Rough Water Paddling - 7th October 2015

It had been weeks since i had been on the water. Conditions were touch and go for a fishing session with a brisk breeze and 6ft swell forecast. It didn't matter, i wanted to get out on the water and Andrew was keen to join and have a go the Abaco. We would take a lure rod each to have a few casts but we would mainly be battling the sea conditions..... sounds like fun to me!

We launched and paddled out against the swell. Anyone who has paddled at Sennen in big swell will know that 6ft on the surf forecast is more like 12ft+ rollers once you get out of the bay and today they definitely were! Walls of water rolled towards the kayaks as we paddled up and over them. Great fun! The reef was getting hammered...look but don't touch!

One second you see him....

....the next you don't!

White horses were breaking all around and at times over the kayak. 

I couldn't resist chucking a lure down though. It was hard work with the immense power and movement in the water reducing connectivity with the lure. I couldn't really work it properly. Still a few Pollack up to 5lb came to the kayak. Andrew hooked a big one that ended up throwing the hook. It gave a cracking fight though!

He was eventually rewarded with a nice Cuckoo Wrasse on the lure

We drifted into a section i like to call 'the washing machine'. The chop was hellish. The rebound swell off the cliff and reef causes clapotis. The water was lively and the kayaks were getting pushed around all over the place. Enough to stir a feeling of seasickness!

 We paddled out of it riding the rebounding swell out into the open water and smashing through the chop.

 Large swells were still rolling past. Here is Andrew climbing over the peak of one....

And a swell creeping up on me....

We paddled around a bit more before heading back in, catching a few swells on the way. 

A few hours of fun on the water and a great way to test out the kayaks performance in rough water. The Tempo felt at home in the lively conditions. The low seating positioning gives plenty of stability even when the hull is getting pushed around by confused water. It cuts through the chop and rides the swell well too. You have to put the Tempo in these conditions to understand why everyone raves about this kayak.

Here is some footage from the session.... the Go Pro lens doesn't do the conditions justice at all!

Andrew was impressed with the Abaco and he did well for his first taste of kayak fishing. He got thrown in the deep end with the conditions but he was fine as he is used to paddling sea kayaks in swell and surging down rivers in a whitewater kayaks! Next time we just need to add more fish!