How To Kayak Launch La Jolla Shores on Hobie Pro Angler 14

[@ThePaisteTrout477]

Another thing to mention is that vertical rod holders do you no favors when landing. If you roll it’s just gonna snap your rods in half. Huge advantage of a PA is the internal rod storage. I think the best way to learn is to plan a day on a medium swell, and go out and practice sans fishing gear in a wetsuit, then you could try multiple landings, maybe even take a spill and get comfortable before going out to fish.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Great point Nick! I'l do a more in depth one soon. I'll make sure to include that. Thank you.

[@hooklineandsinker6123]

Solid tips accompanied by great drone footage - another fantastic video! I prefer launching with my mirage drive, I'll go a little above my knee then insert the drive and deploy my rudder. You will punch right through the surf straight as an arrow. For landing, I time it so I'm not surfing my way back in on a wave. You want come in RIGHT AFTER a wave rolls through and peddle your butt off to stay closely behind the break to avoid the next wave in the set. Pull the drive about 100 feet from shore and use the paddle to take her home, hopping off at 2-3 feet of depth depending on how comfortable I am. Also avoiding LJ if the surf is over 1-2 ft is a good call, pay attention to wave intervals as well - getting hammered by 4 second breakers is a nightmare.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Excellent break down HL&S! I love the idea of following the wave in. It makes so much sense. The closer you get the longer you extend that window between waves. Genius! I'm going to do it this way next time. Thanks again for sharing and for the kind words.

[@MavHntr]

now that it's been a couple years.... ever land your PA14 with the bow facing out into the waves? I find landing "backwards" so much easier with my PA14 loaded with gear.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Hi MAV! I've been timing the swell and bailing on the wave side when I'm about waste deep. I take an extra set of "landing clothes" and change before I land. I also stow all the rods in my side gunnels and cut and stow all lures. This way nothing can snag me when I bail. Right before I jump out I pull the drive and lift the rudder then I hang on to the kayak and follow it in.

[@werftv4580]

stow what you can.. reduce the weight above the water line too, leave those bait tanks etc, empty and get everything heavy below deck if possible.. leash what you need to..

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Its like I tell my kids, put away the toys you want to keep. LoL Stow or tether the gear you want to keep. :)

[@day1fishing603]

We gotta go , you should have trolled the D rig near kelp..calico candy . I also learned alot just watching others roll on launch and landing..I use my drive to help me launch. I have it set in place ,fins spread out flat...and as soon as I'm deep enough, which really isn't that bad..about 2.5ft...hop in and go like normal. Except you have the power of your hobie drive..vs a paddle. Great video.

[@ConsumeYourSoul619]

DAY1fishing ! I use my drive and paddle , super speed! XD

[@day1fishing603]

@@ConsumeYourSoul619 no doubt speed is key. I prefer not to use both...I feel to wobbly and off balance trying to do both. I surf back in doing the same...keep the nose pointed towards the shore and kick like crazy. I see ya out there during spring/summer

[@RomanCastroVlog]

I'll have it with me next time. I was so overwhelmed and under prepared it was more of a whale watching kayak session than a kayak fishing session. A humpback came up about 100' away and did the water spout. I wasnt close enough to catch it with the wide angle on the GoPro. Still a cool experience tho.

[@johanyak-n-surf8268]

This is great information. If I may add, when the wave hits you, you want the paddle to be on the water. Do not stop the paddle as the wave hits you, just keep going. The paddle serves as a lever to gain balance and direction

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Very good point Johan! Thanks for adding it

[@AdmiralBisquik]

I was just out there, great luck fishing. Getting through surf was easy, coming back in I surfed a wave all the way back in, really sketchy but fun.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Right on @AdmrilBisquik! How long have you been fishing La Jolla?

[@AdmiralBisquik]

@@RomanCastroVlog first time was on Monday, I normally fish out of Mission Bay. I had really good luck in LJ using shrimp, and jigging.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

AdmiralBisquik very cool!

[@lindseyharalson738]

Great video. Made our first attempt yesterday with 3.5ft waves. Lots of folks were getting rolled. We didn't make it past the break but didn't get rolled or lose any gear either. Tie everything down. Saw a guy lose his pedal drive which is not cheap. Next attempt going to use this information from you on a more chill day. Thanks!

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Hi Nigel! It's never fun to lose gear. Good advice on tying everything down. Good luck on your next attempt. What yak are you on?

[@lindseyharalson738]

@@RomanCastroVlog Thanks Roman. I'll need it lol. Picked up a hobie outback a few weeks ago and loving it.

[@12babyapes59]

I made it out of the surf at La Jolla not to bad , in summer , waves at low tide , But I wiped coming back to shore on a PA 14 tide was higher . first time brand new kayak.

[@DEADLYCOBRA4]

Very good video.. my first attempt at la jolla I kept rolling for 2 hours. ( I forgot other half of the oar ).. went home gave up... found out later that day a great white was spotted 100 yards from Scripps pier lol guess I was lucky?

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Getting rolled for two hours is impressive. You can’t say you didn’t try. Have you been out recently?

