tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82397137410041164892014-11-19T21:06:43.510-08:00Kayak Angler by Jason SelfJason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-2981667197001833692014-11-12T12:18:00.004-08:002014-11-12T12:19:29.480-08:00Goal Zero Feature: Kayaking the California Coast<div class="inner-page-wrap has-right-sidebar has-one-sidebar row clearfix"><br /><article class="post-8973 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-guest-post-2 clearfix col-sm-8" id="8973" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting"> <div class="page-content clearfix"><br /><figure class="media-wrap" itemscope="">Here's a short piece I put together for <a href="http://www.goalzero.com/" target="_blank">Goal Zero Solar</a> that was featured on their site yesterday. I think it accurately summarizes my spring and summer. Full post <a href="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/2014/11/11/kayaking-the-california-coast/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</figure><figure class="media-wrap" itemscope=""><br /></figure><figure class="media-wrap" itemscope=""><img alt="self_IMG_5496" src="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/self_IMG_5496.jpg" height="500" itemprop="image" width="750" /></figure> <br /><div class="post-info clearfix"><span class="vcard author">Posted on <span class="date updated">November 11, 2014</span> in <a href="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/category/guest-post-2/">Guest post</a></span> </div><br /><section class="article-body-wrap"> <div class="body-text clearfix" itemprop="articleBody"><em>Guest post by Jason Self.</em><br /><br />When asked recently to describe my best moment on the water this summer, I was stumped. Not because of a lack of exceptional moments, but rather, too many to chose from. You see, recently I made a big move. I quit my job, left my friends and family in the city, packed up my gear and moved to the coast of far Northern California to start fresh. I am a sea kayaker and to me, the rocks, reefs, and surf breaks around Trinidad, California are paradise.<br /><br />Like most of us, I spent the majority of my time grinding away to save money and squeeze out time for a weekend at the coast, or a week of vacation traveling to a far away destination to complete an expedition, all to satisfy my desire for exploration and adventure in the outdoors. It all began to seem trivial. “Why spend 99% of my time wishing I was somewhere else, doing something else?” I thought. So in December of this year I decided to relocate to my dream sea kayak destination. Now instead of a week long expedition once a year, I live it every single day, and I couldn’t possibly be happier. So picking my best moment this summer was a challenge. Every day is magic.<br /><img alt="self_5299" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8977" src="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/self_5299.jpg" data-wp-pid="8977" height="500" width="750" /><br />In April California Gray Whales were thick around Trinidad during their migration North from Baja to Alaska. In a two week period, I encountered twenty six gray whales while sea kayaking. Mostly mother’s with calves, some of them spouting, jumping, and slapping their flukes within twenty feet of my kayak, some appeared directly beneath me. Every single encounter was mind blowing. Nothing is quite as humbling as being made to feel like a tiny insignificant speck of life, looking out over the infinite ocean being dwarfed by massive whales.<br /><img alt="self_GP-CP-6" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8974" src="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/self_GP-CP-6.jpg" data-wp-pid="8974" height="500" width="375" />In late May, bottom fishing opened in Northern California. With world class ocean fishing now 400 yards from my house, I’ve been able to get out nearly every day. What was once an itch I could only satisfy a few times a year is now a weekly activity.<br /><br />In June I encountered the first shark I’ve ever seen in ten years of sea kayaking; a small four foot salmon shark just a few feet off the launch beach. This was a pivotal moment for me. Like most children of the 70’s, I saw the movie ‘Jaws’ when I was young, and like most people, it gave me a totally skewed & unrealistic perspective on shark behavior. I’ve been paranoid about them for most of my life. My first encounter was an incredible experience. The salmon shark was docile & friendly (the opposite of Jaws) I was able to paddle close with it for ten minutes before it slipped below the surface and returned to sea. Since then I’ve had two more encounters with sharks, one large thresher, and one great white. In both instances I was fishing from my sea kayak with a stringer full of fish hanging in the water. With both sharks, the moment they saw me they turned tail and swam away as quickly as they could. They were afraid of me! I managed to snap a photo of the salmon shark with my GoPro, and the reaction I received from so many people; “That’s dangerous!”, “You’re crazy!”, “That’s so scary!”, furthered my realization of the bad rap sharks get. I realized society has been fed a load of misinformation about sharks, playing on people’s fears. The more I learned first hand, the less afraid I became. I realized it’s not sharks people are afraid of, but the fear of the unknown, and the media’s portrayal of sharks plays into this fear.<br /><img alt="self_IMG_4661" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8975" src="http://www.goalzero.com/solarlife/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/self_IMG_4661.jpg" data-wp-pid="8975" height="750" width="750" /><br />Of course, happiness means nothing unless it’s shared, and my greatest satisfaction comes from introducing these unique experiences to others. Coaching and guiding is my true passion. It gives me the opportunity to show people first hand the immense beauty of the coast and it’s wildlife, and the threats facing it. Seeing people’s faces light up with excitement when encountering a whale, catching a fish, or riding a wave for the first time is what it’s all about for me. Each time I know I’ve helped spark a new passion for someone, my mission has been accomplished.<br /><hr /><em>You can find more from Jason at the following:</em><br /><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/" style="color: blue;">pacificoutfittersadventures.com<br /></a><a href="http://kayakangler.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">kayakangler.blogspot.com<br /></a><a href="http://seatrash.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">seatrash.blogspot.com</a></span><br /><em>Jason uses the Goal Zero <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.goalzero.com/p/79/guide-10-plus-solar-kit" style="color: blue;" title="Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Solar Kit">Guide 10 Plus</a></span> and <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.goalzero.com/p/149/sherpa-50-solar-kit" style="color: blue;" title="Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Solar Kit">Sherpa 50</a></span> Solar Kits to power his adventures. </em></div></section></div></article></div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-12841801684693022862014-10-29T10:00:00.000-07:002014-10-29T10:00:51.349-07:00Kayak Angler's Choice Awards 2014<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dpqP86IFx88/VFEcvRdVWrI/AAAAAAAACNE/kFRUV528OFw/s1600/7e46dfd830734cbe3b036e6d86e5aa31_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dpqP86IFx88/VFEcvRdVWrI/AAAAAAAACNE/kFRUV528OFw/s1600/7e46dfd830734cbe3b036e6d86e5aa31_L.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm incredibly honored to be nominated in the <a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice" target="_blank">2014 Kayak Angler's Choice Awards</a> for the fourth year in a row. This year I was nominated in the Angler of the Year category, and I have to say the list is filled with some incredible kayak fishers, most of which I don't hold a candle to. Again to who ever nominated me, thank you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although this blog won the Best Kayak Fishing Blog category last year, it was not included this year due to a new rule requiring nine posts through September. As I've neglected you a bit this year while launching my new business in California, I only had six posts at the time of cut off. I'd like to think the focus at this blog is quality not quantity, but I also understand the need for the new rule. There's always next year!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am very excited to see my shop <a href="http://www.pacificoutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Outfitters</a> nominated for Best Kayak Fishing Retailer/Outfitter, and Trinidad, California; My personal playground and home to our saltwater kayak fishing tournament; <a href="http://kayakangler.blogspot.com/2014/09/2014-pacific-outfitters-trinidad.html" target="_blank">Trinidad Rockfish Wars</a>, nominated for Best Fishing Location.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Votes</strong><span> for the Kayak Anglers Choice Awards will be taken for </span><strong>3 weeks</strong><span>. Week 1 and week 2 top 50% of vote-getters in each category will advance to the next round, with the exception of the "Angler" category. The top fifty will advance to Round 2, and the top 10 of those will advance to the final round. KACA polls will only be active during the voting and nominations phases.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span></span>There will be<a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice"> three rounds of voting</a>:<br /> <strong> </strong><br /><strong>Round 1</strong>: 12am EST Monday Oct. 27 - 8pm EST Sunday Nov 2<br /> <strong> </strong><br /><strong>Round 2</strong>: 12am EST Monday Nov 3 - 8pm EST Sunday Nov 9<br /> <strong> </strong><br /><strong>Round 3</strong>: 12am EST Monday Nov 10 - 8pm EST Sunday Nov 16<br /><br />Results will be announced on November 24. Cast your vote for your favorites by visiting <a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice">www.yakangler.com/choice</a><br /><br /><br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-13066600524576625282014-10-22T11:03:00.002-07:002014-10-25T14:21:09.049-07:00Lumpy Waters Symposium, Survivorman Les Stroud<div style="text-align: justify;">On October 9th, 2014, I made my way North up the coast to Pacific City, Oregon for the sixth annual <a href="http://lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">Lumpy Waters Symposium</a> hosted by <a href="http://aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a>. This was my fifth year coaching at the event, which is the largest sea kayak symposium on the West Coast. I was honored for the return invite, and planned to lead handline fishing classes targeting lingcod, cabezon, rockfish, and greenling. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mother nature had other plans apparently. I arrived just before dark to a windless, 3-5ft long period swell. The forecast for Friday picked up a little to 4-6ft but it still looked promising. The forecast for my class days on Saturday & Sunday, however, did not.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Students arrived late morning on Friday, and after a short paddle inside the cape, I decided to shoot some photos on the beach during the "Fear to Fun in the Surf", "Beginning Long Boat Surfing", and "Short Boat Surfing" classes, knowing this would likely be my only chance to capture the scene. I typically have little opportunity to snap photos while I'm leading a class. Here are a few from Friday:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hqjizhsrGQ/VEfc6ousEoI/AAAAAAAACJY/nActVedDxBY/s1600/IMG_5616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hqjizhsrGQ/VEfc6ousEoI/AAAAAAAACJY/nActVedDxBY/s1600/IMG_5616.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wggrrxf9gS0/VEfc8sqnXPI/AAAAAAAACJg/vivCAicDe0w/s1600/IMG_5622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wggrrxf9gS0/VEfc8sqnXPI/AAAAAAAACJg/vivCAicDe0w/s1600/IMG_5622.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-odhYS7_OCfE/VEfc-Tu1ArI/AAAAAAAACJo/B74ejHmYpBk/s1600/IMG_5629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-odhYS7_OCfE/VEfc-Tu1ArI/AAAAAAAACJo/B74ejHmYpBk/s1600/IMG_5629.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VkK5IOjyrRs/VEfdCes0BcI/AAAAAAAACJw/EDWovFYmrIE/s1600/IMG_5638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VkK5IOjyrRs/VEfdCes0BcI/AAAAAAAACJw/EDWovFYmrIE/s1600/IMG_5638.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNyLlLGkYIo/VEfdDRNwL9I/AAAAAAAACJ4/rn6A-4-2-D8/s1600/IMG_5642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNyLlLGkYIo/VEfdDRNwL9I/AAAAAAAACJ4/rn6A-4-2-D8/s1600/IMG_5642.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFktkIk5jo0/VEfdJLINpbI/AAAAAAAACKM/q6TX5zK_MgM/s1600/IMG_5643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFktkIk5jo0/VEfdJLINpbI/AAAAAAAACKM/q6TX5zK_MgM/s1600/IMG_5643.jpg" height="303" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XiTgXoHq9_s/VEfdImu6wfI/AAAAAAAACKI/B7xrAzVsAmE/s1600/IMG_5650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XiTgXoHq9_s/VEfdImu6wfI/AAAAAAAACKI/B7xrAzVsAmE/s1600/IMG_5650.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7E-MnrHJmDQ/VEfdKC0FK5I/AAAAAAAACKY/mmUfVHaOWwQ/s1600/IMG_5653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7E-MnrHJmDQ/VEfdKC0FK5I/AAAAAAAACKY/mmUfVHaOWwQ/s1600/IMG_5653.jpg" height="320" width="280" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-waQMd_jtwz0/VEfdLrJipMI/AAAAAAAACKg/nJ0znY-isvE/s1600/IMG_5654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-waQMd_jtwz0/VEfdLrJipMI/AAAAAAAACKg/nJ0znY-isvE/s1600/IMG_5654.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6rlqzXmy7k/VEfdRo4mjBI/AAAAAAAACKw/P-Dy8AeRA3U/s1600/IMG_5655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6rlqzXmy7k/VEfdRo4mjBI/AAAAAAAACKw/P-Dy8AeRA3U/s1600/IMG_5655.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkIaSDm_lrY/VEfdPyrZtYI/AAAAAAAACKo/4CR4Wq5z4xg/s1600/IMG_5657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkIaSDm_lrY/VEfdPyrZtYI/AAAAAAAACKo/4CR4Wq5z4xg/s1600/IMG_5657.jpg" height="144" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW8piGQJ8hQ/VEfdbzLkGYI/AAAAAAAACLI/WaxPmbXy-0I/s1600/IMG_5672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW8piGQJ8hQ/VEfdbzLkGYI/AAAAAAAACLI/WaxPmbXy-0I/s1600/IMG_5672.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmmIpHap_6U/VEfdVQe5q7I/AAAAAAAACK4/AA5B6_Dzq88/s1600/IMG_5686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmmIpHap_6U/VEfdVQe5q7I/AAAAAAAACK4/AA5B6_Dzq88/s1600/IMG_5686.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojSS1ASYRzc/VEfdYtjA13I/AAAAAAAACLA/L4OjVnSw-qs/s1600/IMG_5688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojSS1ASYRzc/VEfdYtjA13I/AAAAAAAACLA/L4OjVnSw-qs/s1600/IMG_5688.