Intro

I've been interested in kayaking in the ocean for awhile now. I took a charter out of Pacific City for rockfish and that increased my interest when I (caught fish and) saw we were in an area kayaks can reach. I'm not a great fisherman, love being on the water as much as the fishing, and have a (healthy?) fear of the salt. I'm looking for someplace I can get some info about how to do it before I spend tons of money on a boat and gear, and hopefully find some people to tag along with.

Let me in?

lunchbucket

Welcome. 

This is the place to find info on what you need and on days where the ocean is cooperating I'm sure you'll find plenty of folks out on the ocean with you but until then the "search" function is your friend.  Look around on the forum and glean as much info as you can.  Ask questions if you can't find the specific info you are looking for.  Keep an eye out for open invites for fishing.  Get the equipment you need to be safe on the water.  Start out slow, don't rush to be on the ocean.  Make sure you're ready for it.  It took me about 3 years before I ventured out in the Salt (I too had a healthy fear of the Ocean).  I'm not saying wait 3 years but get some seat time in the lakes and small rivers and even the Bays then work your way to the Salt.  Just my $0.02

Welcome. 

This is the place to find info on what you need and on days where the ocean is cooperating I'm sure you'll find plenty of folks out on the ocean with you but until then the "search" function is your friend.  Look around on the forum and glean as much info as you can.  Ask questions if you can't find the specific info you are looking for.  Keep an eye out for open invites for fishing.  Get the equipment you need to be safe on the water.  Start out slow, don't rush to be on the ocean.  Make sure you're ready for it.  It took me about 3 years before I ventured out in the Salt (I too had a healthy fear of the Ocean).  I'm not saying wait 3 years but get some seat time in the lakes and small rivers and even the Bays then work your way to the Salt.  Just my $0.02

This would be my 2-cents, too, and in a weird sort of synchronicity, it took me three years in freshwater before I tried saltwater, too - and I wasn't fearful of the ocean, just might respectful.  Welcome to the forum, go slow, be safe.

Thanks for the welcome. Do you have any suggestions for sites to bookmark? I'm interested in getting a sense of how many doable days there were in the last year. Someplace that would have the wind/wave info saved? I actually don't know where to go to get a look at what's ahead.

Also, any other tips for what you find helpful. e.g. I searched "essential gear" but didn't see a discussion of people's different ideas of what equipment they "must have" on the kayak.

I would peruse the "For Safety Sake" section of the forum to find past posts on what folks recommend for required safety gear for out on the Ocean.  For me, I'd suggest drysuit or another effective form of immersion wear, whistle, VHF radio, a safety knife, some type of navigational tool (fish finder with GPS, cell phone, compass, for me, all the above), and at least one experienced fishing buddy (but the more the merrier).

I use magic seaweed for watching the Ocean forecast.  I never looked up where to find past data though.

Welcome aboard!   

A few more things that may not sound as obvious, but equally important to use for kayaking in the ocean and will come into play when you are getting closer to getting salty.

>Common sense.  Use it!   

>If your gut says NO, don't push it.  Wait until another time, day or window of opportunity.   

>If your fishing buddy of the day is all macho and pushy yet you're not feeling it, there are no points lost for sticking up for yourself and saying "Nope, not today".  Even if you just drove 2 hours to the beach.  If you don't feel it, you don't feel it.  Go play on the beach, find a new eatery/drinking hole, watch the water from a viewpoint.  There is always another day, and the fish will still be there.

Welcome lunchbucket!  You came to the right place.  Once you have your yak and safety gear assembled, spend an afternoon in the surf, learning to push thru and return on the reform waves close to shore.  It's a lot of fun and you'll learn a lot about what to expect and how to handle it.

-Mark-

Congratulations on discovering this place! Jackpot!