Fishing CBBT alone. Dec 5, 2018

[ComeOnFish]

The water temp at CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, VA) on Dec 5th was 47 F. Which is about 5 F below normal.
I think this lower water temp this time of the year might be the reason for the scarce tautog bites. I didn’t see any boats at all, perhaps because of the lack of tog bites recently.

I caught 6 oyster toadfish and 4 togs at 13-16”. Though I think the tog bite will improve through Christmas

Video Fishing Log:

Thanks
Joe

[silasvirus82]

You and your good videos Joe. I really need to be more prepared for the unexpected, especially fishing an area like this. I just can’t imagine a scenario that would lead to my kayak sinking, but it obviously happens.


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[Slobber Bob]

Were conditions rough when you sank? Were you taking waves over the stern on anchor? The condidtions don't look awful in your video, the best I can tell, and I'm wondering how you get enough water into a hatch on top of the kayak to near sink it? Good thing you weren't too far from shore! And are in good enough shape to swim the kayak back with you.

I think I'm done tog fishing in OC too. Water is hovering around 44 - 45. That makes it too much effort with not much payoff in my opinion.

By the way, were you fishing HRBT this past Saturday (8th)? I saw a guy fishing a yellow hobie, helmet on, and gopro mounted on top of the helmet by the south island as drive by. I instantly thought it might have been you?

[ComeOnFish]

Were conditions rough when you sank? Were you taking waves over the stern on anchor? The condidtions don't look awful in your video, the best I can tell, and I'm wondering how you get enough water into a hatch on top of the kayak to near sink it? Good thing you weren't too far from shore! And are in good enough shape to swim the kayak back with you.

I think I'm done tog fishing in OC too. Water is hovering around 44 - 45. That makes it too much effort with not much payoff in my opinion.

By the way, were you fishing HRBT this past Saturday (8th)? I saw a guy fishing a yellow hobie, helmet on, and gopro mounted on top of the helmet by the south island as drive by. I instantly thought it might have been you?

That was me at HRBT. Caught 2 undersized stripers in 47 F water. But soon I had to leave for office because of an emergency at work. So couldn't fish Rudee the next stop that day. I hate that happens

The wave were 1 - 1.5' when the leak started. So the water got in to the kayak whenever the waves went over the stern. Once in the water, I found quickly that the stern hatch wasn't pushed in at all (There was 1/4 inch gap). Once I closed the hatch correctly, the leak stopped. and the kayak stopped sinking. I kept pumping the water out while i was in the water. Then the pump got jammed. I really couldn't do much that time while I was in the water. I turned on the camera on after all these happened. There was no time to waste before the stopping the leak. So the video started when I saw the bait bucket was drifting away.

Fortunately the wind calmed down. And the wind and the water were moving to the opposite directions. So, the kayak wasn't moving off the shore, moving along the shore line very slowly.

I had two choices. One was dropping the anchor and swim to the shore then call Jake (Jman on the forum. He has two kayaks). The other was swim with the kayak to the shore.

I, 65, was totally exhausted. I never breathed that hard in my life. I called Jake after beaching the kayak. And he came. Jake and I fished for an hour to verify that the leak was from the inadequately closed stern hatch. So there was no other issues, except an user error that day.

Within an hour of re-fishing, we got hit by a nasty storm. That nasty storm demoralized me. After the storm I was too cold to re-fish.

BTW, People at the beach didn't react to me at all. I didn't ask for help. But anyway, none yelled to find out if I was OK. Some took videos and walked away. I thought it was very odd when a yaker was in the water for a long time?????

Joe

[ComeOnFish]

The yaker lost kayak and saved by a boater is one of my friends. We don't know the cause of the leak. I assume:
1) Stern hatch wasn't closed like my case
2) The seal of the transducer wire hole under the seat was cracked or came off (Hobie Outback). I put Duct Seal over that seal - I highly recommend this to Hobie owners
3) An actual hull crack by banging the kayak to the bridge pylon. He also duct-taped garden hoses around his Outback. I hit the pylon very hard many time. I am always afraid of getting cracks when fishing pylons.

He kept everything (including phone and marine radio) on the kayak, not with him. So he couldn't communicate at all while in the water.
He still fishes as usual.

Joe

[Slobber Bob]

A learning experience we can all benefit from. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you made it out of the situation unscathed.