Would you take a canoe out to Thomas Pt Light?

[fil]

I am 100% canoe...for now, at least. I've fished Thomas Pt a couple of times and have thought about paddling out to the light. Physically, I could do it no problem, but I'm wondering about the canoe handling it. On a decent day, I think it would be fine. Just curious of your thoughts.

About three weeks ago, the wife and 3 of our kids paddled out from Cape St. Claire to Dobbins Island and back. That trip made me very confident in the capabilities of my canoe. Our luck, it was probably the windiest day of the summer, and the wind was coming right down the Magothy...plenty of fetch for white caps to build. On top of that, the cruisers coming down throwing huge wakes made for very nasty open water. We got a tad of water off the bow, but that was it. A lot of rocking and rolling and telling the kids to sit still, but otherwise, we were good. Arms were jello, hardest paddle I've ever done (mainly due to the extra weight of 4 people), but the canoe gained some respect.

BTW, I'm paddling a Wenonah Kingfisher.

[dhawk]

I personaly would not. That being said people have fished the bay in conoes for thousands of years so it can be done. The reason I would not is because i know i cannot self rescue in a canoe however if you can bail your canoe in open water and get back in it should you capsize than I say go for it I try to plan for worst case scenarios like being capsized being rescued should not be in your float plan and the light is a mile out would not want to try to swim a canoe back that far. so I guess the answer lies in your ability

[Memory Maker]

Not if you are thinking of taking yur wife and 2 kids .............. I wouldn't have done it with my wife and kids on the Magothy way back when with all the powerboat crazies .......... think Rep Dwyer ......... Dogfish was run over in his yak and it wasn't even in the Magothy ...........

It would probably be ok on some days but there is always a better than average chance that the wind and waves will change .......... don't want to be stuck with a 3 ft ...... or anything over a 2 ft chop and have to fight the wind and the tide to get back.

[CB kayak 02]

I am 100% canoe...for now, at least. I've fished Thomas Pt a couple of times and have thought about paddling out to the light. Physically, I could do it no problem, but I'm wondering about the canoe handling it. On a decent day, I think it would be fine. Just curious of your thoughts.

About three weeks ago, the wife and 3 of our kids paddled out from Cape St. Claire to Dobbins Island and back. That trip made me very confident in the capabilities of my canoe. Our luck, it was probably the windiest day of the summer, and the wind was coming right down the Magothy...plenty of fetch for white caps to build. On top of that, the cruisers coming down throwing huge wakes made for very nasty open water. We got a tad of water off the bow, but that was it. A lot of rocking and rolling and telling the kids to sit still, but otherwise, we were good. Arms were jello, hardest paddle I've ever done (mainly due to the extra weight of 4 people), but the canoe gained some respect.

BTW, I'm paddling a Wenonah Kingfisher.

Where would you launch from to get to TPL?

[fil]

This would definitely be solo, no wife or kids.

[fil]

Would launch from the Coast Guard station up Fishing Creek.

[fil]

Thinking of doing it Friday afternoon/evening if anyone wants to join.

[CB kayak 02]

Would launch from the Coast Guard station up Fishing Creek.

I'd say that would be reasonable. On a day with waves 1ft or less it's definitely doable. And honestly lately you don't even have to go all the way to the light to start getting into the fish. If you decide to go, send me a pm as I launch at Arundel on the Bay and go there frequently, can't hurt to have company just in case.

[CB kayak 02]

Thinking of doing it Friday afternoon/evening if anyone wants to join.

Unfortunately can't go then, are you Coast guard? Is that how you have access to the launch?

[Raptor]

Matt,

Is there a launch at the park on the end of Thomas Point? If so what are the rules for using it (e.g. Coast Guard only)? How far from the end of TP to TPL?

[CB kayak 02]

Matt,

Is there a launch at the park on the end of Thomas Point? If so what are the rules for using it (e.g. Coast Guard only)? How far from the end of TP to TPL?

To access Thomas point park you must purchase a monthly pass from the MD DNR, you may be able to launch a kayak from some part of it, but most of the park is shore line rip/rap with large rocks about 8 ft above the water. There is a coast guard station in the creek there, that is why I asked how he has access to launch there.

Distance is probably 1.5 miles... I'm just guessing.

[dsiekman]

Personally, no, but then again I wouldn't take my sit in out there either. FWIW, my cousins fish the Boundary Waters in Canada from canoes and evidently get into some pretty nasty conditions. I don't imagine they come across any cargo ship wakes, but I hear the wind blown chop can get ugly. If you're going to try it, be careful. Also, I think Matt's suggestion to go with others is probably a good one. I'm guessing it would take some doing to right a canoe by yourself if something happened.

[kevinfry]

if going with another boat I certainly would. rescue with help of another yak or canoe is easy. http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?60