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPfLcVQR_F0/VEfdintz15I/AAAAAAAACLY/-uXXIA5XDeA/s1600/IMG_5695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPfLcVQR_F0/VEfdintz15I/AAAAAAAACLY/-uXXIA5XDeA/s1600/IMG_5695.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xB-V68zJJwY/VEfdh-rE55I/AAAAAAAACLQ/mTBIj8lvLGc/s1600/IMG_5701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xB-V68zJJwY/VEfdh-rE55I/AAAAAAAACLQ/mTBIj8lvLGc/s1600/IMG_5701.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3oZu_WMbuc/VEfdk9zKgxI/AAAAAAAACLg/xajYjc-aUlo/s1600/IMG_5720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3oZu_WMbuc/VEfdk9zKgxI/AAAAAAAACLg/xajYjc-aUlo/s1600/IMG_5720.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTWzIHP3ycw/VEfdpQXNPKI/AAAAAAAACLs/YfL3UIHh5Jk/s1600/IMG_5723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTWzIHP3ycw/VEfdpQXNPKI/AAAAAAAACLs/YfL3UIHh5Jk/s1600/IMG_5723.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1VzCLwuhTM/VEfdpK46CUI/AAAAAAAACLo/IYdZdGPHg6E/s1600/IMG_5727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1VzCLwuhTM/VEfdpK46CUI/AAAAAAAACLo/IYdZdGPHg6E/s1600/IMG_5727.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SaBdm-V2Gr4/VEfdsWxuGrI/AAAAAAAACL4/_R73s-B-uac/s1600/IMG_5755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SaBdm-V2Gr4/VEfdsWxuGrI/AAAAAAAACL4/_R73s-B-uac/s1600/IMG_5755.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTlTUy_qk88/VEfdx7EPh1I/AAAAAAAACMA/Jog_HjfS2xM/s1600/IMG_5765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTlTUy_qk88/VEfdx7EPh1I/AAAAAAAACMA/Jog_HjfS2xM/s1600/IMG_5765.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HohnYYExF-A/VEfd0QmaQ1I/AAAAAAAACMI/FrGdcoUgvUk/s1600/IMG_5777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HohnYYExF-A/VEfd0QmaQ1I/AAAAAAAACMI/FrGdcoUgvUk/s1600/IMG_5777.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGml3B1A-7A/VEfd9G0BE3I/AAAAAAAACMY/D6P_QY-DaYU/s1600/IMG_5784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGml3B1A-7A/VEfd9G0BE3I/AAAAAAAACMY/D6P_QY-DaYU/s1600/IMG_5784.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overnight Friday the roar of the surf grew louder. I woke before dawn to scout the cape, knowing by the sound of the breaking waves that there was no way we were getting offshore and out to Haystack Rock to jig for bottom fish. The ocean and the forecast aligned, and I was staring a 9-14ft long period swell with a huge shore break right in the face. Those conditions are challenging for paddling no doubt, and one hundred percent miserable for holding position and jigging from our sea kayaks. I resorted to plan B, again, with a little bit of disappointment at the uncooperative conditions for yet another Lumpy. The only option for running my classes would be crabbing in protected areas such as inside Cascade Head at the mouth of the Salmon River, or in Tillamook, Netarts, or Nestucca Bay. On Saturday I chose Cascade Head.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At Cascade Head we didn't find as much protection as we were hoping for. We immediately paddled down about 3/4 of a mile to the mouth and found ten powerboats trolling in 8-10ft waves and a strong flood tide pushing upriver at 4-6kts. We quickly retreated upriver and soon took shelter at the last bend before the surf zone. We found an eddy I had crabbed many times before in a sheltered spot and began fishing for dungeness. After my students had gotten the hang of it and caught a few keepers, I decided to drop my full size crab trap. My students use Crab Hawks and handlines, which are much more conducive to sea kayak transport on multiday trips than a traditional trap. Since Crab Hawks are not legal in California, I've had to look at other options. Although the full size trap is difficult to manage from a sea kayak, I got the hang of it and caught a few keepers in about an hour of fishing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Satisfied my class had a meal caught already, I drifted upriver one hundred yards to get out on the beach and relieve myself in an area up from two bends in the river, where I had never seen a breaking wave in the dozens of times I had been to this spot. I pulled both feet out of the cockpit and was just about to get out of my boat when I heard the roar of a breaking wave fast approaching. "Ah sh*t." I thought to myself, "I'm going for a ride." Instantly I looked to my right to see a three to four foot foam pile wrapping around the bend with less than a second or two to scramble safely from my boat and secure it on the beach. I decided riding it out would be the better option. I braced and back paddled and got tossed around. The river surged skyward beneath me up four feet from where I was a second earlier. Suddenly the fallen tree high on the bank was at water level, and I was headed right for it. I back paddled hard out into the river narrowly escaping the tree and pulled my feet back in the cockpit. One of my students asked; "Did you see that 10ft log in that wave? It was headed right for you." As the words were leaving his mouth, another surge came through and smashed the huge log into the fallen tree I managed to dodge just seconds before, sending woody debris flying everywhere. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The huge surf carried a massive storm surge with it. When we paddled back to the boat launch just after high tide, the parking lot was inundated with water. A few two foot curling waves broke up river from the launch, nearly 3/4 of a mile upriver from the mouth. It was impressive. Even the power boaters retreated and gave up trolling the mouth. It was just to gnarly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our efforts were rewarded with a half dozen keepers to enjoy during happy hour that evening. The frenzy ensued, and only bits of evidence the crabs ever existed remained. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtmavZIG-yc/VEftaHiv9BI/AAAAAAAACMo/XTAMi28kzQ4/s1600/10702190_10203989340866769_470738164223594677_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtmavZIG-yc/VEftaHiv9BI/AAAAAAAACMo/XTAMi28kzQ4/s1600/10702190_10203989340866769_470738164223594677_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Sunday I chose Nestucca Bay as our crabbing and salmon fishing destination as Cascade Head was a lot to deal with. I had only fished Nestucca once, so I had avoided it the day before due to my lack of beta. With a little internet research we were able to paddle directly to prime crabbing grounds, and everyone was landing keeper dungeness within minutes of our arrival. After we'd caught enough for a group meal, we unhooked our crab hawks and attached leaders and lures for salmon trolling. We managed one taker who spit the hook quick, but no salmon boated. That's typical river salmon fishing if you ask me. That kind of salmon fishing is a war of attrition, won by the angler who puts in the most time. As we trolled for only an hour on the way back to the launch, I didn't feel too bad about the salmon shut out. I stuck around Sunday night to hang out with the other coaches, play Foosball, have a few beers, and relax. It's always a pleasure spending time with my sea kayak family. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made my way back to Northern California on Monday October 13th, washed my clothes, and headed to Texas for my twenty year high school reunion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-duU-cTkCr68/VEfwlji_nkI/AAAAAAAACM0/4DRMWDpiRHU/s1600/les.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-duU-cTkCr68/VEfwlji_nkI/AAAAAAAACM0/4DRMWDpiRHU/s1600/les.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Normally I would not report on that here, but on the way home, I ran into Les Stroud and crew from the Discovery Channel TV series "Survivorman". I've learned a lot from his show over the years, and being an outdoorsman and wilderness guide, I was excited to meet one of my heroes. It turned out he was booked on my flight and headed to my area to shoot a new episode of the show. Our flight was delayed, then cancelled, and I found myself standing in line at customer service next to Les' crew. I introduced myself, told them I was a guide and sea kayak coach, worked for an <a href="http://pacificoutfitters.com/" target="_blank">outfitter</a> in the area, and could help with gear, location scouting, and local beta. We swapped numbers, got our hotel vouchers, then went our separate ways. I didn't expect anything to come of it. An hour later I received a text invite to meet for beers at the hotel. We had drinks, chatted, and hit it off. Today I'm working for the show, rounding up camera equipment, camping gear, and general info for the crew. Life is a freaking trip that's for sure. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This morning my partner Shay and I were chosen for the Bomber Gear photo shoot in Trinidad. It appears the craziness is going to continue for a while. I'm grateful for every second of this Hollywood stuff. I have to make hay while the sun shines, because it never lasts! I'll be sure and give a full report in two weeks of my shenanigans working with Survivorman for the next week or so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until next time,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jason </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-44590982739719109762014-10-07T16:41:00.001-07:002014-10-07T16:41:29.279-07:00Kayak Fishing on Reality TV<div style="text-align: justify;">My fellow fishing guide Eric Stockwell (photos) and I had the opportunity to work with a SoCal TV crew a few days ago shooting a pilot for a show about food foraging, and farmed vs. wild food. It's set for Pivot TV; part of the Bravo Network. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I met the stars of the show; two chef's from LA, at the marina on Humboldt Bay, where I gave them some basic directional control and safety lessons to prepare them for the next day on the ocean and salmon fishing. The lesson went well, and I felt confident we could safely take them on the ocean even though they had less than four hours of kayaking experience. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning we launched at Shelter Cove, CA to ideal conditions. SW swell 3-5ft @ 9s, W winds to 5kts, and a high of 80F without a cloud in the sky. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEamqSfcSA4/VDR4Fyic_II/AAAAAAAACIw/RUl88F7w5n0/s1600/9TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEamqSfcSA4/VDR4Fyic_II/AAAAAAAACIw/RUl88F7w5n0/s1600/9TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H06o96fCWKs/VDR4D0mE6nI/AAAAAAAACIU/_g4qudSDFuA/s1600/4TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H06o96fCWKs/VDR4D0mE6nI/AAAAAAAACIU/_g4qudSDFuA/s1600/4TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />We trolled about a mile South of the launch and managed to get into some fish before we headed back to shore to grill it up. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWlFwk_Y5Hs/VDR4DHwXn1I/AAAAAAAACH8/pRwmlCBxBj8/s1600/14TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWlFwk_Y5Hs/VDR4DHwXn1I/AAAAAAAACH8/pRwmlCBxBj8/s1600/14TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzeTFRNNqvY/VDR4EvsiC4I/AAAAAAAACIc/fROaI48elGU/s1600/5TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzeTFRNNqvY/VDR4EvsiC4I/AAAAAAAACIc/fROaI48elGU/s1600/5TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmTmcAZHgmM/VDR4CnDmhAI/AAAAAAAACHw/YexyoYby_IM/s1600/10TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmTmcAZHgmM/VDR4CnDmhAI/AAAAAAAACHw/YexyoYby_IM/s1600/10TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J-NCBjpzgo/VDR4EBuO3KI/AAAAAAAACIM/kS7M1m-4qU4/s1600/3TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J-NCBjpzgo/VDR4EBuO3KI/AAAAAAAACIM/kS7M1m-4qU4/s1600/3TV.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8py1XucFrFM/VDR4CiLfqlI/AAAAAAAACIk/LvCRQE6udGY/s1600/12TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8py1XucFrFM/VDR4CiLfqlI/AAAAAAAACIk/LvCRQE6udGY/s1600/12TV.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lE7jfoxO2fc/VDR4FHrWzJI/AAAAAAAACJI/IeZGdt_f_wE/s1600/6TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lE7jfoxO2fc/VDR4FHrWzJI/AAAAAAAACJI/IeZGdt_f_wE/s1600/6TV.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I learned a lot about video production and made some good connections. Overall the experience was awesome. Any day on the ocean with friends, especially an amazingly beautiful location like Shelter Cove, is a great day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">If it seems this report is lacking in details, it's because it is. I'm not at liberty to discuss details of the plot until after the show airs, which at this point, I don't know when that will be! As soon as I find out, I will let you know here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Up next is the Lumpy Waters Symposium in Pacific City, OR and I'm stoked to lead handline fishing for sea kayakers, and see all my old buds from up North.</div><br />Until next time,<br /><br />JasonJason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-70152121740384135212014-09-29T16:48:00.004-07:002014-09-29T16:48:53.037-07:00Kayak Fishing: Ocean Paddler Magazine Cover, Reality TV Show, Handline Fishing Classes at Lumpy Waters Symposium<div style="text-align: justify;">I've got tons of stuff to update you with. It's short and sweet as I'm short on time, so here we go!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First, I am honored to be featured on the cover of <a href="http://www.paddlepressmedia.com/" target="_blank">Ocean Paddler Magazine</a> this month! This is my first appearance on a cover and on the best sea kayak mag no doubt. Chris Bensch shot the photo for the second part of my series on handline fishing from a sea kayak. I'm wrapping up the third and final installment this week. It is set to publish in November.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7lgpba8Jk8/VCnoL7pVFHI/AAAAAAAACG8/rNGYaZlVpnE/s1600/Pages%2Bfrom%2BOP43-PRESS%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7lgpba8Jk8/VCnoL7pVFHI/AAAAAAAACG8/rNGYaZlVpnE/s1600/Pages%2Bfrom%2BOP43-PRESS%2B(2).jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow Daniel Fox comes to town and he's shooting the last few photos for the OP article, then we are doing a radio interview on <a href="http://khum.com/" target="_blank">KHUM's</a> Coastal Currents to promote his <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/.../w-i-l-d-youth-wilderness-camp" target="_blank">W.I.L.D Youth Wilderness Camp Fundraiser.</a> Daniel is an amazing photographer. Check out his photos from his <a href="http://www.wildimageproject.com/" target="_blank">WILD Image Project</a> . I am excited to shoot with him, and I'm stoked for the opportunity to help promote a project as near to my heart as the WILD Youth Wilderness Camp.