Distances covered in Yak

The most water I've covered in a day is between 12-15 miles.  This was a light wind and no current day (fresh water).

By the end of the day I was pretty tired.  I don't think I'd like to do that many miles in the salt when a lot of it is a few miles off shore.

If your dead set on going out there, contact a few PBer's to see if they'll act as a safety backup for you.  I'd rather lose the AOTY points then my life.

Good luck with the tourney!

Past tournaments have proven that as long as you can see the sun, you just head towards it, and everything will be ok.  You can also get a free ride in the big metal boat!

Past tournaments have proven that as long as you can see the sun, you just head towards it, and everything will be ok.  You can also get a free ride in the big metal boat!

This was the first thing that popped into my head I I read it.

How much does that boat ride cost?

I would not do this on my outback.

I have traveled 3mi to destination at an avg of 3mph with rest every now and then (perfect conditions in Puget Sound). On the way back, I hit head wind and it was not fun...cursed at the wind the entire time. It nearly took twice as long (1hr vs 1hr 45min). I have drifted in the Strait and had to travel 4mi against current to get back...cursed at the current the entire time. My avg round trip distance in the salt is probably 10-12mi. Farthest distance away from land in open water: 2-3mi.

If I was to attempt this, I would break the trip into three legs: 1) From launch head towards Neptune Bay (4mi) (set foot on land) to rest, pee, rejuvenate. 2) Fish and catch then get back to Neptune Bay (set foot on land). 3) Rest, pee, rejuvenate, then return to launch point.

IMO 17 miles is too far for an Outback off shore with unknown conditions. I have made long off shore trips but they were only done when we got there and had optimum conditions. We always had a close to shore option if the weather wasn't favorable.

Planning for max output as a starting point is just setting yourself up for trouble.

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I agree, boat makes a big difference. Someone very young and fit in a 14' plastic boat might struggle to keep up with my old wrinkly self, but I have 18' of fiberglass waterline. I cruise at 4 knots for hours on end, but I can't do that in a plastic boat that's 14 feet long and probably never could.

The question of "how far do you paddle should be", what, why and how do you paddle. And should be measured against the conditions of both you and the weather on the day. In other words, no easy answers.

Leave yourself and out, turn around or call in a boater if you get stuck. But I'm still a big fan of pushing the limits when it's acceptable. Sore muscles heal, regrets not so much.

This is really good stuff.  Thanks to everyone for their input.  I was thinking 10-12 miles is a great day and I think others are reinforcing that much more is a chore on an outback. 

Putting 10 hours in a kayak has not been an issue for me.  17 miles?  Seems like a lot. 

When I first signed on to the forum, I owned a 9' mini-x.  Asked if I could take it in the ocean for kings and halibut and got mixed results.  Half saying "go for it" the other half saying "there are WAY better kayaks for that".  Both were perfectly right.  Nobody said "impossible".  So being a noob I went for it and landed some really nice kings and my fair share of halibut on the mini-x.  I also upgraded to an outback!  Everybody other than this forum in Alaska were lined up asking for my stuff when I died. 

Thanks to everyone's input (keep them coming if you have thoughts!).  It's always a good balance in here.  my plan of action is to:

1) Try and secure a ride out to save on the leg strength.  If I can't, I would still expect to be able to cross in less than 2 hours so I would have an half hour to an hour of time to rest up and rehydrate and such. 
2) If anything but North or North west wind blows (north is dominant in winter) , I will likely carry my paddle sail.  There is safety in every direction but Northwest within 10 miles.
3) Lines out is at 4pm with last weigh in at 6pm.  I plan to quit early and give my self double the margin of error for getting back.  I can always fish the less productive spots if I get back too early.  So I would plan to be 4 miles out with quitting time for me at 2pm. 
4) If the weather is rough, I will stay around the spit and fish.  Its where I have caught all of my kigns before but they were at different times of the year. 
5) Finally I am  HUGE proponent of "nothing ventured, nothing gained!!!"  BUT with this kayak fishing thing being so new to Alaska, I don't want to be the poster child of what can go wrong either in front of one of the biggest stages in Alaska fishing.  Having said that, if I any of us kayakers could enter a decent fish safely, I think it would be a HUGE boost for the sport here in Alaska.

