areas there and the halibut fishing can be quite good at times. If I don't go this weekend I may go next weekend.

Don't worry about the fog in Tomales too much, just stay on the west side next to the shore and you'll be fine. Tomales can also be good for Halibut, so if you go, consider taking a rod along.

Hey Windrider.. Sounds like the fishing is pretty good in the Bodega area .. I will have to get out there and wet a line someday. Thanks for the tips on how to route it. The fishing here has been slowish. Its just been to hot to even go out. The flip side is if you do go out and hook a fish they are already cooked by the time you get em in the boat just add seasoning and there you go..! Save you the trouble of lighting the stove.. Have you done much yakking in the water up in the delta there.? I was thinking about the Sherman Island area on down to Point Sacramento and or up toward Decker Island Rio Vista way. We had to paddle my friends Hobie 16 up river one day when the wind died to get back to the Sherman launch ramp. It was tedious but it worked. We really enjoyed that trip anyway and sailed down to Pittsburgh and mostly back. I was wondering what you thought of it or if you have gone out there? We are new to this stuff and are always pondering where else to go.
Have a good weekend
-Kepnutz-

Kepnutz,
According to the NorCal board there were FOUR Great White sightings off Tomales Point yesterday and there was one earlier in the week by the bar at the mouth of the Bay!

Hey windrider..
I wonder just how many more whites are out there that were not sighted...! It's the ones that you dont see that cause all the trouble ! They are the ones that will get ya. If you are in their yard that day you wont see those buggers until they have half your boat in their mouth ! .. We are probably going out else where tommorrow I think . We gotta get stuff done first around the house today.. Sunday we will try going up the north fork of the American River Canyon out of Horseshoe Bar at Folsom Lake as far as we can. I have been fishing up there before and its pretty nice. The speed limit from the launch on up is only 5 mph so it should be a nice run. The weather here should be pretty good too. I guess going up to Tomales Point from Inverness for the day with a mackrel tied to my rudder is not such a good idea now anyway. Thanks for the heads up on the sightings I went to that site and bookmarked it. I looked for the "shark topic" forum but did not find it yet..so I better check again. Looks like a great site though thanks for the link. You had better keep your feet in the boat now if you head over to Bodega
kepnutz