First time out

Plan to fish the sound this saturday/Sunday. I'll be launching at Mukilteo 7am. Forecast says wind at SSW 2-7mph. Is this doable? Is there anything I should be aware of? It wil be my first attempt on the salt. i love to have other members to fish with. Your advice is appreciated.

Is there anything I should be aware of?

Yeah, tides and the currents they can produce.  This weekend the tidal swing is pretty big.

check out http://www.deepzoom.com/  You can figure out tides and current speed for just about any location in the Puget Sound.

Thanks for the advice. I think I head for the lakes instead.

What type of kayak?

Maximum ebb current looks like about 0.8 kts.  Add the wind drift from a 5-10 kt south wind and you could have 1.5-2.0kt "headwind" during the peak of the ebb tide.

I'm seeing a Saturday forecast for 6-8mph at Paine field until the evening. The sound is usually considerably higher, often 5 knots more because of the long fetch and lack of ground friction.

While I've been in those sorts of conditions it makes fishing difficult.  Both when the wind opposes the current and the wind waves rise, and when the wind aligns with the current and you have to manage the drift. 

For your first salt experience you may want to wait for a very low wind day.

I have a PA12. Thanks for the enlightenment.

On the other hand the forecasts here about often SUCK, so make your go-no-go decision for the salt closer to the launch time.  You definitely want to be comfortable on the sound for salmon season.  It's a pink year.

Everyone has different skill level and experience, in general where do you draw the line of safety when it comes to current flow and tide swing?

Bro go for it. you're not going to die from a tide swing. You're not going to die from wind. just know when the tide is coming in and when the tide is going out, and that's just to make it easier to go back to your car. If all else fails paddle to shore and wait for it to change.

All these guys talk about is why they don't go fishing this weekend. I will be doing halibut for two days out of port angeles, stay tuned for the pic. the strait will be way worse for then the sound.

I have been in much worse than what you will be going through, and fishing was fine. I agree with Dirk and say go for it! You have to learn somehow. The earlier in the morning you go, the less wind and waves (to state the obvious).

Really dirk. Come on... These guys fish more then most people I know who fish a lot. And tidal swing joined with wind can kill you.

I only said that currents and tides were something to be aware of.  You don't want to find yourself fighting the current on the way out just to turn around after a tide change and have to fight them again on the way back in.   If you are aware of the tides and plan accordingly you can use them to your advantage.

I follow Dirk's school of thought on this - but I know that there are lots of folks reading this that are out of shape, older, etc. that couldn't keep up with a moderate/strong current and wind combination.

Bro go for it. you're not going to die from a tide swing. You're not going to die from wind. just know when the tide is coming in and when the tide is going out, and that's just to make it easier to go back to your car. If all else fails paddle to shore and wait for it to change.

All these guys talk about is why they don't go fishing this weekend. I will be doing halibut for two days out of port angeles, stay tuned for the pic. the strait will be way worse for then the sound.

Absolutely horrible advice for a newbie to ocean fishing. If you're fine  playing chicken with the ocean or are comfortable with the conditions mentioned, fine. But don't tell a newbie that "tide and wind" can't kill you. Thats the mind kind of bull that gets people in trouble out there. Come on man, think.

I would have to agree with R.R. Please be careful The ocean and tides are very dangerous at times. I keep it in my mind that it is dangerous at all times. I worked the ocean for 4 years and you could never predict what was going to happen. I could tell you some weird ass stories and some tragic.

Go with some one and make sure you have a float plan with someone, PFD, radio etc.

I would not want to be the guy telling someone else to go for it and find out something horrible happened.