Kayak Surf Launch Session For Anglers | HOW I LAUNCH

This is a kayak surf session for anglers in short, choppy, and sloppy wave environments. Conditions can make things difficult for those trying to experience offshore kayak fishing, and this is how I launch.
Chris Castro goes gives you a behind the scenes look at how launches his kayak through the surf.
Stay Tuned:
Part 2 will be more details coming back in from offshore.
#KayakFishing #SurfLaunch #SurfKayak

[@TexasBarnRats]

Okay, it's absolutely amazing that most of the strategies you landed upon by trial and error, are almost EXACTLY what was taught by the US Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat / Surfman schools during my days in the USCG many decades ago. Watch videos of the USCG training surfmen at Cape Disappointment, WA, and you'll see motorlifeboats employing many of the same strategies you are using, but on a much larger scale. Good job!

[@adammobley5011]

If I may make a suggestion. As a whitewater kayaker, I have to deal with some really big waves on a regular basis, so I have seen first hand, the importance of a powerful forward stroke. Reviewing your footage, I noticed that most of your strokes are what we would call a "low-angle forward stroke." This stroke is useful to conserve energy over long distances but you don't get a lot of power out of it To get the most power out of your forward stroke, you need to use a "high-angle forward stroke." This simply means that your shaft is more vertical than the 45-degree angle of your low-angle stroke. To achieve this high-angle stroke, simple bring your wrist to eye level and rotate your torso get the paddle blade clear of the hull. Reach for your toes to initiate the stroke and terminate it at your hips. Also, leaning forward during your forward stroke helps you get that much more power and stability. I hope this is helpful information.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Adam thank you for this. I have much respect for you whitewater guys, and I’m always open to learning and improving this part of myself even though as anglers we typically overlook this challenge. One of these days I’d love to take a paddling course, I missed an opportunity last year but hoping to do so in the near future. Thanks again for the observations. 🤙

[@Fishforage]

@@NextLevelFishingTV wider fishing kayaks require longer paddle and more relaxed low angle to clear kayak gunnels.. I get this .. for me tho When I do fish outta my Necky rudder touring boat I can get away with a short Werner powerhouse white water paddle if paddling through surf hue to 26” width of cockpit.. but my touring 2 piece blade is my backup under bungees .. giving both options to go high or low angle if I want.. besides moving around from spot to spot with fishing gear is way easier with longer paddles .. I save that powerhouse for beachfront attracts helps a lot

[@SeaShanty2016]

Excellent advice! I am a K1 and ocean ski paddler and the principle is the same: The example given to me by my coach was as following - If you were sitting on a skateboard and trying to propel yourself forward with a broom handle rather than keeping your hands low making the end of the broom handle hit the ground at a low angle, you would raise your leading hand high (face height) which would make the broom handle hit the ground vertically and enabling you to pull yourself past. Just watch a K1 spring paddler at the start of a race - their paddle always hits the water as vertically as possible to provide the maximum power for forward motion. Loved your surf skills heading back in!

[@VanV0rtex]

Never had the guts to try that... I've fished in 35 mph winds on lakes and had to deal with someone who didn't understand wakes from a power boat. But those are choppy in nature as compared to something rolling through over and over. I totally "felt" the hips comment you made though. I can remember fishing KATS at Lake Fayette in high winds - they almost called off the event. They were coming from the direction of the power plant so there were no trees to block the wind. I decided to head across the lake toward the power plant and was trolling as I went. Caught a nice bass and while I was taking him off some really big waves came through broadside and the only thing I remember is keeping my body in the center and letting my hips do all the work. I unhooked that bass in record time. A lot of people capsized that day and I'll say a lot the reason I didn't was because of my Big Tuna. But moving the hips to follow and keep the center of gravity in the right place had a lot to do with it.

[@day1fishing603]

Awesome video....all great info...I hope people make smart choices when challenging the waves in a kayak...

[@hectorvaldez2959]

Great video Chris! One day I'll go BTB. This has always been my dream. I tried once and battled some nasty surf. This is a great lesson. Thanks for sharing

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Nick Valdez Yea man never rush it. We have a hand full of 0 to 1ft surf days every year. That’s the best test time to learn. 🤙

[@TheBentRod]

Very informative video. your comfort level in the skinny is incredible. Makes it look way easier than it is!

