Upper Galveston Bay overnighter
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:37 am
So last weekend I wanted to do a shakedown trip to test my gear, (and my ability to properly stuff it in the kayak), before heading out on a longer trip to my end goal of Alazan Bay. Overall, things went very well, covered about 14 miles between the two days averaging 2.87 mph. I launched at Bayland park in Baytown about 12pm on sat. and paddled southeast down to Atkinson Island the first day. Paddled around down there, caught a few trout, and scouted potential campsites along the southern shore of Hog Island.
For those who may be interested, access to Atkinson Island is legal as long as you hold a public hunting permit or a limited use permit, hunting is not allowed, but all other outdoor activities are. Hog Island is still privately owned from what I can find, and looks like "land after people" with all of the abandoned structures. Ill take my chances pitching my little tent on the beach there, I imagine no one will care, but I will comply with any other info I find on the subject.
I set up my tent and ran into the first of 2 problems I had during the trip. I brought my water in a soft bladder stored inside the hull of my Native Slayer, and... well... it slid all the way to the tip of the hull where I could not get to it. I had a quick moment of panic, but eventually ended up emptying the kayak and shaking the piss out of it to get it in a location I could access. Note to self: secure items placed in bilge or they will go to Narnia.
Otherwise the night went very well, no other hitches.
The next morning I woke up and fished the reef south of Hog Island, caught a 23" trout and a 21" trout, and at that point I saw sea fog rolling in on the horizon. Having been in this situation before, I quickly paddled to a position with a clear shot to the ramp (around 3.5 miles away), turned my bow toward a tower I knew was right above it, and took a compass bearing. I then headed back to my camp, the 60 mph bay boats unsettle me in nill visibility, they seem to not care about it.
I packed my camp and waited there until the visibility was good enough that I felt safe from becoming roadkill, and set off. Visibility at that point was safe in my opinion, but my destination was still very much obscured.
I cannot stress enough how much of an advocate I am of my compass. It has now saved my butt twice, and does so very accurately. If there is one thing I think all kayakers should carry (besides a life jacket), it is a compass.
Long story short, I made it back successfully, and have confidence in my setup. Ready for oversize trout in Alazan Bay. Who's in??
For those who may be interested, access to Atkinson Island is legal as long as you hold a public hunting permit or a limited use permit, hunting is not allowed, but all other outdoor activities are. Hog Island is still privately owned from what I can find, and looks like "land after people" with all of the abandoned structures. Ill take my chances pitching my little tent on the beach there, I imagine no one will care, but I will comply with any other info I find on the subject.
I set up my tent and ran into the first of 2 problems I had during the trip. I brought my water in a soft bladder stored inside the hull of my Native Slayer, and... well... it slid all the way to the tip of the hull where I could not get to it. I had a quick moment of panic, but eventually ended up emptying the kayak and shaking the piss out of it to get it in a location I could access. Note to self: secure items placed in bilge or they will go to Narnia.
Otherwise the night went very well, no other hitches.
The next morning I woke up and fished the reef south of Hog Island, caught a 23" trout and a 21" trout, and at that point I saw sea fog rolling in on the horizon. Having been in this situation before, I quickly paddled to a position with a clear shot to the ramp (around 3.5 miles away), turned my bow toward a tower I knew was right above it, and took a compass bearing. I then headed back to my camp, the 60 mph bay boats unsettle me in nill visibility, they seem to not care about it.
I packed my camp and waited there until the visibility was good enough that I felt safe from becoming roadkill, and set off. Visibility at that point was safe in my opinion, but my destination was still very much obscured.
I cannot stress enough how much of an advocate I am of my compass. It has now saved my butt twice, and does so very accurately. If there is one thing I think all kayakers should carry (besides a life jacket), it is a compass.
Long story short, I made it back successfully, and have confidence in my setup. Ready for oversize trout in Alazan Bay. Who's in??