Quote from: NowhereMan on December 01, 2021, 05:11:14 PM

Nice writeup!

Quote from: astralography on December 01, 2021, 05:00:21 PM

Not sure if I were to tip over once, would I be able to continue fishing ...

I'm interested what the confirmed wet-suiters have to say about this particular issue.

I started out as a free diver trading off between fishing and diving any day I was out so I would be one of those confirmed wetsuiters  A lot depends on you and a bunch of factors like your wetsuit, the weather, whether you’re fishing for salmon or rockfish

From sometime in the 90s to a few years ago when I last fished salmon I was in a thin NRS farmer john, and took many a swim along the way. Actually in the salmon pics looks like there’s a photo of me in a shortie FJ. It’s always been fine but I have a pretty manageable kayak compared to most of the ones you see out there these days, so when I get knocked in I’m in the water a few minutes tops

Last two years I’m in the water 2-4 times a week and typically anywhere from 4-6 hours swimming with a camera in the surf lineup. Winter water temps here get fairly chilly, and I’m in a 4/3 which is great if you’re sitting on a board but just adequate for swimming for hours at a time

Reason I think all of that is relevant here is a practice is good thing but a situation where you get knocked in will be a different ball of wax

If I get any future salmon fishing time I’m changing to a full suit pulled down around my waist so I don’t overheat paddling but if I end up in the water for a long swim I can pull the suit up and be good to go

swapping from a no sleeves 3mil FJ to a full 4/3 this coming season, spent some time surfing this year down in sb with my 3mil FJ and even though the water is a little warmer down here I don't really think it cuts it, esp since it has gotten old and is thinning. I can self rescue but the conditions that would make me flip also make me worried I could get separated from my kayak and spend some time in the water before I could get help. Also self rescue is one thing but I imagine that self rescue and gear gathering with a now swamped kayak in 15+ wind and breaking swells is a whole other animal entirely. Very wet and very cold.

For tipping over and continuing fishing I have been rejected several times by the ocean on the launch, and assuming all gear still works pump the yak out and try again. Tipping on the water would probably mean the conditions are really shit and I would probably lose relevant gear so I would likely head in and focus on not getting rolled again.

Also I am interested to how swimming a kayak out works. I feel like I would just get spat back out onto the beach. It seems hard to pull a kayak through heavy surf and end up on the outside. You need fins?

cold n soggy sucks yo