So here's a quick 13 second video I posted a while back.  It's what happens when the afternoon winds and the tides are just right.  Went from relatively calm to this in less than 30 minutes.  The spit is on the left.  I would be trying to get to the land mass you see directly in front.  I will be fighting the current which will be running right to left on the video at its peak about the time I am getting back.  Fortunately it should be less than a knot of current.  Wide angle gopro sure makes it look REALLY FAR AWAY!!!!  lol.

Kardinal--I like the fact that you're being so cautious--I am too. I have lots of seatime ---but not that much in a yak--so I am being very conservative in the conditions and distances I go out in. i will push the envelope somewhat beyond what I have done so far in my adventure island this season but still keep the safety factor foremost. IMHO--no fish is worth dying for.
T2

I have been yakfishing the salt since '99.  I had done several 10 mile days of transport and salmon trolling coming into last season.  I got more focused and ended up doing 300 miles on salmon trolling trips last spring and summer out of Shelter Cove, Trinidad, and mostly Humboldt Bay.  I got up to 5 miles from the Jaws of Humboldt Bay, but most of the time I stayed within 3 miles of land.  I am a meticulous study of the forecasts and conditions and try to always be ready for unpredictable changes.  I have done 15 miles total several times - 16 miles in 8 hours was a good day, and I generally averaged 2 miles per hour on any given day between trolling and transport - would usually troll to the desired fishing location.  It's addicting, but I wouldn't tell anyone of it without stressing that safety and decades of ocean activity are huge factors at all times.  I paddle an X-Factor predominantly and did a few trips on my Scrambler XT.

What you're describing sounds more challenging than out to the northwest and back with a strong prevailing current and wind bringing me home - especially on a tournament day where you don't get to choose the conditions you'll go out in.  Play it safe, but be ready to bust a move if you get what you're looking for in terms of conditions.

Best of luck.   

Of course there are so many variables that the answer is ... it depends.

Here's my line of thinking.   I always plan for a return trip that could possible be twice as long as expected.  I don't think I've ever been in a situation that it has taken me more than twice as long to cover a specific distance, but I've come close.  So if your destination is 5 miles away, and you plan on cover say 6 miles of water while fishing.  My thought process would lead me to ask myself, "can you paddle 21 miles today in these conditions?"  21 miles comes from 5 miles out there, 6 miles fishing, and 2*5=21 miles back.  If the answer is yes, then go  If the answer is no, that don't.

-Allen

Of course there are so many variables that the answer is ... it depends.

Here's my line of thinking.   I always plan for a return trip that could possible be twice as long as expected.  I don't think I've ever been in a situation that it has taken me more than twice as long to cover a specific distance, but I've come close.  So if your destination is 5 miles away, and you plan on cover say 6 miles of water while fishing.  My thought process would lead me to ask myself, "can you paddle 21 miles today in these conditions?"  21 miles comes from 5 miles out there, 6 miles fishing, and 2*5=21 miles back.  If the answer is yes, then go  If the answer is no, that don't.

-Allen

Using your method, its 3 miles to fishing 11 miles of trolling.  So it is a 20 (3+11+6) mile day.  Not going to happen.  I think I'd like to limit it to under 15 if not 12 miles under this method.  So I am evaluating using 4 wheelers and other accessories to shorten the travel distance to another location.  Or its just a matter of deciding if I want to troll all day in a place I don't there are any fish, or troll half day where there MIGHT be fish.  The age old dilemma of fisherman. 

Headed to prefish this weekend.  Be scoping out a launch site and maybe even time my transit route for spot number two.  Likely won't be doing much "fishing" for productivity, but more scouting.

Hope for the best, prepare fot the worst.   17miles under possibly iffy conditions?  Forget it----stay in close, and be prepared to mooch bait, if it's legal----perhaps more productive.

Hope for the best, prepare fot the worst.   17miles under possibly iffy conditions?  Forget it----stay in close, and be prepared to mooch bait, if it's legal----perhaps more productive.

Yup. Good advice.  There is no way around traveling a few miles. The one location where there is no travel has no fish right now.   So it's travel 2 miles off shore or travel 4 miles (both one way) to the "other" shore. The first option we will also be dealing with 2knts or better current. So it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

While safety is number one "A" on the list. Nothing ventured nothing gained is #2 on the list.

There should be plenty of traffic and I have contacted a few powerboats who will check on us.  I love to mooch buts its likely not going to work here unless we find concentrations of bait. While a popular technique here in Alaska, I've never heard of any one mooching these feeder kings. 

Current reports also indicate cod, rockfish and even chicken halibuts are being caught. Headed out this weekend. Will test a few launches and endurance issues and report back.