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Stan Callahan thanks, I still get nervous in big surf. Seems to keep me on my toes. Thanks for tuning in brother 🤙

[@TheBentRod]

@@NextLevelFishingTV Which transducer do you have installed on your Trident and how? I just bought a splitshot for my Hook2 - 5 and It does not look like it will fit with my Lowrance scupper mount. It works on my Outback, I currently have a Hook 5 installed on the kayak, but it is starting to be faulty. I do put in work.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Stan Callahan So this might sound a little crazy but I’ve been doing it for years now. I have the Lowrance HDI 7 and I use a marine silicone glue. No drilling, and it last an entire season easily. I break it off every year just because I don’t want it to fall off, but it’s never been an issue. The key though is to let it cure for 24 hours. Other then that I would say run it inside your hull. I’m getting ready to release part 2 to this series (come in through the surf) and I’ll be sure to show you that part, and how it’s setup.

[@michaelpalmer2429]

Awesome video Chris

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Thanks for Tuning in Michael

[@bryanthornton6787]

Sweet vid!! I need to get my rear down there more in 2020.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Bryan Thornton yea man, come on down!

[@anthonyc362]

Great video and good information. I also like the video work. I'm from California, we can half calm days or monster days.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Anthony C Man I’ve heard stories! Cali is one of my dreams, you guys gotta get through some nasty stuff from what I hear. Thanks for tuning in 🤙

[@ramrod7368]

Objective for the Kayak Game: 1. Always Pray for Safe trip and Return 2. Hit the Gaps 3. Ride the Whites 4. Paddle Hard If all else FAIL, head back and pick up WHATABURGER!!!

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Ram Rod This belongs on a shirt!!!

[@JD.Ferraro]

I go out of Galveston, surfside or matagorda all the time. Going out is easy, keep your nose straight on with the waves and paddle your ass off in between them. It's the coming back in part that sucks. Mainly because of the risk of flipping and losing gear. Nothing to be scared of otherwise.

[@bmak114]

have you ever tried bailing out of your kayak before approaching the surfzone, and hanging onto the back while the surf washes you to shore? I felt the same way as you until I started to reenter in this manner. I've reentered in 4 footers and never had any issues here in Florida. I used to live and btb in Texas and I wish I knew about this technique back then since it would be more crucial in that type of surfzone

[@JD.Ferraro]

@@bmak114 Wow, I never did think of that. And Idk why, because it's so simple lol. I'll have to do that next time. I think I keep trying to ride it in because the first time I ever tried was a success and tons of fun riding a wave all the way in to shore lol

[@mkcanik2001]

Nice informational video i would like to try it once but i would need a experience kayaker with me. Im in the market for a kayak now.. ive never own one. Ive just subscribed to you

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Definitely see who hosts kayak demos in your area. The industry is really booming and so are the latest and greatest gadgets. There is a kayak for everyone.

[@mauricioursine1396]

Great tips

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Glad you like them!

[@MesquiteOutdoors]

Awesome footage! Never tried BTB kayak fishing. How would you say pedal kayaks fair vs paddle kayaks in the surf?

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

That's a great question Mesquite. I'll be discussing this soon within the series.

[@MattsFishingAdventures]

Ummm 😂, well it so happened to be terrible angling for me 🤣. Yeah guys I'm the guy whose chasing a kayak down 🙈. I've learned since then.

[@slikrik6098]

Great info bud

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

SlikRik Thanks Slik, good hearing from ya 🤙

[@josephsaeteurn9158]

3:35 was sweeeeet!!!!!

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

🤙

[@archiebob11]

Great video, lovely ride in. Do you ever use thigh braces? So much more control 🌊😁👍

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Thanks Mark, I wish I could get me a pair! I've heard so many good things about tight braces.

[@archiebob11]

Next Level Fishing TV, Hi buddy, they are available from EBay in the U.K. 👍

[@paulcasadio]

Very cool video, thanks for posting! Makes me want to go practice in the surf. I have a few questions, please: (1) What kayak are you using in this video - it looks like the Trident 15? I have heard the 13 is a little more surf friendly... what is you opinion on this? (2) Do you have a rudder deployed on either the paddle out or rentry through the surf on this video? If so, how often do you correct for direction with the rudder as opposed to with your paddles when you are coming back in? (3) I noticed you have a couple of rods in the stern laying flat. I imagine this is so if you turtle in shallow water they wont break. Just curious why you didnt store them in the hull under the rodpod? (4) Have you ever pitchpoled or pearled the bow coming back in, and if so what is the wave height that would cause that (with either the 15 or 13) and what is your best advice to avoid it happening? Thanks!