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later this week I'm teaming up with fellow <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Outfitters Adventures</a> Guide Eric Stockwell to be featured on a reality TV show pilot set for a cable network. I'm not at liberty to name networks, shows, etc. until after it's set to air. We're taking two chef's out kayak fishing for salmon at Shelter Cove, CA. The show is all about food foraging and farmed vs. wild food. I will most definitely post updates here as I'm allowed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A couple of days later I pack my sea kayak, fishing, & crabbing gear up and head North to Cape Kiwanda, Oregon for the <a href="http://lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">Lumpy Waters Symposium</a>. I'm leading two handline fishing for sea kayakers classes where we'll focus on catching lingcod, rockfish, cabezon. Both classes are currently full.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been doing more sea kayaking than fishing as of late but still manage to squeeze in a few hours here and there. We had some decent conditions push in following the hurricane in SW Mexico. The Trinidad area was a bit lumpy for fishing, but we had fun paddling around and playing in the rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRIgg-xRKpw/VCnuePkgEeI/AAAAAAAACHM/ATa_2mvu9FA/s1600/Jason-Fishing-GP-CP-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRIgg-xRKpw/VCnuePkgEeI/AAAAAAAACHM/ATa_2mvu9FA/s1600/Jason-Fishing-GP-CP-6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AO_la6Cy2V4/VCnu49_0FlI/AAAAAAAACHU/V0IrMV0xL7U/s1600/G0010739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AO_la6Cy2V4/VCnu49_0FlI/AAAAAAAACHU/V0IrMV0xL7U/s1600/G0010739.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><span id="goog_309212975"></span><span id="goog_309212976"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRGID7VRKbY/VCnvtJEgMNI/AAAAAAAACHg/p67uv_GEvpA/s1600/kayak%2Brocks%2Bshay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRGID7VRKbY/VCnvtJEgMNI/AAAAAAAACHg/p67uv_GEvpA/s1600/kayak%2Brocks%2Bshay.JPG" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>I plan on taking tons photos and giving you a full report on all activities towards the end of October. I'm thrilled to have so much happening in my little world of sea kayak fishing, but I look forward to November and catching my breath!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until then-</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jason</div><br /><br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-25764187488885076902014-09-16T21:58:00.001-07:002014-11-12T14:08:59.152-08:002014 Pacific Outfitter's Trinidad Rockfish Wars IV Kayak Fishing Tournament Results and Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">On Saturday, September 13th 2014, Pacific Outfitters hosted their annual multi-species saltwater kayak fishing tournament; Trinidad Rockfish Wars in beautiful Trinidad, California. As much as I wanted to fish, I'm not into competition, and my duties as an organizer took priority. I ran safety and shot photos before heading down to Eureka at 11am to teach kayak classes at Paddlefest. It was a busy weekend, and I get to fish here all the time! This was about showcasing Trinidad, CA; Humboldt County's kayak fishing paradise, to our out of town guests, and to thank our local kayak anglers for their support.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This was the fourth year of the annual tournament, and the biggest turn out in tournament history. With such incredible fishing in such a beautiful location, it's easy to see why kayak anglers came from as far away as Los Angeles, Portland, Sacramento, and all over the West Coast to spend a fun filled weekend fishing with friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9YSqHNi7Q8A/VBkE3kxumoI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/DnJ1sbWIBpg/s1600/%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9YSqHNi7Q8A/VBkE3kxumoI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/DnJ1sbWIBpg/s1600/%231.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />This tournament is a little different than the rest; All human powered craft were welcome to compete, including sit inside and sit on top kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddleboards. We also added a few special categories such as the Barbie Pole and Handline Challenges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Our goal was to take kayak fishing back to it's roots. Back to the days before the kayak fishing industry exploded, when it didn't matter how you got to the fishing grounds, only that you did. Back to the days before corporate sponsorship when anglers used what ever they had available and just went out and had fun.</div><br />The event began with a pre-tournament safety meeting at Pacific Outfitters Eureka, on Friday evening where we welcomed 91 registered competitors from all over the west coast.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMe-U_nvxWg/VBkFEQfPdbI/AAAAAAAACAA/Wous4PgTFWA/s1600/%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMe-U_nvxWg/VBkFEQfPdbI/AAAAAAAACAA/Wous4PgTFWA/s1600/%232.jpg" height="89" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Early the next morning, anglers rallied at Trinidad Harbor. 45 two man teams went through a safety inspection on the beach before the official first launch time set for 5:45am. At 5:45, the competition began, and most contestants hit the water as quick as they could to get to their targeted areas before any one else.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch08lxMrbHE/VBkFKLtyavI/AAAAAAAACAI/JBGTs_T9Bp0/s1600/%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch08lxMrbHE/VBkFKLtyavI/AAAAAAAACAI/JBGTs_T9Bp0/s1600/%233.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Others elected to take it easy, waiting until first light before launching off the beach and onto the ocean.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyKIsTZ6Xww/VBkE83PptKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/1CjFZ9MiTmk/s1600/%2310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyKIsTZ6Xww/VBkE83PptKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/1CjFZ9MiTmk/s1600/%2310.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmNtHTX1vGY/VBkE3rfm8uI/AAAAAAAAB_c/t0EuzzOLfF4/s1600/%2311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmNtHTX1vGY/VBkE3rfm8uI/AAAAAAAAB_c/t0EuzzOLfF4/s1600/%2311.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rockfish Wars competitors were greeted with mild conditions; NW swell 3-5ft at 8 seconds, N wind to 5kts, and mild temperatures of 50-65F. However at first light a heavy but patchy fog crept in, testing even the most seasoned kayak angler's navigational skills.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxudFSfSqfk/VBkFA-VmM0I/AAAAAAAAB_w/QRFW1ByWPJ0/s1600/%2312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxudFSfSqfk/VBkFA-VmM0I/AAAAAAAAB_w/QRFW1ByWPJ0/s1600/%2312.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF64pX8ig-k/VBkFBu93MWI/AAAAAAAAB_0/XqnlpDwpFxc/s1600/%2313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF64pX8ig-k/VBkFBu93MWI/AAAAAAAAB_0/XqnlpDwpFxc/s1600/%2313.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XniSNp4ZoG8/VBkFQ4XLTLI/AAAAAAAACAQ/USKcKxRRXpU/s1600/%2315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XniSNp4ZoG8/VBkFQ4XLTLI/AAAAAAAACAQ/USKcKxRRXpU/s1600/%2315.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FiaCIvjI7yg/VBkFR5rtrmI/AAAAAAAACAY/-n9klMVvYQI/s1600/%2316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FiaCIvjI7yg/VBkFR5rtrmI/AAAAAAAACAY/-n9klMVvYQI/s1600/%2316.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sGaYucvn0M/VBkFSurCZfI/AAAAAAAACAc/Wx5-2CFUlqM/s1600/%2317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sGaYucvn0M/VBkFSurCZfI/AAAAAAAACAc/Wx5-2CFUlqM/s1600/%2317.jpg" height="293" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i43Pku3SbMw/VBkFYqjKHvI/AAAAAAAACAo/yYLp2m9PwKo/s1600/%2318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i43Pku3SbMw/VBkFYqjKHvI/AAAAAAAACAo/yYLp2m9PwKo/s1600/%2318.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z5wsQkK0D4/VBkFcg34wnI/AAAAAAAACAw/7zv22ALQC0E/s1600/%2319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z5wsQkK0D4/VBkFcg34wnI/AAAAAAAACAw/7zv22ALQC0E/s1600/%2319.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxWpcKW-te4/VBkFglEuQnI/AAAAAAAACA4/nhrgYGeAE2k/s1600/%2320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxWpcKW-te4/VBkFglEuQnI/AAAAAAAACA4/nhrgYGeAE2k/s1600/%2320.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63ctTieu2ng/VBkFnZKgXXI/AAAAAAAACBA/8sShgESbYmk/s1600/%2321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63ctTieu2ng/VBkFnZKgXXI/AAAAAAAACBA/8sShgESbYmk/s1600/%2321.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jRuEnjJCso/VBkFq8KBWwI/AAAAAAAACBI/4QsgsZSYcE4/s1600/%2322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jRuEnjJCso/VBkFq8KBWwI/AAAAAAAACBI/4QsgsZSYcE4/s1600/%2322.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1NipPae2rg/VBkFtn84FLI/AAAAAAAACBQ/MNC_cAdNFEo/s1600/%2323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1NipPae2rg/VBkFtn84FLI/AAAAAAAACBQ/MNC_cAdNFEo/s1600/%2323.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmmp86T6Ex8/VBkF0MRGWEI/AAAAAAAACBY/KDJtLvNhx90/s1600/%2324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmmp86T6Ex8/VBkF0MRGWEI/AAAAAAAACBY/KDJtLvNhx90/s1600/%2324.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofq1vpve7pY/VBkF4jjMj9I/AAAAAAAACBg/_T-vjRKTJt0/s1600/%2325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofq1vpve7pY/VBkF4jjMj9I/AAAAAAAACBg/_T-vjRKTJt0/s1600/%2325.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7Giv_5zTaw/VBkF5UFgu3I/AAAAAAAACBk/MUFEcKg9Kvs/s1600/%2326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7Giv_5zTaw/VBkF5UFgu3I/AAAAAAAACBk/MUFEcKg9Kvs/s1600/%2326.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYCFbYYpnnY/VBkF9qH6ENI/AAAAAAAACBw/ywwGcFFp9vg/s1600/%2327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYCFbYYpnnY/VBkF9qH6ENI/AAAAAAAACBw/ywwGcFFp9vg/s1600/%2327.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDCeEnDj_Es/VBkGELmqEaI/AAAAAAAACB8/3vXTtNHkshc/s1600/%2328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDCeEnDj_Es/VBkGELmqEaI/AAAAAAAACB8/3vXTtNHkshc/s1600/%2328.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7rdYztIdmM/VBkGDsefZLI/AAAAAAAACB4/XqFfCXmgMPU/s1600/%2329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7rdYztIdmM/VBkGDsefZLI/AAAAAAAACB4/XqFfCXmgMPU/s1600/%2329.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9rLNORdyW4/VBkGJTKi_rI/AAAAAAAACCI/9Of15Hq99-k/s1600/%2330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9rLNORdyW4/VBkGJTKi_rI/AAAAAAAACCI/9Of15Hq99-k/s1600/%2330.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The patchy fog didn't dampen spirits or catching. The bite was red hot. Within 15 minutes of first launch, fish were being boated. Including the big fish winner of the tournament, a 39" lingcod.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2wJ0kAAu1c/VBkGM9IMCaI/AAAAAAAACCQ/edX4uicVaPc/s1600/%2331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2wJ0kAAu1c/VBkGM9IMCaI/AAAAAAAACCQ/edX4uicVaPc/s1600/%2331.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He3ADFlfHOc/VBkGRxh4BnI/AAAAAAAACCY/2p7HzZCzXMg/s1600/%2332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He3ADFlfHOc/VBkGRxh4BnI/AAAAAAAACCY/2p7HzZCzXMg/s1600/%2332.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0O9PniKxR8I/VBkGUTFAKLI/AAAAAAAACCg/gDGRxngxQP8/s1600/%2333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0O9PniKxR8I/VBkGUTFAKLI/AAAAAAAACCg/gDGRxngxQP8/s1600/%2333.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br />As the fog lifted, we were greeted with one of the most picturesque views on the California Coast:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXmMlxGq2FU/VBkGYi0ZnYI/AAAAAAAACCo/w9DrpKcgbHE/s1600/%2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXmMlxGq2FU/VBkGYi0ZnYI/AAAAAAAACCo/w9DrpKcgbHE/s1600/%2334.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw9B3qz1AtY/VBkGgA4igvI/AAAAAAAACCw/eO0woL9ZltM/s1600/%2335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw9B3qz1AtY/VBkGgA4igvI/AAAAAAAACCw/eO0woL9ZltM/s1600/%2335.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7Ml_ccEtKY/VBkGgutH7_I/AAAAAAAACC0/Fd_ugPSvRyw/s1600/%2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7Ml_ccEtKY/VBkGgutH7_I/AAAAAAAACC0/Fd_ugPSvRyw/s1600/%2337.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIiainK4DPo/VBkGpkAGNMI/AAAAAAAACDQ/8nvJbGWLzCw/s1600/%2339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIiainK4DPo/VBkGpkAGNMI/AAAAAAAACDQ/8nvJbGWLzCw/s1600/%2339.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKz3_3cHiiQ/VBkGxM84XvI/AAAAAAAACDg/sb1hTTvh7O8/s1600/%2340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKz3_3cHiiQ/VBkGxM84XvI/AAAAAAAACDg/sb1hTTvh7O8/s1600/%2340.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QF5eCH70HGM/VBkGv-_b0yI/AAAAAAAACDY/5egbj7wAX34/s1600/%2342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QF5eCH70HGM/VBkGv-_b0yI/AAAAAAAACDY/5egbj7wAX34/s1600/%2342.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hf6u2C61pY/VBkG54OJm6I/AAAAAAAACD4/axdFDU7HYYU/s1600/%2344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hf6u2C61pY/VBkG54OJm6I/AAAAAAAACD4/axdFDU7HYYU/s1600/%2344.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD4m44BqAm0/VBkHC6y-FGI/AAAAAAAACEI/l4e8XJfudxs/s1600/%2346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD4m44BqAm0/VBkHC6y-FGI/AAAAAAAACEI/l4e8XJfudxs/s1600/%2346.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Anglers were required to return to the launch by 2pm for weigh in. As the results came in, one thing was clear; the level of talent and skill held by competitors was impressive. One of the biggest cabezon we've seen this year was wrangled by Kiet Pham, who missed the deadline for registration due to other obligations but was able to drive 400 miles through the night to make launch and fish with us. This pig measured 28 3/4 inches and over 19 pounds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOQxXOzuJDc/VBkHKAhuQoI/AAAAAAAACEQ/onpihdqvAwQ/s1600/%2347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOQxXOzuJDc/VBkHKAhuQoI/AAAAAAAACEQ/onpihdqvAwQ/s1600/%2347.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Biggest Fish" Award went to Chris Coleman of Team Redneck Yacht Club, who boated a solid 39" lingcod.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXnNYbg_TQ/VBkHpx6jIsI/AAAAAAAACFI/-oohoefYQxE/s1600/%2354%2BTeam%2BRedneck%2BYacht%2BClub%2B-%2B39in%2BLing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXnNYbg_TQ/VBkHpx6jIsI/AAAAAAAACFI/-oohoefYQxE/s1600/%2354%2BTeam%2BRedneck%2BYacht%2BClub%2B-%2B39in%2BLing.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Other Biggest Fish Winners included:<br /><br />Mark Bayles with a 17" greenling <br />Kenny Baker with a 23" black rockfish <br />Matt Baron with a 14.5" blue rockfish <br />Matthew Mayes with a 25" cabezon <br />Ron Saufferer with a 21.5" vermillion rockfish.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Handline Challenge" was met by Pacific Outfitters own Michael Owens, who in his canoe landed a 27" lingcod with no rod or reel to take the category win. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The "Barbie Pole Challenge" was met head on by Mike Bailey, who landed a 30 3/4" lingcod on his stock Spider Man kid's fishing rod to take the category. Several competitors switched to the kids pole after landing several species with conventional gear, but Mike stayed true to the Spider Man pole for the entire tournament. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YK_8c6tM_98/VBkRgRSWTJI/AAAAAAAACGk/9_8iqZh-Jds/s1600/%2349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YK_8c6tM_98/VBkRgRSWTJI/AAAAAAAACGk/9_8iqZh-Jds/s1600/%2349.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team Lost Coast Anglers made a great video of the kiddie pole action:</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HbeEgsZOUec" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the overall tournament competition, 8 eligible species of fish may be turned in for points, with a maximum of the 6 best fish scored on a points per inch scoring system.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Species/points eligible: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*LINGCOD – 6 PTS PER INCH</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*CABAZON – 7 PTS PER INCH</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*BLUE ROCKFISH – 8 PTS PER INCH </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*HALIBUT – 8 PTS PER INCH </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*BLACK ROCKFISH – 8 PTS PER INCH </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*VERMILLION – 9 PTS PER INCH</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*GREENLING – 11 PTS PER INCH </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*CHINA – 13 PTS PER INCH</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As anglers returned to the launch, it was clear that the competition was steep. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7x_YFWwNBY/VBkSTh4o0YI/AAAAAAAACGs/SdclH-En-pg/s1600/2014-09-13%2B13.58.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7x_YFWwNBY/VBkSTh4o0YI/AAAAAAAACGs/SdclH-En-pg/s1600/2014-09-13%2B13.58.18.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Bald Eagles with a strong showing:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I9HQbD8bo4Q/VBkHbS6ztrI/AAAAAAAACEw/0KzJC0MJQmE/s1600/%2351%2BTeam%2BBald%2BEagles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I9HQbD8bo4Q/VBkHbS6ztrI/AAAAAAAACEw/0KzJC0MJQmE/s1600/%2351%2BTeam%2BBald%2BEagles2.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Humboldt Hookers" shows their stoke:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCIrBK4L40s/VBkHjn-2xXI/AAAAAAAACE4/st1LCRMG-Tw/s1600/%2352%2BTeam%2BHumboldt%2BHookers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCIrBK4L40s/VBkHjn-2xXI/AAAAAAAACE4/st1LCRMG-Tw/s1600/%2352%2BTeam%2BHumboldt%2BHookers.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Redneck Yacht Club" and Chris Coleman's Biggest Fish winning 39" Lingcod.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1niWWgtlHg/VBkHlw3OVvI/AAAAAAAACFA/Xc7JggSBwl4/s1600/%2353%2BTeam%2BRedneck%2BYacht%2BClub%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1niWWgtlHg/VBkHlw3OVvI/AAAAAAAACFA/Xc7JggSBwl4/s1600/%2353%2BTeam%2BRedneck%2BYacht%2BClub%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Slayers" struggling to lift their load:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Svog7ILsJQ/VBkHx1_d1VI/AAAAAAAACFQ/4ZU6-O47fPE/s1600/%2355%2BTeam%2BSlayers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Svog7ILsJQ/VBkHx1_d1VI/AAAAAAAACFQ/4ZU6-O47fPE/s1600/%2355%2BTeam%2BSlayers.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Straight Hook" with a strong showing</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4oWMpQycU4/VBkH0fO1tpI/AAAAAAAACFY/fQct3GctoTI/s1600/%2356%2BTeam%2BStraight%2BHook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4oWMpQycU4/VBkH0fO1tpI/AAAAAAAACFY/fQct3GctoTI/s1600/%2356%2BTeam%2BStraight%2BHook.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team "Tsunami" styling it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fR9XOf37P4s/VBkH24d3esI/AAAAAAAACFg/lvLxSusB9Ew/s1600/%2357%2BTeam%2BTsunami%2B-%2BMike%2B%26%2BClay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fR9XOf37P4s/VBkH24d3esI/AAAAAAAACFg/lvLxSusB9Ew/s1600/%2357%2BTeam%2BTsunami%2B-%2BMike%2B%26%2BClay.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That evening after weigh in, competitors gathered at Emerald Forest of Trinidad for a family friendly fish fry & pot luck before the awards ceremony,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9ZY8B7of9U/VBkIHU2DYOI/AAAAAAAACF4/ChfADyngN3U/s1600/%2358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9ZY8B7of9U/VBkIHU2DYOI/AAAAAAAACF4/ChfADyngN3U/s1600/%2358.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winners were awarded in all categories including the grand prize of a pair of Old Town Predator Kayaks. Cher-ae Heights Casino, NRS, Sea to Summit, Lowrance, GoPro, Midland, Big Hammer, B2Squid, Blue Lake Casino, Johns Cigars, Ice Breaker, and Mad River Brewing contributed prizes for winners and participants as well. In all, over $6000 in prizes were awarded. The overall results are:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">10th Place: Team Cast N' Blast (905.50 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9th Place: Team Cod Pieces (909 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8th Place: Team Straight Hook (913.25 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7th Place: Team Owens & Bayles (940 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6th Place: Team Knot Again (980.25 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5th Place: Team Bald Eagles (1006.25 pts)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4th Place: Team Scooter (1036 pts)</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our top three teams finished neck and neck, with only two points separating second and third place wins. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3rd Place: Team aMayesing Brothers - Mathew & Chris Mayes (1056 pts)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_8sRUACBq0/VBkIDWosAkI/AAAAAAAACFs/aMUzVyqkXv0/s1600/%2359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_8sRUACBq0/VBkIDWosAkI/AAAAAAAACFs/aMUzVyqkXv0/s1600/%2359.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">2nd Place: Team Bloody Decks - Boyce Meredith & Cameron Pascual (1058 pts)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzxVphOfFEM/VBkICjE3gTI/AAAAAAAACFo/NTbcGEUt2qo/s1600/%2360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzxVphOfFEM/VBkICjE3gTI/AAAAAAAACFo/NTbcGEUt2qo/s1600/%2360.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And the overall winners and Trinidad Rockfish Wars IV Tournament Champions are...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1st Place: Team Rodfathers - Rob Knoles & Adam Koons</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34XXKLQ-JEM/VBkINWNaskI/AAAAAAAACGA/UZM2GfA-DbY/s1600/%2361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34XXKLQ-JEM/VBkINWNaskI/AAAAAAAACGA/UZM2GfA-DbY/s1600/%2361.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Congratulations to all winners and participants! Thank you all from far and near, and thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, friends, and family for making this year's Trinidad Rockfish Wars the biggest and best yet. We're already looking forward to next years tournament.</div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-59794939539794034672014-09-02T14:00:00.002-07:002014-09-02T14:07:11.987-07:00Season Update: Kayak Fishing, Sea Kayaking, Tournaments, Festivals, & Symposiums<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been on the water so much this summer I've neglected you again. For those of you interested in more frequent "quickie" updates on my antics, you are welcome to follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/outofminds" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://instagram.com/teamosom" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. For those of you who prefer more detailed content, here's what I've been up to, and what's coming this fall:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By July my Guided Sea Kayaking Tours with <a href="http://www.pacificoutfittersadventures.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Outfitters Adventures & Academy</a> had taken off. The <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/65518/tour-trinidad-bay-kayak-4-hours" target="_blank">Trinidad Sea Kayak Tour</a> proved to be the most popular with locals and visitors alike. With easy access, incredible scenery, epic wildlife, and great fishing, it's easy to see why. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Guq6v08rUY/VAYVJWGRhCI/AAAAAAAAB9o/AWkdcUqJPt4/s1600/IMG_4661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Guq6v08rUY/VAYVJWGRhCI/AAAAAAAAB9o/AWkdcUqJPt4/s1600/IMG_4661.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Looking North towards Trinidad Head)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ3Q8m6WYOE/VAYV8PMjO_I/AAAAAAAAB9w/YnR0qpYZIl8/s1600/10378249_10203617045679622_3317694095826854034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ3Q8m6WYOE/VAYV8PMjO_I/AAAAAAAAB9w/YnR0qpYZIl8/s1600/10378249_10203617045679622_3317694095826854034_n.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Even Sunset Magazine agrees!)</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Those seeking thrills and spills with adequate skills find what they're looking for in the Trinidad Rock Garden Tour option:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rF3e5wxRYec/VAYTZNX93LI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/YMqLTf0ddZQ/s1600/10455222_10203356406843814_6432607979477797215_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rF3e5wxRYec/VAYTZNX93LI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/YMqLTf0ddZQ/s1600/10455222_10203356406843814_6432607979477797215_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7r5OtoTQxA/VAYUw-PKDFI/AAAAAAAAB9g/DgpQqNCT3o4/s1600/tdad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7r5OtoTQxA/VAYUw-PKDFI/AAAAAAAAB9g/DgpQqNCT3o4/s1600/tdad.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those after the more serene pursuits of observing and photographing wildlife such as whales, otters, seals, sea lions, porpoise, shore birds, and inter-tidal zone marine species are not disappointed either. Angler's are rewarded with rockfish, lingcod, greenling, dungeness crab, king salmon, halibut, and more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those of you familiar with me know <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/67652/adventure-ocean-kayak-handline-fishing-humboldt-4-hours" target="_blank">my kayak fishing trips</a> are geared towards sea kayakers using handlines. For those interested in fishing specific kayaks and rods & reels, we have an incredible guide & local legend; Eric Stockwell, leading our <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/65546/adventure-ocean-kayak-fishing-humboldt-4-hours" target="_blank">Ocean Kayak Fishing Trips</a>. Eric is one heck of an angler and all around good guy. I have followed his work/play through his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/LoletaEric" target="_blank">youtube</a> videos for years. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JbGBIJG5ybM" width="640"></iframe> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bottom fishing season runs May 15th-October 31st in Trinidad, so you still have time. September and October can bring some of our best weather and fishing of the season. Crab season comes to us soon after bottom fishing closes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obBntbQBj9Q/VAYSEqk_Y1I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/3Z4jGjQSStI/s1600/156248_1483044762054_7989652_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obBntbQBj9Q/VAYSEqk_Y1I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/3Z4jGjQSStI/s1600/156248_1483044762054_7989652_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1hP6BL1V2k/VAYYtk-BHwI/AAAAAAAAB-A/yr_tYtW4DE4/s1600/G0013037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1hP6BL1V2k/VAYYtk-BHwI/AAAAAAAAB-A/yr_tYtW4DE4/s1600/G0013037.JPG" height="221" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One of the things I love the most about paddling & fishing Trinidad is the flat water launch. Not having to launch & land into surf allows me to easily take people new to sea kayaking out on the ocean to share in the unique experience normally out of their reach. I love nothing more than seeing their faces light up with wonder and excitement when feeling ocean swell for the first time, or encountering wildlife in it's natural environment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_N4dUre5ZY4/VAYYsLxizTI/AAAAAAAAB94/GqOZJRNl11Q/s1600/995059_758920684151749_7186823450549990508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_N4dUre5ZY4/VAYYsLxizTI/AAAAAAAAB94/GqOZJRNl11Q/s1600/995059_758920684151749_7186823450549990508_n.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPv6QBOOap0/VAYZMarhVoI/AAAAAAAAB-I/MKZztryCVGw/s1600/10535723_10203446187208267_4649718149715248955_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPv6QBOOap0/VAYZMarhVoI/AAAAAAAAB-I/MKZztryCVGw/s1600/10535723_10203446187208267_4649718149715248955_o.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I've also had the opportunity to lead kayak tours on the Lost Coast and Shelter Cove for California Bureau of Land Management's program to educate the public on wilderness ethics and leave no trace principles. This is another area within Pacific Outfitters Adventures & Academy's reach. Much like Trinidad, Shelter Cove offers a flat water ocean launch, opening up incredible touring and fishing opportunities, as well as great surf for those with the skills.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIIBOOZcl7Y/VAYcCwL5ZvI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/nFBYyCDd-hg/s1600/10561820_10152577017764814_3745242407705756760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIIBOOZcl7Y/VAYcCwL5ZvI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/nFBYyCDd-hg/s1600/10561820_10152577017764814_3745242407705756760_n.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br />In July, the first of three articles I wrote on Handline Fishing for Sea Kayakers for <a href="http://www.paddlepressmedia.com/" target="_blank">Ocean Paddler Magazine</a> was published, and the second is set for publication in September.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maodjIoBWxc/VAYd9Ut12HI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/8CSRmmm88X8/s1600/10325586_10152825476452262_3258608263283266927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maodjIoBWxc/VAYd9Ut12HI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/8CSRmmm88X8/s1600/10325586_10152825476452262_3258608263283266927_n.