[Paddlewise] Summary of a Great Day at Dana Point

Fellow Kayakers,

When you have a lot kayaking trips planned during the summer, it is so easy 
to forget how great of a day you can have at the local spot.  Today, Jim, 
Rick and I went kayak fishing out of Dana Point.  Before launching, we were 
able to visit a minute with Scott, who is an instructor with Southwind Kayak 
Center.  We also visited with several other local kayakers, Joe, and Steve 
and Linda.  There is nothing like running into kayaking friends on the beach.

Out on the water, we had some good fishing, with about 10 bass between us.  
We also met a couple of other kayak fishermen on the water, Mike and Fermin, 
who frequently post on a kayak fishing list.  Mike did a wonderful job 
rigging a bait tank in which he used a foot operated pump to keep new water 
coming to the bait fish.

Fermin caught a 6 foot thresher shark.  Of course, he didn't want to land it 
on the kayak, so while he held onto the rod, Mark was a good buddy and towed 
him back to the bay.  Jim, Rick and I followed and kept a protective barrier 
around them to avoid letting boats and jets skis pass too close and cut the 
line.  At the fuel dock, someone gaffed the shark for Fermin.  What a great 
catch from a kayak!

Back at the launching spot, Jim, Rick and I had a blast doing paddle skills 
practice.  We did about everything there was to do, including rolling, 
reentering and rolling, bracing, sculling, self and assisted rescues, and 
rafted towing.

All I can say is what a great day!  I hope you had one too.

By the way, we need to change the name of the Dana Point launch spot from 
Baby Beach to Kayak Beach.  There were so many kayaks on the beach, we almost 
couldn't find spots to squeeze into when we got back.  In the last few years, 
there have been a lot more kayaks there than babies.

Duane
Irvine, California
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