Pacific City Parking

Hello,

I wanted to hit PC for some bottom fishing with my kayak. The only question I have is about parking I have a kayak trailer and this is the only way of transporting my kayak any where. Am I able to park in Hungry Harbor RD with a trailer? I've seen guys towing there fishing boats but not parking in the area?

Thanks!

If you are sure that you can get through soft, rutted sand with your rig (e.g. you have 4wd) then you can drive down and park on the beach with all of the dory guys.  If you have doubts as to whether you can get through the sand then park in the parking lot above the beach near the Pelican Pub and walk your kayak down to the beach with a cart. 

Awesome! I didn't want to walk back to my car just to see a parking ticket.

What kind of vehicle are you taking down there? 

Also, speaking of tickets, if you do park on the north side of the beach(where all the dory rigs park) you need to indicate in some way that your vehicle is used for launching/landing of a fishing craft.  You will be fine since you have a trailer, but for anyone transporting their kayak on top of their vehicle, put a sign in your dash that says your vehicle is there for launching/landing of a fishing craft.  The parking lot above the beach is public parking though.

I tried that Jeff and I still got a ticket.  I had my truck with a lumber rack and even sent in photos of my truck with the ticket under the wiper blade and my kayak on top.  The PC rock was in the background as well.  I sent a well written letter and they still found me guilty of violating the sign that only allows parking in the area for "boating activities".  I guess to some folks kayak fishing is not a boating activity.  Judge was probably a dory captain. ;-)


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I tried that Jeff and I still got a ticket.  I had my truck with a lumber rack and even sent in photos of my truck with the ticket under the wiper blade and my kayak on top.  The PC rock was in the background as well.  I sent a well written letter and they still found me guilty of violating the sign that only allows parking in the area for "boating activities".  I guess to some folks kayak fishing is not a boating activity.  Judge was probably a dory captain. ;-)


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Did you have a sign in your dash that said something about your vehicle being a launch/recovery vehicle for a fishing vessel?

That's the one piece of the puzzle I did not have.  Not sure I'd risk trying that in the future, but apparently it's worked for others.


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That's the one piece of the puzzle I did not have.  Not sure I'd risk trying that in the future, but apparently it's worked for others.

It's been a while since I started doing it, but I was told by someone on this forum who had talked to a person writing the tickets that if you park on the north side of the beach and don't have a trailer, you need to have a clearly visible sign on your dash indicating that your vehicle is for launch and recovery of a ocean-going craft.  Otherwise you risk getting a ticket.  If you don't have a sign in your dash or a trailer attached to your vehicle, you can park on the south side of the beach, which is for beach-goers, surfers, kite fliers, and everyone else, or you can drive up and park in the parking lot above the beach.  My sign says something like: "FISHING KAYAK LAUNCH/RECOVERY VEHICLE"

It also helps to have a current Pacific City Dorymen's Association sticker on your bumper.   

That's the one piece of the puzzle I did not have.  Not sure I'd risk trying that in the future, but apparently it's worked for others.

It's been a while since I started doing it, but I was told by someone on this forum who had talked to a person writing the tickets that if you park on the north side of the beach and don't have a trailer, you need to have a clearly visible sign on your dash indicating that your vehicle is for launch and recovery of a ocean-going craft.  Otherwise you risk getting a ticket.  If you don't have a sign in your dash or a trailer attached to your vehicle, you can park on the south side of the beach, which is for beach-goers, surfers, kite fliers, and everyone else, or you can drive up and park in the parking lot above the beach.  My sign says something like: "FISHING KAYAK LAUNCH/RECOVERY VEHICLE"

It also helps to have a current Pacific City Dorymen's Association sticker on your bumper.   

I've always followed this advice and have never had an issue with my hatchback. I've forgot a couple of times and have only gotten a warning once. Generally it seems they do the checking on the busy summer days.

I took Rawk's advise way back when I first launched with him in 2009.  I made and laminated a sign that says Kayak fishing launch/recovery vehicle with my phone number and channel 69 on it. I keep it behind the seat of my truck when not in use, and place it in the window when fishing down there.  Never had any issues.

I do this when paddling off of the Sauvie ramp at night. Sheriff said he won't enforce sundown curfews for vehicles with notes. Cool it works at PC, too.

What kind of vehicle are you taking down there? 

Also, speaking of tickets, if you do park on the north side of the beach(where all the dory rigs park) you need to indicate in some way that your vehicle is used for launching/landing of a fishing craft.  You will be fine since you have a trailer, but for anyone transporting their kayak on top of their vehicle, put a sign in your dash that says your vehicle is there for launching/landing of a fishing craft.  The parking lot above the beach is public parking though.

I am driving a vehicle that is not a 4x4 and might have some issue driving back to the road if I was to park in the beach. But if you say the parking above is public I sure hope I can park without any issue.

I would park in the parking lot if I were in your shoes.  In the years I've been fishing PC I have yet to hear about someone having a problem from leaving their vehicle in the parking lot.

I got a ticket at PC once, even with a note in the window. Called the sheriff's office and they abated the ticket.

Interesting.  I just made a couple signs and having someone at work laminate them for me for both vehicles.  Good to have in the glove box when needed