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.rezgo.com/details/67202/Tournament-Trinidad-Rockfish-Wars-4-TRW4-091314" target="_blank">Trinidad Rockfish Wars IV</a> is happening September 13th, 2014, and there are only a few spaces left. If you're looking to test your metal or just have a good time with fellow kayak anglers in a beautiful setting, TRW4 will be loads of fun. There are some truly awesome prizes up for grabs, including<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show"> two Old Town Predator kayaks or a private poker match, prime rib dinner for 20 with a cigar humidor filled with cigars donated by Cher-Ae Heights Casino & John’s Cigars! Other prize packages consist of Char-Broil BBQ’s, Hotel Packages, Gift Cards, Waterproof HD Cameras, Camping Gear, Kayaking Gear and Fishing Gear. We rounded up over $6000 in prizes for this tournament. You've still got a little time to sign up. It's going to be an awesome event! I'll give you a full write up with photos shortly after it wraps up.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAt_vAlroeQ/VAYhM2am7DI/AAAAAAAAB-g/MquTxrlRoW0/s1600/10479999_765717706805380_7111017212549687480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAt_vAlroeQ/VAYhM2am7DI/AAAAAAAAB-g/MquTxrlRoW0/s1600/10479999_765717706805380_7111017212549687480_n.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happening the same day (Sept. 13, 2014) as Trinidad Rockfish Wars is the <a href="http://humboldt.edu/centeractivities/events/paddlefest" target="_blank">Humboldt Aquatic Center's Paddlefest 2014</a>. I'm pulling double duty that day, starting off before dawn to set up, organize, and safety boat before heading down to Eureka at noon to give free beginning kayak classes at the festival. Pacific Outfitters Adventures & Academy has also donated Basic Skills Kayaking & SUP Classes, Private Rolling Instruction, and a Guided Trinidad Sea Kayak Tour to the auction to benefit HSU Center Activities Youth Aquatic Scholarship Fund. There are demos, races, tours, and all kinds of fun things happening and this event will be tons of fun.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rZiG1WCcUc/VAYw-Z0K1_I/AAAAAAAAB_E/4fAIVhmsU60/s1600/10517217_10152696490018000_5525295983674098334_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rZiG1WCcUc/VAYw-Z0K1_I/AAAAAAAAB_E/4fAIVhmsU60/s1600/10517217_10152696490018000_5525295983674098334_o.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">Lumpy Waters Symposium</a> presented by <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a> is happening October 10-12th in Pacific City, Oregon. This will be my fifth year coaching at Lumpy, and I look forward to returning to my old paddling & fishing grounds and seeing all of my sea kayaking friends from near and far. I'm leading "Handline Fishing for Sea Kayakers" this year. Unlike the last few years where we focused on crabbing in protected waters, this year we will be launching off the beach at Cape Kiwanda, paddling out to Haystack Rock, and jigging for lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon with handlines. There will not be a flat water crabbing options this year, so those interested should have experience paddling in conditions including swell, wind, and surf launches/landings, and practiced self rescue. As of August 30th there were only 13 spaces left. If you would like to join us, don't hesitate. This is the most popular sea kayak symposium on the West Coast and sells out every year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOz7NQka8zI/VAYsIS0s9KI/AAAAAAAAB-w/c-gV56UDqds/s1600/Lumpy2014-Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOz7NQka8zI/VAYsIS0s9KI/AAAAAAAAB-w/c-gV56UDqds/s1600/Lumpy2014-Banner.jpg" height="119" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course I've managed to squeeze in a few minutes of fishing here and there. Mostly quick attempts at lingcod & rockfish during tours when clients stop to take pictures of wildlife! I did manage a personal fishing day last week and caught several rockfish & greenling (nothing photo worthy, but tasty!). The water has been so clear lately I could see the fish down to 20ft in the rocks and kelp. Also managed to see a big grey and white tail of a toothy critter turn and dive away from me fifteen feet below my kayak. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week also presented an opportunity for exploration and scouting for Fall Salmon Fishing trips on the Klamath River. Eric Stockwell and I hit the river at mid day, and made half-hearted attempts at catching king samon from our kayaks as we used eddies to make our way up river through Yurok territory. This is wild country where the roads end. Black bears, natives in buckskin fishing with nets, and king salmon rolling on the surface are commonplace. It takes time and commitment to catch salmon as they migrate upriver to their spawning grounds. Those that are willing to put in the effort are rewarded, but just paddling here is rewarding in itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKE-Zlw2fnU/VAYvWt1OizI/AAAAAAAAB-4/0m4zE1XW7x0/s1600/G0040275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKE-Zlw2fnU/VAYvWt1OizI/AAAAAAAAB-4/0m4zE1XW7x0/s1600/G0040275.JPG" height="268" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It appears that the summer tourist season is waning, and I hope to take the opportunity to get some solid days of fishing Trinidad under my belt before the season ends. I will be sure and update you accordingly. Thanks for reading. I'll see you on the water!</div><br />-Jason<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-71847128548061258472014-06-10T12:29:00.005-07:002014-06-10T19:30:08.382-07:00Guided Kayak Fishing, Trinidad Rockfish Wars, Sea Kayak Whale Tours<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been a long time since my last posting. I have to say I debated calling it quits on the old Kayak Angler Blog. I started this blog in 2008, shortly after I began coaching & guiding sea kayaking as a way to keep my paddler's log as required by the BCU (British Canoe Union) system of education and certification. It quickly grew into a more efficient way for me to keep my friends and family up to date on my kayaking and fishing adventures.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soon I had attracted the attention of the booming kayak fishing industry. Being a low income kayak guide, it was in my best interest to accept free gear I otherwise could not afford in exchange for using and including product in photos, videos, and putting links on my blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A lot has changed since then. In 2013 this little blog won the Kayak Angler's Choice Award for best Kayak Fishing Blog, and people from all over the world scan these pages every day. Isn't the internet amazing?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I thought so too, but immediately after receiving the award, the internet trolls began to attack. Loads of nasty comments appeared in chat forums and Facebook pages. At first I took it personally, but later I realized a lot of people voted for my blog, so I must be doing something right.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I thought possibly I would stop blogging, and remove myself from the kayak fishing world all together, and just get back to what it's all about; kayaking...and fishing. No pictures. No blog posts. No Facebook updates. Just kayaking, and fishing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The thing is, I like sharing my adventures with others. That's why I teach and guide. I love this stuff and I want to share it with the world. I want to scream it from the mountain top! Am I the best kayak fisherman in the world? Hell no. Do I know a lot of stuff and have a lot of experience others can learn from? Hell yes. So if you like the blog, stay tuned, I have a lot to report. If you don't, kindly move along. Nothing to see here...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PACIFIC OUTFITTERS ACADEMY & ADVENTURES</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In December 2013 I moved to far Northern California to launch <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Outfitters Academy & Adventures</a>. I'm happy to report that we're up and running, and accepting reservations for tours and classes for Sea Kayaking, SUP, SCUBA, Surfing, Kayak Fishing, White Water Rafting, and Hunting in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, California.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ocean bottom fishing season opened in Humboldt on May 15th, and I threw together my kit and hit the water as quick as I could after work. I have been dreaming of fishing Trinidad for years while in Oregon. It's one of the few places on the West Coast where you can launch in flat water on to the open ocean, and be in some of the most picturesque and premiere fishing grounds on the West Coast USA within 400 yards of the launch. I had to get it dialed quick, because Chris Bensch was set to come down four days later to shoot an article on fishing from a sea kayak for <a href="http://www.paddlepressmedia.com/magazines/ocean-paddler-magazine/" target="_blank">Ocean Paddler Magazine</a>, set for publication in July 2014.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shay and I launched after work on the evening of May 15th to quite possibly the calmest ocean conditions I've ever experienced. We paddled out to prisoner rock about 400 yds from shore and I began jigging for lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon. I jigged for ten minutes with no results. I quickly realized how foolish it was for me to only pack one color of soft-plastic in my kit. I had grown quite fond of chartreuse soft-plastics in Oregon &Washington, using them as my go-to color to catch big lingcod in deep (40-100ft) water. It obviously wasn't working here on that day, and I marveled at my own cockiness for about thirty seconds before a gray whale and calf popped up and spouted about one hundred yards to the South of us. I managed to snap a couple of low quality photos with my cell phone.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nk6QYQXFjXE/U5daPD_X0-I/AAAAAAAAB7U/snCHNEaGAPI/s1600/whale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nk6QYQXFjXE/U5daPD_X0-I/AAAAAAAAB7U/snCHNEaGAPI/s1600/whale1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A74QB-Ojqyo/U5daPWvF7eI/AAAAAAAAB7E/AyAvDCmkZ1s/s1600/whale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A74QB-Ojqyo/U5daPWvF7eI/AAAAAAAAB7E/AyAvDCmkZ1s/s1600/whale2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Having sea kayaked thousands of times, and having only encountered orcas on one occasion, and humpbacks and grays only once or twice before, I stopped fishing to observe these massive creatures. They swam North towards our position and passed by us one hundred feet seaward off our bows, spouting, and slapping their flukes on the surface.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the whales were gone, we paddled North around Trinidad Head to try another spot. Immediately after dropping my line, a pod of harbor porpoise began to play all around us as the sun was setting. Again I stopped fishing to soak in the scene. It had been a while since I've had the time to get out on the ocean. Between relocating, starting a new business, recovering from a hip injury, and keeping up with my duties at OSOM, I hadn't had the time. I wasn't too concerned with catching fish that day, I was just happy to witness it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next day was an exact repeat of the day before. Whales, porpoise, incredible scenery, and all of it distracted me from putting the proper effort in to catching fish. I went home that night and tore apart my fishing kit, hoping to find just one buzz bomb. I used to use a buzzbomb when I first started handline fishing from a sea kayak because they catch everything. I found one, and tossed it in my kit determined to have every option imaginable to catch fish. I'll change colors every ten minutes and change location every thirty until I figure out what's working and where the fish are.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hit the water early the following morning. The swell had picked up to 4-5ft but the wind remained calm. I started the day with the first lure I ever used to catch a lingcod; A hot pink #4 BuzzBomb. I paddled to a kelp bed not far from the launch and immediately caught a chunky greenling. The water was so glassy from the lack of wind you could see black Rockfish schooling on the surface. I was fishing hard, keeping a close eye on my line to make sure it stayed in the perfect position. I was determined to do everything right and catch fish. I caught another greenling, a 25" lingcod, and a black rockfish over the next two hours, and again I was visited by the whales. The lingcod I released. He did not want to hang around and have his picture taken!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rU5ZRG7lCtU/U5daCDtb7fI/AAAAAAAAB6s/ESp7gjLjp0Y/s1600/black1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rU5ZRG7lCtU/U5daCDtb7fI/AAAAAAAAB6s/ESp7gjLjp0Y/s1600/black1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_OhwuVqKTU/U5daOn4YYZI/AAAAAAAAB7I/GueMh2YM8Nc/s1600/greenling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_OhwuVqKTU/U5daOn4YYZI/AAAAAAAAB7I/GueMh2YM8Nc/s1600/greenling1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was then I realized my fatal mistakes. I had not eaten breakfast, and I had not paused to drink water while fishing. Most importantly, I had been staring at my line in the water for two hours while bobbing on a 5ft swell. As I was paddling in, I broke out in a major sweat and felt ill. I had that moment where you decide to just go with it and puke because you know it will make it better, then I booted three times in succession over the side. I never broke cadence on the way in, and felt better immediately after puking. The lesson is, don't watch your line, keep your eyes on the horizon! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At least I had cracked the code. I had found a reef on the chart and found what the fish were biting. Things had come together just in time for my shoot with Chris.