Kayak across the Tillamook Bar

Has anyone here done this?  If so what were the swell conditions?  Any suggestions?  I've thought about it but decided against it in the past.  I'm confident of my kayaking abilities and would plan to ride the tide out and in, but don't really know how dangerous it would be, in say a 5' + swell.  Maybe my limit should be a 3 or 4' swell?

I see that bar a lot , if I were wanting to go out there I would consider a beach launch from the north jetty on a flat day the bar rips in and out real fast.

I see that bar a lot , if I were wanting to go out there I would consider a beach launch from the north jetty on a flat day the bar rips in and out real fast.

That sounds like good advice. I think I might have asked this same question to Ron a while back and was told that would be a very bad idea.

On a side note, Kyle did I see something about you finding a Revo?

Thanks Noah, and no I didn't get a revo yet.  I'm planning on getting my Hobie at ORC.  If that plan fails then I'll likely just drop the big money on a new one.  Used revos are not much less than a new one since they retain value so well.  I'll tell my wife I'm investing in our retirement. :-)

I did the Westport bar a couple years ago at this same time of the year, for Kings. It was bumpy on the way out, then absolutely GNARLY on the return trip. I ended up going in thru the surf zone and it was solid 7 foot, overhead. And still a better option than the washing machine bar. Bring your A game or wait until August and 1 foot swells.

Have not done it myself, but I believe it was Bentrod out of Rockaway that has done it several times.  I would be interested in doing it myself. 

If the wind looks good and the swell is 3ft or less it should be easy.   I used to surf Barview all the time before they extended the jetty and on the real bad N/NW wind days we would paddle over to the south jetty climb over and surf cleaner waves.

Crossing Tillamook bar is very doable if you choose your day and your tide correctly.
Most of the incoming tide the bar lays down (given decent swell, period and wind).  High slack in fact can be beautiful out there. 

You can paddle out during high slack, fish all day and re-enter an hour or two after low slack but that makes for a really long day.....  Also, make sure you fly a tall safety flag on your way back in cause the swells slow down but get really tall inside the jaws when there's not a ton of water in there.

Your best bet would be wait for a really calm day and head out the rip next to the north jetty. 

Hey onefish, I've probably surfed with you at the G spot a time or two. 

-Spot-

-Spot-

I went out over the Siuslaw bar last August in my PA12 on a nice smooth day, went out at low slack and messed around for an hour or so before coming back into the river and riding the incoming tide back to Florence.

This year I am planning to work on surf launch/landings by the south jetty.  There is parking near there that would allow heading out and returning either using the river or south jetty beach. 

While going out over the bar here was no problem on a calm day, in event things kicked up while I was out trolling for salmon, I would want the option of a beach landing.   cheers, roger

Thanks guys.  I always try to think through the worst case scenarios.  Such as loosing my boat on the bar. Being a surfer and diver I'm comfortable in pretty wild conditions, but I like a good margin of safety because I want to be around for many years to come.  I swam to the beach through ten foot swells when my board leash broke and I climb out of the water onto jetties pretty regularly when spearfishing, but it's the occasional miscalculation that can kill you.  I'm going to beach launch closer to the Columbia in search of salmon Thursday, so I'll try out the Tilly bar another day.  Cheers!