Kayak Flipped

[Bachala]

So, I am somewhat new to kayak fishing having only been out approximately 10 times in the LIS this year on my recently purchased Hobie Quest. Don't know why or what I did but I leaned a bit to my right to look at something approximately 1/2 mile off of Centre Island this past weekend. My kayak flipped in the blink of an eye. I grabbed what I could that was floating near me, flipped my kayak back into upright position. Threw my stuff into my kayak. My glasses, some fishing gear (sinkers, snag hook, knife sunk). I went to look for my paddle and see it is about 5 feet away. I swim to get my paddle and turn around to see my kayak is drifting away. (I realize I probably should have tethered to the kayak). Now I am trying to swim back to my kayak with a paddle while wearing a vest. I was losing ground. Fortunately there was a lot of boat traffic around and I was soon rescued but I learned a lot that day. I could have spent a long night in the LIS and had a lot of people worried to death about me. the boat that rescued me was a large cabin cruiser that was doing a beeline right at me at a fast clip. Fortunately he slowed down and turned only because he saw the kayak. He saw me soon after but not while he was cruising towards me.

 

[Bassknuckles]

Go to the KFA-NY website- lots to learn there on Kayak fishing and safety even some videos of me doing self-rescue. Don't tether yourself to the kayak instead leash your paddle, fishing pole etc to the kayak. Don't give up it's a great sport. Practice self-rescue now while the water is warm. I caught more fish in the kayak then I do on my boat. Health issues stopped me from kayaking for long periods.

 

[CELLFISH]

Glad ya ok, ya need to attend Sunday Service 10:00, Candles @ $20.00, Schedule Confession and The Holy Rosary too…
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[pequa1]

Whew ! Glad you are OK. I am waiting for my first flip. (since 2005) I fish backbay waters in a bare bones Hurricane Skimmer 128 but the waters run up to 36' deep and the channels have a pretty good current, along with the ever present boat traffic. I used to tether my paddle to the yak- maybe I should start doing so again. I do tie in my tackle bag but I would undoubtedly lose a rod or two (will now clip the spare in.) I have never ever paddled without a PFD. My yaks have all been very visible, yellow, orange but the bottoms are white, like whitecap white lol. I did put reflective tape on my paddle and have a 6' high safety flag, both of which will be useless if I capsize.