How to Boat-in Camp at Tomales Bay (Days 205-206)

[@magnetman007]

Tomales is well known to experienced kayakers as both a pristine place to paddle AND as a place to not test the winds! Always check wind and tide forecasts before going out. Early mornings are usually calmest, lowest wind times. After lunch is when the winds usually show up. While you're right about the current pull, paddlers will always time their routes around the tides, riding them out and riding them back in. Use the current's power to your advantage. So If you're ever stuck, remember that in a boat, you are at the mercy of both the wind and the current. Meaning, your boat will be heading wherever the wind and current takes you. If you're overboard and in the water, you are at the mercy of the current "pull." If you're ever in this position, STAY CALM AND FLOAT. if you have a cooler on board (or another, better flotation device), try to grab it on the way out. The floatation device will not just help you float, it can slow your drift and can help other boaters to more easily spot you. That being said, rule is to always stay by your vesse and wait for help. If your vessel has taken on water but still floating, it is also a floatation device and because it is larger, it will make you easier to spot. Be safe out there guys. Watch plenty of boat safety videos and practice. Enjoy your videos.

[@wrybread]

Good advice all around. I'm cringing a little bit watching that little foldable boat trolling outside the mouth in the salmon grounds like that, glad it all went well. But man captain, I hope you're choosing your open ocean days really really carefully with that boat. All that said, super well done! To other people, as @magnetman007 says above, exercise *extreme* caution if you go fishing in this area, especially with any kind of tiny boat like this.

[@eprohoda]

mate !good night~Yo,you did good shots~

[@OffTheHookFishing]

Thanks!

[@tomzhang8675]

Which boat ramp is that?

[@OffTheHookFishing]

Miller boat launch. I think its $10 a day to launch and park, if i remember correctly.

[@AChow50]

Fun video! How do you know when it is safe to boat out and back into Tomales? I've heard it can be dangerous in a small vessel so curious about what you look for in terms of conditions/tide(?). Thanks!

[@OffTheHookFishing]

Tomales is really well protected from waves, so the two big things to look at are the tidal changes (current) and the wind. Any wind over 10-15mph or so will create wind chop and can be hard for some small boats. The Porta-Bote takes it fine, but definitely a concern for kayakers. And since it is a pretty large bay with a narrow inlet, the current can definitely be a concern near the mouth. Be wary during large tidal shifts, since you can get 1-3mph current pulling at the mouth of the bay. Oh, and there are patches of really shallow areas. Definitely boat with caution at low tide. You can actually kinda see this on google maps satellite view, but get a depth finder or navionics if possible.

[@OffTheHookFishing]

Also, I go out of the bay into Bodega Bay and I probably wouldn't recommend that to any small boats, since it does get pretty rough. If you do try, enter or exit the channel at slack tide, so there is less current. I know my boat's limits and took it slow - be safe out there!

[@gracehalliday7613]

Did you happen to notice if there was a lot of poison oak near where you camped?

[@OffTheHookFishing]

I don't remember seeing any!

[@andrewmontances3338]

Dope video! Yo wait so did you need to get a permit to camp here?

[@OffTheHookFishing]

Thanks! Yes, you need to reserve online! Although, I don't think anyone checks permits.