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A day before Chris arrived for the kayak fishing shoot, the wind began to howl. 35mph winds churned up the swell. The day he arrived we launched to confused seas with a 9ft NW swell at 8 seconds combined with a 2ft SW swell at 4 seconds and 2ft wind waves. Manageable for paddling at best, but tough for fishing, even in the morning before the wind picked up. NOAA had issued a small craft advisory for the day, and the rest of the week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We paddled South about a mile to the reef where I had caught fish two days before. I began jigging but felt it was pointless. I was getting bounced around in the confused seas and to be honest, fishing was a real pain in the ass. A gray whale and calf spouted near the edge of the reef we were fishing. I was beginning to see a pattern. The whales were coming specifically to that reef before traveling North around the head and up the West Coast. I'm not sure if they are rubbing on the reef, or if the reef fish are cleaning or providing a service to the whales, or if it's just a nice resting spot, but over the next two weeks, I saw 26 whales. A few popped up less than 20ft away from my kayak, one of them showed up 5ft underneath me. It's a unique emotion when you realize you've just dropped your jig on a whales back, but I can now say I've felt it.<br /><br />The rough seas made me quickly lose interest in fishing, we paddled around a bit before calling it quits. Our first day shooting was a wash. So we decided to go play in the surf instead. I took over camera duties for a bit, and managed to snap a few photos with the DSLR of Chris playing in the rocks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cppHSDlS9qU/U5daOJVWElI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/YlY9bVX26vc/s1600/chriscamelrock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cppHSDlS9qU/U5daOJVWElI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/YlY9bVX26vc/s1600/chriscamelrock.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The following morning, the SW swell and wind swell had dissipated, but the wind was set to return by mid-day. We hit the water early to a NW 9ft swell at 9 seconds. With the reef just barely in the shadow of Trinidad Head, the swell at my fishing hole was 4-6ft. It wasn't perfect, but it was possibly as good as it was going to get. We paddled to my reef and I jigged for twenty minutes before catching a 24" lingcod.<br /><br />Again the whales visited us. This time, a mother and calf came right towards us. Chris and I paddled 50 yards towards shore, and looked to find the whales headed right towards us. We rafted up and discussed how awesome it would be if they went under us and, also how terrified we both were that they might go under us. I looked down to see a large, barnacle covered mass whiz by in the murky water, just barely visible.<br /><br />We got our fish pics on the water, and paddled in to shoot cleaning and filleting of the fish. By the time we finished, the wind was howling and fishing was done for the day. I was happy we were able to get what we needed for the shoot. I can't share any of the photos as they are to be published in the upcoming article.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went out the following morning to similar conditions as the day before, and I boated another nice 25" lingcod within 10 minutes. This time we used the gopro to get some really cool under water photos that I can't wait for you to see in the upcoming Ocean Paddler article. Here's a little preview of one of the shots not getting used in the magazine. We were trying for half in/half out of the water shots with fish on, and we got it! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6oKBmifeyvc/U5daO7AITRI/AAAAAAAAB7A/LPC8Ii2NPDc/s1600/jasonpaddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6oKBmifeyvc/U5daO7AITRI/AAAAAAAAB7A/LPC8Ii2NPDc/s1600/jasonpaddle.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">TOURS/GUIDED TRIPS/CLASSES/FISHING TOURNAMENT BOOKING NOW!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paddling and fishing out of Trinidad is one of the most epic things I've experienced as a sea kayaker. Words and pictures can not describe it. I'd love to share it with you. I've put <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/67652/adventure-ocean-kayak-handline-fishing-humboldt-4-hours" target="_blank">Handline Fishing for Sea Kayakers</a> on the books and it's open for reservation now. Trips begin at the end of June and run every day through October. If your into rods & reels and prefer fishing from a Sit on Top, we've got <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/65546/adventure-ocean-kayak-fishing-humboldt-4-hours" target="_blank">Ocean Kayak Fishing</a> trips for salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon June through October. The whales visit us in spring time, and I've added <a href="http://pacificoutfittersadventures.com/details/67650/tour-trinidad-whale-tours-kayaksup-4-hours" target="_blank">Kayak Whale Watching Tours</a> for April & May 2015. Looking to test your kayak fishing skills in one of the best spots in the US? <a href="http://www.trinidadrockfishwars.com/" target="_blank">Trinidad Rockfish Wars</a>, an ocean fishing tournament open to all human powered craft (sit in/sit on kayak, SUP, canoe, etc.) is set for September 13 and registration is open now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been big and windy for the last two weeks and I haven't been out. Things are shaping up for Thursday, and I'm planning on fishing. If you keep reading, I'll keep writing!</div><br />Until next time,<br /><br />JasonJason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-14052381754047547082013-11-04T08:46:00.000-08:002013-11-04T08:46:31.682-08:00Update<div style="text-align: justify;">Just a quick post here to let you guys know the latest developments in my kayak fishing world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First up, I'm honored to have been nominated for the third year in a row for Kayak Angler of the Year and Kayak Fishing Blogger of the Year at yakangler.com's Kayak Angler's Choice Awards. I've made it to the final round of voting in the Blogger of the Year category ending on Sunday 11/10/13. If you'd like to vote for your favorites, click <a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQmEs15HQEE/UnfN_WCsXlI/AAAAAAAABzc/oGo64l8LI6w/s1600/KACA_Header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQmEs15HQEE/UnfN_WCsXlI/AAAAAAAABzc/oGo64l8LI6w/s400/KACA_Header.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Considering I've been spread quite thin for the last two years, guiding, coaching, working full tilt for Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe in Portland, and putting a lot of effort into my<a href="http://www.seatrash.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Team OSOM) </a>project, including magazine articles, shooting and producing our first feature film on location in NorCal, Florida Everglades & Keys, and Kauai, HI, I am truly honored to have made it this far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Second, I'm happy to announce that in December 2013 I will be relocating to the far Northern coast of California to join forces with <a href="http://www.pacificoutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Outfitters</a>. We are launching an Adventure School offering instruction and trips for paddlesports, fishing, hunting, SCUBA, and more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKdgY-plD6M/UnfOfuR6WwI/AAAAAAAABzk/jEMNhBZ1caQ/s1600/pacific-outfitters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKdgY-plD6M/UnfOfuR6WwI/AAAAAAAABzk/jEMNhBZ1caQ/s400/pacific-outfitters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am extremely excited for this new business venture, and I'm also pretty fired up about living less than a mile from the ocean again. With incredible saltwater and freshwater fishing, touring, and kayak surfing at my doorstep, my goal is to increase my time on the water fishing as compared to the last few years in Portland where 99% of it was guiding or teaching. The majority of my time will still be spent sharing the love of the sport with others, but now I will be able to squeeze in some personal kayak fishing time as well. All of this means new and increased content for you, my important blog followers.</div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-16673412719702153522013-07-17T15:21:00.002-07:002013-07-17T19:29:03.255-07:00Guided Kayak Crabbing at Oregon Coast Aug. 11 & 25, 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">Interested in eating fresh seafood on your next multi-day kayak journey? Maybe you'd just like to pick up dinner while day-playing at the coast? The crab are here in BIG numbers this year so let's go fishing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-cLGP8VJjk/UecYoEpM9dI/AAAAAAAAByg/2R2AeACAYSQ/s1600/310245_2368058513796_1425109125_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-cLGP8VJjk/UecYoEpM9dI/AAAAAAAAByg/2R2AeACAYSQ/s320/310245_2368058513796_1425109125_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Join me on August 11th at the Oregon Coast for a full day of learning how to catch dungeness crab from your sea kayak. We'll be cooking and eating as well! We'll be fishing/paddling inside on one of Oregon's beautiful bays or estuaries in flat water. There's always potential for a little wind and current, but for this class basic kayaking skills are all that's required. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YlrzGAzmqs4?rel=0" width="560"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bring your own paddling gear or we can provide it at no extra charge. All fishing gear is provided. You must bring an Oregon shellfish license. Call 503-285-0464 for more info, or if you are ready to register, click <a href="http://aldercreek.com/kayak-crabbing/details/27853/kayak-crabbing" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to the sign up page. </div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-80196352460547777832013-04-15T10:00:00.004-07:002013-04-15T10:00:52.548-07:00Kayak Fishing Radio Double L Show April 16, 2013I promise a full report with photos of shooting <a href="gttp://www.seatrash.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">OSOM's</a> "Search for the Perfect Day" Episode 1-3 on location on the Redwood Coast, Everglades and Keys, and Kauai, Hawaii very soon!<br /><br />I wanted to let everyone know, in the mean time, I have been invited to be the featured guest on <a href="http://kayakfishingradio.com/" target="_blank">Kayak Fishing Radio's Double L</a> show tomorrow (Tuesday 4/16/13) at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern. I'll bee talking about paddling and fishing as well as shooting on location for Perfect Day. I will be sharing video clips in the chat room during the show!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHg_WHZzSQ8/UWwvyc_sSQI/AAAAAAAABxk/IYKrg3iQosU/s1600/JSFLfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHg_WHZzSQ8/UWwvyc_sSQI/AAAAAAAABxk/IYKrg3iQosU/s320/JSFLfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />If you're in the Portland, Oregon area, join us at the <a href="http://www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com/" target="_blank">Reel Paddling Film Festival</a> on April 25th, 2013 at the <a href="http://www.mcmenamins.com/213-mission-theater-event-overview" target="_blank">Mission Theater</a> where we are showing a short home-town only preview of Search for the Perfect Day as well as Q&A with the team after the preview. Doors are at 5:30, films start at 7pm. Tickets are available at both <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek</a> locations or at the theater day of show for $6. All proceeds benefit <a href="http://www.willamette-riverkeeper.org/WRK/index.html" target="_blank">Willamette Riverkeeper</a>. <br /><br />Stick around that weekend (April 27th & 28th) for Alder Creek's 8th annual <a href="http://aldercreek.com/21st-annual-spring-paddle-festival/" target="_blank">Paddle Festival</a> at Vancouver Lake. Enjoy free demos of hundreds of kayaks, canoes, and SUP boards, as well as skills clinics. I'll be there giving kayak fishing clinics as well!<br /><br />I hope to see you there!<br /><br />-Jason<br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-39492159267822550802013-02-02T18:40:00.001-08:002013-02-02T18:40:21.833-08:00825 Likes 68% Funded 4 Days to Go!We're incredibly grateful and humbled by the support we've received so far for our current video project; "The Search for the Perfect Day". We're 68% of the way to our all or nothing funding goal with less than four days remaining. It's coming down to the wire, but with your likes, shares, and pledges, we can get there.<br /><br />We've added another new reward: Make a pledge to our <a href="http://kck.st/SfJf3h" target="_blank">Kickstarter Fundraising Page</a> (new or existing, increase your pledge, and/or refer a friend who pledges and let us know and we'll put your name in the hat for a drawing of one of two signed, limited edition 26x13 prints of "My Back Yard" by <a href="http://toddfischer.net/" target="_blank">Todd Fischer Surf-Art</a>, who is profiled in Episode 1: The Redwood Coast.<br /><br />Pledge $500 and we'll send you 1 of 10 signed prints, Project DVD, Team OSOM T-shirt, Team OSOM photo calendar, and Team OSOM decal.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dy_EGzcihlA/UQ3M35inr1I/AAAAAAAABsI/VDUaylVg8VU/s1600/MY+BACK+YARD+26X13+%281+of+1%29+small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dy_EGzcihlA/UQ3M35inr1I/AAAAAAAABsI/VDUaylVg8VU/s400/MY+BACK+YARD+26X13+%281+of+1%29+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Like/Share/Pledge here: <a href="http://kck.st/SfJf3h">http://kck.st/SfJf3h</a><br /><br />Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!<br /><br />Team OSOM (Jason, Shay, & Chris) Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-42989653779237577582013-01-13T13:06:00.002-08:002013-01-13T13:06:21.033-08:00Exploring Caves by Sea Kayak with Team OSOMWe're one week in to our <a href="http://kck.st/SfJf3h" target="_blank">Kickstarter fundraising campaign</a> to help support our current project over at Team OSOM called, <b>"The Search for the Perfect Day"</b>.<br /><br />At the time of posting, we've raised 20% of the funds needed with twenty-five days left to reach our goal. If we don't hit our target, we won't receive any of the pledges, although if we continue at this pace we feel confident we'll get there.<br /><br />We truly appreciate everyone who has supported this project so. If you haven't yet, we've got some great items like OSOM decals, T-shirts, photo calendars, and you can pre-order the DVD's as well. Click the Kickstarter link above for details.<br /><br />We made this video of Team Member Chris Bensch exploring caves by sea kayak on the Oregon coast to help support our campaign. We hope you enjoy it, and we hope you will join us in our mission to inspire people to get outside and into nature.<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />-Jason and the rest of Team OSOM<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IQqGW-RFMmY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-80230669812810493022013-01-09T10:02:00.001-08:002013-01-09T10:02:19.382-08:00Kickstarter Fundraising CampaignOur Kickstarter Campaign is now live! We have until 2/7 to raise the $9000 needed to produce our project "the Search for the Perfect Day" We can exceed it, but if we don't reach our goal, we don't get anything.