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Great question Paul, and thanks for taking the time to write this. So lets get right in this! 1.) I am using the new Trident-15. The 13 is in fact probably more friendly in the surf coming back in since it's more maneuverable, but punching through the surf, I think the Trident-15 will have a edge on it. The 15 is a little more narrow, has more weight, and if you look at the bow on both model, you're going to notice a difference. 2.) I always have my rudder deployed. The name of the game is to always keep that bow into the waves going out. Coming back in, the rudder helps me make early adjustments (before the crash). After the wave breaks the rudder almost becomes irrelevant so it's important to use your paddle blade for extra control. 3.) I usually do have my rods all in side the hull. So this is a little behind the scenes here, but I'm running a few sealed reels through the paces, so I'm trying to see how long they can last lol. 4.) I've pitchpoled a few times, but it's been about 3 years since then. I feel that the key is confidence and becoming an aggressive paddler. Never stop paddling even when the wave is building. Of course picking a well built kayak with a well designed rocker is just as important. The way I've been able to escape most pitchpoling scenarios, is that I've learned to PADDLE HARD, and carve into waves almost like a surfer, but in order to do that...you must learn how to broach and brace.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

P.S. Part 2 will answer many of these questions you asked also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKPPkn6gar2of9E

[@paulcasadio]

@@NextLevelFishingTV Awesome, thanks so much for the very detailed response - I appreciate it. Everything you say makes sense. I am also a prone and SUP surfer, so I totally get what you are saying - its just with both of those you can really control where you distribute your weight fore and aft by walking forward or back, where with the kayak all you can really do is lean forward or back just a bit. And of course, wouldn't you know it, as soon as I hit enter on my questions I realized there was a part 2 with most of my questions answered. Thanks again for your vids - not only fun to watch, but very informative too!

[@mariomenchaca6386]

Chris what do you think about the FeelFree Moken 14? Good choice for a beginner offshore kayak? Great videos man thank you.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

You're better off in a Prowler 13 IMO. It's hard for me to say anything good about the Moken 14 only because I've seen guys quickly get out of them in the offshore scene. I'm sure they are great kayaks for the bay and shallow marshes, but I'm hesitant to say that it is a good beginner offshore kayak.

[@mariomenchaca6386]

​@@NextLevelFishingTV Chris thanks for the quick response! Do you think the Prowler can handle a 240 lb person? If not what would be your next choice?

[@ramrod7368]

XL No black!!👍🏽

[@4oughthooksTx]

do you have to worry about your rods getting corroded? any recs?

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

I stow them away these days. It’s best if you get gear that is semi or full shielded. My Tsunami shield rods are still holding strong.

[@teknikkemal07]

😲😲😀😀👍🐟

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

H.Kemal ALTIN 🤙

[@IIrandhandleII]

What boom stand do you use for your camera?

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

adfasd 600 Boom Stick from Railblaza

[@IIrandhandleII]

Awesome dude thanks for the good launch tips as well.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

@@IIrandhandleII I hope it helps and thanks for your support!

[@pernamore4224]

Try launching a pro angler 12/14 😊😊

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

😂 seen it before, definitely not pretty lololol

[@chelleconcha9311]

Sooo, Bad ass.. Just saying!

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

🔥

[@FishingChanneltv]

lol not for me :P

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Save me!!!!

[@iamatt]

Coming back in is the worst. Always.

[@NextLevelFishingTV]

Unfortunately 😂

[@cuanaustin517]

your first mistake is owning such a shit kayak, please buy a Stealth kayak, thats an actual off shore fishing kayak not some thing designed for fresh water and dams. if you tried to lauch in south africa in that thing you'll never make it out, we have 3 sets of waves , shore break mid break and backline , and we can have a 5foot shore break. so imagine the mid break and backline. plus where do you store your rods and reels and tackle and fish ?? can't keep that stuff ontop of the kayak, what if you capsize ad loose all your shit , stealth have a 2m hatch inside for everything as well as a dry hatch and an integrated fish well .