[@DEADLYCOBRA4]

@@RomanCastroVlog no not for a few months I need to get my lines wet soon tho!

[@zeper1732]

Thank you for sharing your experience it is well educational

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Hi Zepe! Thanks for taking the time to check it out. Are there any things you'd like to see covered?

[@zeper1732]

Hi thank you for the response but I’m new to kayak fishing , which I have a new 2020 hobie pro angler 14 mirage hopefully to try it out after the super bowl go niners😊

[@ZacharyRiggs619]

So much excellent advice. I especially appreciate the advice about keeping the kayak between you and the shore when landing. So, is there a way to get your kayak out there w/out getting soaked? What do you do when the water is really cold in the winter?

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Sometimes. It depends on the wave height. Wear foul weather gear on the way out and take a drybag with a change of clothes. When the water is really cold in the winter I fish the bay. LOL ;)

[@ZacharyRiggs619]

@@RomanCastroVlog Yes, I saw how you land the kayak in the ocean, very smart.

[@josiahfraim7808]

Hi. Thanks for the info. Where do you leave your vehicle??

[@RomanCastroVlog]

I park on the street where I can find a spot. Sometimes a block away sometimes pretty far. Most yakers on the beach are cool with looking out for each others gear while you park or go get your vehicle.

[@theowenssailingdiary5239]

What?

[@FishingwithUncleDandan]

Awesome brother! I’m in on the next LJ trip. Let’s do a rockfish opener!

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Thank you Jordan! Yes! Let's go. I'm specking out some new gear to do this right. LoL I'm way under gunned out there. I got a new sonar but waiting on the battery. My Bait tank is ready. I modified the one I had for my Kraken. Its going to be a good season.

[@minh7170]

Big thanks!!!

[@landonlaskey605]

How do you check if the surf is small or big for the day you want to go?

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Hi Landon. Check the CDIP page for wave info... cdip.ucsd.edu/themes/cdip?d2=p70&u2=s:073 Take the wave height it's showing on the grid and double it. So if it's showing 2 ft waves expect to see up to 4 ft waves. Hit me back if you have any questions or join us for Fishy Hour with Roman Live Monday or Wednesday and we can answer your questions on stream. The Fishy Hour Show lives here... kzbin.info/door/Cn1GHPKGPrbwMntYSOW6Uw

[@johnzapien9701]

We got pushed over by a wave on our small inflatable we thought we were toast and we stood up and the water was barely over our ankles lol got a laugh out of it

[@RomanCastroVlog]

LoL! Classic. Glad you guys were OK

[@pernamore4224]

When i first bought my PA people were like "too big, to heavy, difficult to launch" i would reply "youre not doing all 3 of those, i am, and i CAN".

[@RomanCastroVlog]

You showed them! How's the bite been treating you?

[@pernamore4224]

@@RomanCastroVlog been good brother! Tight lines.

[@shaunc6501]

Im quite experienced with ocean kayaking, however I've never launched through the surf. I don't know how to decide when wave height is too high when checking the forecast. I have a 12ft hobie passport. What wave height would you say is ideal and what height is too much & I should stay home? I often see 4ft waves on the forecast, would u recommend launching in that?

[@RomanCastroVlog]

Hi Shaun, Sorry it took so long to get back to you. If the forecast says 4' that means there can be 7.5' sets. I wouldn't launch unless it's about 2-3' the most. I have a La Jolla Fishing Dashboard that aggregates all the data points and explains what they mean so you can decide what days to launch or not. It's here... www.romancastro.com/la-jolla-fishing-dashboard/

[@shaunc6501]

@@RomanCastroVlog @Roman Castro Thank you that link is very useful. I ended up hitting Lajolla abou 14 times since leaving that comment. What an amazing spot, it's definitely better than anywhere else in SoCal.

[@RomanCastroVlog]

@@shaunc6501 you should join us for Fishy Hour. It’s a live talk show we do Mon and Wed at 7pm. You can get to know other local kayak anglers that are positive and open to helping each other improve. Tune in here… www.FishyHour.com/live

[@jerry-381]

Try coming back in backwards. To me it's easier than getting through the surf in the way out. Be safe!

[@RomanCastroVlog]

I will try that Jerry. Thanks for the tip. When you do it backwards are you basically paddling into the wave so it still takes you but not as fast?

[@jerry-381]

@@RomanCastroVlog Yep you turn around before the waves start breaking and start paddling backwards. When a wave comes paddle forward into the wave then right after the wave passes while you're in the wash paddle backwards. The waves will also pull you in. Here''s a video I watched at least 10 times before I tried it. I came in once in 3-4 swells at 5 seconds loaded with gear and didn't flip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuxfmV3g6-sitk

[@williambilang910]

Do you prefer to use the paddle or pedal drive launching from LJ?

[@RomanCastroVlog]

I'm launching with the drive in and the paddle for extra propulsion. It's all about hitting that surf with as much momentum as possible.

[@williambilang910]

Thank you bro.

[@baseballDUDE32]

How do I get in the discord??

[@congsan3528]

Less break = rip tide