<br /><br />Check out our project video here:<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1929426956/the-search-for-perfect-day/widget/video.html" frameborder="0"> </iframe><br />And please click this link to go to our project page and make a contribution: <a href="http://kck.st/SfJf3h" target="_blank">OSOM Kickstarter Page</a><br /><br />Thank you so much! With your help, we can make this important project a reality!Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-22051237105414451942013-01-03T22:56:00.002-08:002013-01-03T22:56:56.966-08:00Project Announcement<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm getting ready for my next project called "the Search for the Perfect Day" with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/teamOSOM" target="_blank">Team OSOM</a> and we need your help to make it happen. The project is a three part video series shot on location in the Redwoods of Northern California, Florida Everglades and Keys, and the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The goal of this project is to inspire others to seek adventure in the outdoors by showing them our own. Exploration, adventure, paddling, surfing, fishing, and time spent with good friends in some of the most beautiful natural places in America is what it's all about. By sharing our journey with others, we hope to initiate a deeper connection between viewers and nature, and therefor increase the understanding of the value of what's at stake. With a greater appreciation of the value of the natural world, the motivation for stewardship of the places we play will grow. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're launching our <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> crowd-funding campaign to make it easier for people to contribute to the project. If you're not sure what Kickstarter is or how crowd-funding works, please click the link above. We're launching the campaign on 1/7 with the promo video set to launch 1/10. We'll have 30 days in an all or nothing campaign to raise the funds needed to complete the project. If we don't hit our goal, we get nothing. Which means it's more important than ever to contribute and share our project with your friends. As extra motivation we've added some sweet items you'll receive for all levels of contribution from $10 to $5000. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a preview of the project on the Kickstarter website: Link to <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1929426956/1995922260?token=d4b4e462" target="_blank">the Search for the Perfect Day</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We'll post again on 1/7 when the campaign goes live and is open for contribution.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are giving a series of presentations over the next two months in support of our feature article about our Portland to Ocean Trashpedition in <a href="http://www.seakayakermag.com/2013/Feb13/Feb13_TOC.htm" target="_blank">Sea Kayaker Magazine</a> out now. If you're in the area during any of these presentations, we'd love to see you there!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">January 14th @ <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a> - Portland, Oregon</div><div style="text-align: justify;">January 25th @ <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/" target="_blank">Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium</a> - Marin, California</div><div style="text-align: justify;">February 22nd @ <a href="http://sweetwaterkayaks.wordpress.com/symposium/" target="_blank">Florida Internation Sea Kayak Symposium</a> - St. Petersburg, Florida</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're looking to ad a presentation date in Kauai, Hawaii between March 10th and 15th while we're there shooting for our next project. If you or anyone you know might be interested in hosting this, please contact us! </div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-27501441164607369032012-10-01T19:38:00.003-07:002012-10-02T20:22:46.523-07:00How to Catch Crab From Your Sea Kayak<div style="text-align: justify;">I put together a quick edit of <a href="http://www.gopro.com/" target="_blank">GoPro</a> footage shot during the <a href="http://www.seatrash.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">OSOM</a> Perfect Day Project. While it's not overly exciting, it serves as a good instructional piece for others.</div><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YlrzGAzmqs4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're interested in learning the finer details of quick and easy ways to catch and prepare fresh seafood while kayaking, I'm running two full day, on water classes at the Lumpy Waters Symposium in Pacific City, OR on Saturday, October 20th and Sunday the 21st.. Click <a href="http://www.lumpywaters.com/schedule-c2.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> for registration info. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kayak Angler's Choice Awards 2012:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a little over a week left to vote for your favorites in the <a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice" target="_blank">2012 Kayak Angler's Choice Awards</a>. I've been nominated for Kayak Angler, Kayak Fishing Guide, and this blog has been nominated for Kayak Fishing Blog of the Year. I'm honored to be on such a prestigious list of kayak anglers, and would appreciate your vote. Voting closes on October 10th.</div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-76030787230544040772012-09-10T11:05:00.002-07:002012-09-15T09:10:26.415-07:002012 Kayak Angler's Choice Awards Voting Begins!<span itemprop="description">I'm honored to be nominated again for Kayak Angler and Kayak Fishing Guide of the Year. In addition, this blog has been nominated as well. Last year enough of you voted for me to take 3rd place in Angler and Guide OTY. This year I'd like to try and win it!</span><br /><br /><span itemprop="description">Voting begins at 9pm EST 9/10/12 and continues through 10/10/12. You can vote by clicking this link: <span itemprop="description"><a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.yakangler.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>choice</a></span></span><br /><span itemprop="description"><br />When casting your vote, please remember I never have, and never will raise your taxes :)<br /><br />More about me:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kayakangler.blogspot.com%2F&h=_AQEDxE_R&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>www.kayakangler.blogspot.co<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>m/</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seatrash.blogspot.com%2F&h=zAQGimN_x&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>www.seatrash.blogspot.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aldercreek.com%2F&h=tAQFMZ45q&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.aldercreek.com/</a></span><br /><br /><span itemprop="description">Thank you! </span>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-57064811181048562742012-08-31T07:46:00.000-07:002012-08-31T07:46:33.029-07:00Kayak Angler of the Year Nominations 2012Nominations are open (and closing at midnight eastern tonight! 8/31) for kayak angler, kayak fishing guide, and kayak retailer of the year, and more. Last year your support helped me take #3 angler and #3 guide of the year for 2011. Let's see if we can take #1 this year.<br /><br />This is just the nomination phase, voting will ensue soon after nominations close. I will post the link for voting as soon as it's available. Click this link to nominate your favorites: <a href="http://www.yakangler.com/choice" target="_blank">www.yakangler.com/choice</a><br /><br />-Jason<br /><h6 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><br /></span></span></h6>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-49866979861499291642012-07-30T10:13:00.000-07:002012-07-30T10:13:59.047-07:00Guided Kayak Crabbing Aug. 18, 2012Dungeness crab have invaded the Oregon coast! Big, fat, delicious crab to be exact. It's time to go get them!<br /><br />Learn how to catch crab from your sea kayak with compact handlines and Crabhawks (perfect for multi-day trips)-<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5AnlmDbi3g/UBbAv0q8H0I/AAAAAAAABZg/ZdS61QoIMWw/s1600/P1010014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5AnlmDbi3g/UBbAv0q8H0I/AAAAAAAABZg/ZdS61QoIMWw/s320/P1010014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm offering full day guided kayak "Crabbing for Sea Kayakers" trips on the Oregon coast for $95/person. The first date is set for August 18th, 2012 from 10am-4pm. Price includes your guides, crabbing gear & bait, and can include kayaks & paddling gear if needed. You will need to purchase an OR shellfish license. We'll meet on the coast at (location TBA) at 10am on the 18th, fish through high tide, and eat our catch on the beach at the end of the day! (OR food handling regulations require you to cook your own, but supplies and instruction will be provided.)<br /><br />Call 503-285-0464 to sign up, or comment on this post if you have questions.Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-81788313108664978712012-07-25T13:16:00.000-07:002012-07-25T13:16:09.347-07:00Crabbing for Sea Kayakers - Aug. 18th - Oregon coast - $95/personAug. 18th - Crabbing for Sea Kayakers - Full day at the Oregon Coast - Catch & Eat - $95/person - Call 503-285-0464 to sign up. Includes your guide, crabbing gear, kayak & paddling gear if needed.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytZnM8-SnKk/UBBUAhm8UTI/AAAAAAAABZU/k4bF-_O-Vfc/s1600/CrabFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytZnM8-SnKk/UBBUAhm8UTI/AAAAAAAABZU/k4bF-_O-Vfc/s320/CrabFB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-52186980887462663882012-05-31T22:05:00.001-07:002012-06-01T07:59:18.427-07:00San Juan Islands Kayak Fishing Trip Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had the opportunity to spend four days guiding five wonderful people in the San Juan Islands over Memorial Day weekend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We arrived in Anacortes, Washington Friday evening and drove our trailer of sea kayaks on to the ferry. Landing at Orcas Island an hour later, we made our way to the East side of the island and set up camp at Moran State Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Early the next morning, we met our group at the harbor; John, Suzanne, Paul, & Roger. My friend Steven and fellow guide Jerry rounded out our group of seven. Boats and gear were unloaded onto the beach and then quickly packed full. We launched Saturday morning at 11:30AM to clear skies, light winds, flat water, mild temps...generally perfect conditions to take a group of newish sea kayakers out for their first multi-day kayak fishing trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIr96Nxwjpo/T8hMbvUJ87I/AAAAAAAABYA/uHTlqEp5v5o/s1600/P1010186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIr96Nxwjpo/T8hMbvUJ87I/AAAAAAAABYA/uHTlqEp5v5o/s320/P1010186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After a basic skills refresher and safety chat at the back of the harbor, we paddled away from Orcas Island and began our crossing to a small island a few miles away. Boat traffic was higher than normal due to the holiday, but the conditions were mild and the crossing went smooth. We arrived at the island at 3PM and set up our base camp for the next four days. Some hiked around the island, and some napped before dinner set around the camp fire as the sun set over Canada in the distance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I listened to the NOAA marine forecast on my VHF radio before going to sleep. The report called for winds out of the SW at 10 to 20 kts and wind waves two to three feet. It wasn't ideal for my groups first day of handline fishing for lingcod, but we would make do. I could hear the wind howling through channels and islands in the distance as I drifted off to sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I woke at 3AM to whipping winds and crashing waves. I convinced myself it wasn't really more than 20kts because my tent was not slapping the top of my head yet as it had in high winds on another recent trip, but a quick check of the VHF revealed a small craft warning and winds of 30kts out of the SW until 9AM. The plan to get fishing early was scuttled. Sleeping in, drinking lots of coffee, reading, hiking, etc. were now the pre-noon plan while we waited for the wind to settle. The sun was shining, and the islands are beautiful, so there could be worse things than enjoying them from shore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At 2PM we regrouped for lunch at the campsite. The wind had settled since the morning, but was still blowing 20kts out of the SW, making fishing challenging if your an expert, much less trying it your first time. I paddled out to a West facing headland and dropped my jig on the leeward side. I drifted quick, but with a little coaching I was sure I could get my group to hold position long enough to entice a fish. I paddled back to camp and gave the group the go-ahead to get suited up. By the time everyone hit the water, the wind had died down to 10 to 15kts; Still challenging, but definitely do-able. We spent the next couple of hours learning how to hold position in the wind and waves and keep our handline presentation vertical. Soon after, Paul hooked and landed a cabezon. We fished a few more of the points of the island before paddling back to camp for dinner & cocktails by the fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A quick check of the VHF before bed revealed a clear opportunity for fishing in the morning before another small craft warning with 25kt winds arrived in the afternoon with a chance of showers. We decided to break camp in the morning and make our way to another group of small islands to the South. We would fish each island hard until we found a keeper. We'd be protected from S wind in the lee of the islands, and if it got to be nasty they would offer us protection for a quick bale out to the harbor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I woke at 6AM to cloudy skies, near glassy water, no wind, and light rain. We had a quick breakfast of fruit, bagels, and oatmeal before packing camp and launching at 8:30AM. We paddled South toward the small island group with no boat traffic and flat water. Upon arrival at the first island, I positioned our group over a reef within fifty feet of shore and we began jigging. Within fifteen minutes, John had hooked a keeper sized lingcod. His first reaction was to pull it strait out of the water, but I shouted over to keep it in the water until it calmed and then clip in with the locking lip grippers. He landed the fish perfectly as I made my way over to measure it. As I got closer I noticed it was a blue lingcod, something I hadn't seen much of before. I measured the fish at 28 inches, which is a