Paddle your Arse off Or you going to see it!
We all have that moment. Some of us more than others. You paddle into a thick set of curling walls of white death. You mistime a wave, or don’t back yourself, or don’t paddle hard enough, and end up doing a backward flick flack that a trapeze artist would applaud, and grab some free rock and surf bait as you tumble through the shore break. While plucking the Sea lice from your butt you look at that unforgiving ocean and think..”Bloody hell, I could have done that a lot better!!”
And you probably could have..
Yes, there are moments when no matter how well you have done everything, that temperamental Neptune is going to spit you out with ignominy. And there is nothing you can do about that. However a lot of the time you could have done better, so let’s try and help you to do that next time.
Putting this article together I used my knowledge of gathering sea lice at a prolific rate, combined with some great advice from top kayak anglers and mixed it all into a potjie pot of Ocean slugging indulgence that will hopefully help you become better at launching, and beaching your fishing ski.
Firstly (or lastly, I just chose to mention it first) spend some time at a sheltered launch such as DUC, on a day where there are fair size waves coming through but are not intimidating. Spend the session, or even better, a few sessions, practising your beaching and launching techniques. Use the tips in this article, and put them into practice in an environment where you are less susceptible to being pounded too badly. Don’t even take a rod, just launch and beach, launch and beach, over and over….Actually, I’m lying take one rod just in case. Even just a flick stick, just in case. Always be fishing. But seriously though, dedicate this time to becoming better at beaching and launching. The more you practice the better you get. And this applies to all levels of kayak anglers. You can never stop learning. And your fitness will improve.
When you go down to the beach before you launch, try and figure out what is the worst thing that can happen to you. So if the biggest set catches you, or you fall off at backline, or you get caught in a rip, can you physically within your own abilities, handle that envisioned scenario. If you can’t, or the thought of it makes you uncomfortable, then you shouldn’t launch that day.
Then looking at other factors to consider- what are your chances of getting out, do you want to risk breaking your ski or paddle, or risk your life, or someone else’ life who may have to rescue you. Sometimes people look at the size of the surf and make their call based on that, instead of looking at the breaks in the sets and how manageable it is. There may be really big sets but in between them are long, calm, flat gaps that are easy to get out. Some of your breaks you have to be in the water already when the break comes, some of them you can call it straight from the beach. Calling the break from the beach is often quite difficult and sometimes conditions don’t allow it.
You have to remember that you are going to get it wrong at some point no matter how good you are, so that’s why you need to assess what is the worst that can happen to you. No matter how good you are or experienced you are, that reality check will come so be prepared for it. And remember, before you even hit that water make sure your PFD is on and always remove paddle leash when launching & Beaching. You could lose a limb or get strangled.
Most launches will have a safe area, normally in the mid break or just past the shore break, where you can sit and wait for your gap. Use that safe zone to good effect. Use it catch a breath if you need, and to wait for the perfect moment to take the gap. You can also use the waves to drift backwards when launching if you think you have mistimed the launch and need to move back a bit into the midbreak. And when that gap comes, paddle like you mean it! Paddle hard and with intent. Paddle straight. If a set comes you need to be hitting it head on, not sideways. Most of the time, your momentum will shoot you over the wave, and even if you catch a bit of the lip paddling straight will help you punch it. Any hint of a side on, and that slab of water is going to tackle you like Jonah Lomu lining up Mike Catts ribs. Paddle absolutely flat out on launches and beaching. You can catch your breath when past backline.
Ok so you made it out, you have caught a fish..or not. You still have to get back in!
Coming back in or beaching is often a lot more tricky, as you have your back to the ocean at crucial stages, and you have to get your timing of the sets even more spot on. The benefit is that if you come off you are heading in the right direction anyway. However there are still dangers like rip currents, and it’s not always nice having a long swim in at a place like Cape Vidal, or some of the Eastern and Western Cape launch sites, who have some not so friendly residents. So ultimately you want to stay on your ski all the way to the beach.
When coming in, momentum is your friend and the sets can actually be a great help if utilised properly. If you are able to surf a wave all the way to the beach, it’s not only going to save energy, but is epic fun and you will look good to your chick on the beach, or your mom, or sister, whoever it is that reveres you like a Baywatch character. Just like when you are getting ready to launch, sit back and assess the scenario when you get to backline. Take a few minutes to watch the sets as they roll in. See where your gap is, and how long the gap is. Work out roughly where you plan to paddle in, and where the beaching area is.
Again, first things first, paddle like you mean it! It’s not a Sunday arvie paddle at the dam. And paddle straight. Don’t paddle almost parallel to the beach. Either turn 180 degrees and hit it straight on as hard as you can, and then then look for another set, or paddle away from it as hard as you can straight toward the beach. Never be side on to the curling wave. You should be aiming straight into the channel where the waves aren’t breaking, and then once out the danger zone, turn up to paddle into the bay or toward your beaching area. Momentum is key. Get ahead of the breaking point of the wave and if you time it right you will surf it in. The closer you are to the beach the less momentum a wave has before it hits you. In reality there is normally about 50m of water to cross that is the danger or impact zone. Rather get across that as quick as you can. If you are not up for surfing the wave, often just behind each wave is a small bump that you can ride to give you additional speed. Time it after a set catch a little bump over the danger zone and then all you have to worry about is the shorey. After that if a foamy knocks you off you shouldn’t really do damage to yourself or your ski unless you get stuck in a rip. Paddle hard! Did we say this before? Well its worth repeating. You can catch your breath on the beach.
Another trick if caught in a strong foamy, is to then turn your craft side on and get your feet out at the last moment and lean into the wave. This is not always easy to do, and is another technique worth practising over and over again. This may help to keep you on board and not broach. Or leg out on side that the wave is once you’ve broached. If you spin out and end up facing the waves then don’t panic, again legs out and just try ride it in backwards.
Finally you are nearly there but sometime the shore break is the worst part. If you have made it through the big sets and there is just a shorey ahead then time it to come in hard on the back of a wave, and get washed as far up the beach as possible.
And remember always, always wear your pfd when launching or beaching, and never, ever be afraid to walk away and launch another day.