keeper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pI3Q7L-gldE/T8guIqw0aYI/AAAAAAAABX0/S1Nfl96CISs/s1600/P1010179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pI3Q7L-gldE/T8guIqw0aYI/AAAAAAAABX0/S1Nfl96CISs/s320/P1010179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">John positioned the fish's head towards me and I gave a quick few raps between the eyes to close the deal. John and Steven paddled over towards the beach where they filleted and bagged it for the nights meal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As we were transferring the fillets to the soft cooler, I noticed a seal poking it's head out about 20 yards away. Seals are normally bad for fishing as they either scare away, or steal all the fish around. We fished the West island for another twenty minutes but the seal wouldn't leave, so we did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We paddled East to the next little island and fished a reef around it for an hour with no success; The seal had followed us on our crossing and was popping up every five minutes, scaring all the fish. I decided to try and scare him off, and paddled hard towards it while shouting, and he disappeared. I thought I had won, but he popped up a few minutes later and I charged again, this time slapping my paddle on the water. Again he disappeared, and again I thought I had won, until a few minutes later I looked down by my hip and he was six inches below, giving me the stink eye. I rafted up with Jerry, half expecting the seal, who no doubt found me an amusing buffoon and a good play mate, to climb up on my deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At this point the wind and holiday boat traffic had picked up substantially, and we paddled back into the harbor where we unloaded our gear and headed back to Moran State Park. We arrived at 4PM and put the lingcod fillets in a marinade of soy, olive oil, ginger, garlic, and salt & pepper as we set up camp. The fish cooked perfectly, white and flaky, and we enjoyed it with tortellini & pesto, brie & salami, and capped it off with coconut ice cream and peaches for desert. There might have been a little bourbon and a few beers involved as well. It was a fitting meal for our last dinner on the islands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next day we broke camp and caught the ferry back to the main land. Another successful San Juan Islands multi-day kayak fishing trip down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-86384408477268789822012-05-01T16:07:00.002-07:002012-05-01T16:07:29.038-07:00Saltwater Fishing for Sea Kayakers in the San Juan Islands<h2>Saltwater Fishing for Sea Kayakers: </h2><h2>Lingcod - May 26-29, 2012 - San Juan Islands, WA</h2>Fish for lingcod from your sea kayak with handlines while touring and camping in the beautiful San Juan Island archipelago.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oGoR7m-BTw4/T6BqOEAh0DI/AAAAAAAABWY/gc-Xqgc1sP4/s1600/BigLingMoney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oGoR7m-BTw4/T6BqOEAh0DI/AAAAAAAABWY/gc-Xqgc1sP4/s320/BigLingMoney.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2> Crabbing - July 26-29, 2012 San Juan Islands, WA</h2>Fish for dungeness crab, with catch and release opportunities for bottom fish while touring and camping the San Juan Islands by sea kayak.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad2zPRgym8c/T6Br5fRNeiI/AAAAAAAABWg/Rp2Qu98hzw8/s1600/P1010014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad2zPRgym8c/T6Br5fRNeiI/AAAAAAAABWg/Rp2Qu98hzw8/s320/P1010014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Both four day trips are reasonably priced at $650. This includes your guides, kayaking & fishing gear (or bring your own), meals & snacks, and camp fees. You will need to bring your camping gear and personal items, and purchase a Washington saltwater fishing license, and shellfish tag for the crabbing trip in July. <br /><br />Call Alder Creek at 503-285-0464 for info. Click <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/san-juan-islands-fishing-i44.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to register. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-90727296023536950972012-04-19T14:30:00.002-07:002012-04-19T14:32:48.584-07:00Free Clinic: Fishing for Sea Kayakers @ Alder Creek Paddle Fest 4/28-29<div style="text-align: justify;">Interested in catching fish on your next sea kayak trip? Join me at the <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/Festivals_&_Demo_Days/FREE_Spring_Paddle_Festival_Portland-e3191-m4-y2012.html" target="_blank">Alder Creek Paddle Festival</a> at Vancouver Lake, WA on April 28 & 29th and learn how at one of my free clinics offered throughout the weekend. If Sit on Tops or more your style, <a href="http://jacksonkayak.com/" target="_blank">Jackson</a> Kayak's <a href="http://drewgregory.com/" target="_blank">Drew Gregory</a> and Portland kayak angler <a href="http://yakfish.isaac-online.com/alder-creek-paddle-fest/" target="_blank">Isaac Miller</a> will be on hand to show you the ropes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYNY9n284I0/T5CDWUYavuI/AAAAAAAABVo/wmjhKQybdMI/s1600/FBPaddlefest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYNY9n284I0/T5CDWUYavuI/AAAAAAAABVo/wmjhKQybdMI/s320/FBPaddlefest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There will also be over 200 kayaks, canoes, & SUPS on the beach for you to demo as well!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Call 503-285-0464 for info.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'll see you there!</div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-3947754859097145562012-03-05T09:23:00.000-08:002012-03-05T09:23:25.156-08:00Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Portland to the Ocean Expedition. April 7-11, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">The OSOM crew is busy prepping for our upcoming "Portland to the Ocean Trash-pedition", and we need your help to make it happen. We've come as far as we can go on our limited budget working as kayak guides, and we're still quite a ways away from securing the camera equipment necessary to make this happen. If you feel inclined to contribute to the success of this project, please click this link to our Facebook Donate Page for secure donations via PayPal. Thank you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/gulfkayak?sk=app_310405725647279" target="_blank">Click here to donate! </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Project/Donation Description:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're paddling our sea kayaks from Portland to the Ocean - April 7-11th, 2012, with canoes in tow to serve as garbage barges to collect all the trash we find on this 100+ mile journey to the Columbia River's terminus at the Pacific Ocean. Our goal is to document the path of plastic pollution from purchase and consumption at a downtown convenience store to the storm drain, into the river, all the way to the ocean, and it's eventual convergence with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By documenting our efforts to stop plastic litter from making it's way to sea, we hope to inspire others to do the same. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're trying to raise $1500 for this trip. We need a few more cameras, memory cards, batteries & solar chargers..... a website, media packets, and money to cover shipping costs of prizes for our cleanup contest. The list goes on! Anything helps...$5, $10, $500....It all adds up! Please support our project by donating or sharing with your friends.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please email jself76@comcast.net upon making a donation via PayPal to confirm receipt. </div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239713741004116489.post-86758438908259318172012-02-12T14:57:00.000-08:002012-02-12T15:19:55.731-08:00Kayak Fishing Update: 2012 Guided Trips<div style="text-align: justify;">There is much to report to my neglected blog. First and foremost, the dates have been set for my 2012 guided kayak fishing trips in the San Juan Islands. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2012 GUIDED KAYAK FISHING - SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WA. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://aldercreek.rezgo.com/details/21980/San-Juan-Island-4-day-Fishing-Tour" target="_blank">May 26 to May 29 - Sustenance fishing for Sea Kayakers</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1883265342"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://aldercreek.rezgo.com/details/21980/San-Juan-Island-4-day-Fishing-Tour" target="_blank">July 26 to July 29 - Crabbing and catch and release bottom fishing</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first trip is set for Thursday May 26th through Sunday May 29th, and is for those wanting to fish from sea kayaks. We'll focus on fishing for lingcod with hand lines while multi-day touring. We establish a base camp on Jones Island, off the SW corner of Orcas Island and learn the skills necessary to do a multi-day sea kayak fishing trip of your own. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second trip option is July 26th to July 29th. On this adventure we include dropping crab traps in search of the incredible Dungeness crab. We base camp at Jones Island and conduct day paddles to learn the skills necessary to paddle competently and harvest the bounty of the sea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Your guides, meals, camp fees, tackle, and hand lines (and crab traps) are included in the price. Kayaks & paddling gear can be provided at no additional cost to you if necessary. You will need to supply your own camping gear, toiletries, personal items, and purchase a Washington fishing license.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have any questions about what to bring please contact <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/">Alder Creek</a>. They have a full line of paddling equipment and accessories, and would be happy to assist you in getting outfitted for your trip. Please remember to keep your personal gear to a minimum, but keep your comfort in mind. Remember the goal is to travel light and efficiently. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">UPDATE: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gulfkayak" target="_blank">Out of Sight, Out of Mind</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Things have been going very well at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gulfkayak" target="_blank">Out of Sight, Out of Mind</a>. Our "Never Ending Cleanup Contest" on Facebook has awarded people with gear from <a href="http://www.hilleberg.com/" target="_blank">Hilleberg Tents</a>, <a href="http://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/" target="_blank">Keen Footwear</a>, <a href="http://shop.ibex.com/" target="_blank">Ibex Outdoor Clothing</a>, <a href="http://www.kokatat.com/" target="_blank">Kokatat Watersports-wear</a>, <a href="http://www.sweetprotection.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Protection</a>, <a href="http://usstore.aquapac.net/" target="_blank">Aquapac</a>, <a href="http://www.skwoosh.com/" target="_blank">Skwoosh</a>, <a href="http://www.kleankanteen.com/" target="_blank">Klean Kanteen</a>, <a href="http://www.thule.com/en/Global" target="_blank">Thule Car Racks</a>, <a href="http://www.paddlepressmedia.com/magazines/ocean-paddler-magazine/" target="_blank">Ocean Paddler Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.cackletv.com/" target="_blank">Cackle TV</a>, and <a href="http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">Valley Sea Kayaks</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PICKIN' & PADDLIN': OSOM Paddle With the People</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're offering local trips around the Portland, Oregon area through <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a> as part of our mission to take an active role in the stewardship of the places we play. The first OSOM "Paddle With the People" cleanup trip is set for February 26 on the Willamette River in downtown Portland. Click <a href="http://aldercreek.rezgo.com/details/30818/Out-of-Sight-Out-of-Mind-Eco-Paddle-with-the-People" target="_blank">here</a> to sign up. We'll spend a couple of hours picking up trash as we paddle around the Portland waterfront and Ross Island section of the Willamette. All the money raised goes directly towards helping fund our upcoming cleanup expeditions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br />OSOM "PDX 2 SEA" Kayak Cleanup Expedition<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our first cleanup expedition; "PDX 2 SEA" is set for April 7-11, 2012. We are paddling our sea kayaks from Portland, Oregon to the ocean with canoes in tow, and picking up all the trash we find along the way. We are filming our trip to make a documentary and help promote the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gulfkayak" target="_blank">OSOM</a> movement, and pro adventure-photographer Sean O'Connor from <a href="http://photos.freesolophotography.com/" target="_blank">Freesolo Photagraphy</a> is joining us to take still images.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are busy installing camera mounts on our <a href="http://tideraceseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">Tiderace Kayaks</a>. The impact that <a href="http://gopro.com/" target="_blank">GoPro</a> cameras have had on action-sports is substantial to say the least. These relatively low priced, tiny hi-def cameras allow users to capture events on video unimaginable to the average consumer just a few years before.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We'll soon be exploring new shooting angles of coastal play & touring, surf footage, and kayak fishing. One of the keys to doing this is a clever little contraption called the <a href="http://www.greenfishmovement.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=23" target="_blank">Greenfish CPR</a> Mount. By mounting <a href="http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/rod-holders/side-deck-mounts.htm" target="_blank">Scotty Locking Rod Holder</a> bases on the decks of our sea kayaks, we hope to capture video that is entertaining and engaging from a variety of angles. The CPR mount makes this simple and easy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"CPR" stands for "Catch. Photo. Release". <a href="http://www.greenfishmovement.com/Scripts/default.asp" target="_blank">Greenfish</a> is "an apparel company with a conscience and a conservation minded mission. They believe in sustaining fisheries for the long term. For each Greenfish product you buy, they donate 5% to the sustainable fisheries partner of your choice through their Greenfish Gives Program."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">....and they make some pretty sweet T-shirts and caps too! </div>Jason Selfhttps://plus.google.com/110144275779061535096noreply@blogger.com0