Pacific City question

I've been reading about the state wanting to separate Pacific City surfers and dorymen.  What I've read on the "unquestionably reliable internet" makes it sound like there's a real problem.  (That was dripping with sarcasm, BTW)

I haven't been up there yet but it's on my list of places I want to get to.

Is it really a serious problem?  If it's a problem for surfers and the dory boats, is it an issue for kayakers, too?

 I have been there lots although never fished it. We have friends who live right on the spit. I think the conflict is when the people surf in the zone that the dorymen rely on to launch and land. There is one area where they take off from near the base of the big dune where it is deeper and it ought to remain clear for the dories to operate. They come in damn fast so they can coast up on the beach so they can get closer to their trailers. I have seen some close calls with inattentive beach walkers and often the dory guys will give a blast on the horn when they come barreling in fast. There have been accidents. 

All the local surfers stay out of that area pretty much, its the out of town folks that don't have a clue. When you try and tell them about the dorys most get real defensive about it and want to know if your the water police and that they can surf where they want because its a free country. Some listen a lot don't!

It takes common sense to not become a hood ornament in all sports to say. It's posted and most people have enough sense to stay out of the way the ones that don't should be removed from the beach. As for kayaks we all should have a flag it tells them where we are and I have never had a close call , again common sense.

I agree, I have only been there once in my life and paid no attention at all when driving in and I still noticed signs about dory fishermen.  There's no cure for stupidity tho, my FJ and I had to tow a carload of them out of the way so the dory ' s could get off the beach, I can only imagine what happens the other 364 day out of the year...lol..pay attention people! Why is it so hard?

Doesn't seem hard to me, but some days it seems that common sense went out of style the moment they started airing "Keeping Up With The Kardashians"...

Thanks.  It sounded like it was guerilla warfare in the surf zone when I read about it.

You can wear Kevlar if it makes a fashion statement for ya but you will be ok without it and can leave the m60 at home.

You can wear Kevlar if it makes a fashion statement for ya but you will be ok without it and can leave the m60 at home.

Where's the fun in that!? 

There are certain weather/swell patterns where the break in the dory launch area looks better than down the beach where the surfers typically are (I am not a surfer; I'm just observing). During these times people who don't know better (or don't care) seem to migrate towards that area to find surfable waves.

My assessment is that it's kind of the 80/20 rule, except it's more like 99/1 - 1% of the surfers are creating 99% of the problem.

There is also the "later in the afternoon" crowd on warm weekends, where little kids are boogeyboarding and swimming down in the watercraft launch/landing area. I don't know if that is part of what they're trying to address or not, but it seems like at least as much of a risk as surfers, since kids are generally optimistic and unaware.

As far as kayakers I would say that in general we're not in the dory boats' way nearly as much as the surfers. There are exceptions. I saw someone last summer practicing their surf launch/landing repeatedly in the surf zone right in the center of the dory launch. That's the kind of thing that creates friction between the kayakers and the dory folks.

I will say that I got the pleasure of overhearing a dory boater lecture a kayaker for about 10 minutes two weekends ago about how the kayaker turned to one side when he landed (in the surf zone). I was there and saw the whole thing. All the dory boat needed to do was wait for 60 seconds outside of the surf zone, which was completely doable on that day, and let the kayaker land. Instead, the dory boat chose to just come blasting in, and then got mad at the boat with the right of way for making a course correction. The kayaker respectfully listened and discussed; I would not have been so polite.

I completely understand that the dory boats need to get through the surf zone quickly and unimpeded. But there's no reason they can't take a cautious approach outside of the surf zone.

But anyway that's a very different issue than people "playing" in the waves in the dory launch/landing area, which obviously is not a good idea and keeps the dory boats from doing what they need to do.

Standard disclaimer: Most of the dory folks are real nice and helpful and yadda yadda.

Now with the news about the parking tickets and all of that BS it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I certainly hope that a compromise can be reached so everyone can enjoy that great beach. I would expect part of the compromise to be that anyone playing in the surf do so outside of the watercraft launch/landing area.

OK , so it is $100 to park, long sand portage, surf launch, teritorial surfers and commies to dodge on the way out and in, all you are missing is white sharks for the most least favored place to kayak fish. Don't get me wrong, I am going to fish there because it looks like a cool place and an adventure, but if it is mainly rockfish, what is the attraction? Just wondering?

Thanks Scott

OK , so it is $100 to park, long sand portage, surf launch, teritorial surfers and commies to dodge on the way out and in, all you are missing is white sharks for the most least favored place to kayak fish. Don't get me wrong, I am going to fish there because it looks like a cool place and an adventure, but if it is mainly rockfish, what is the attraction? Just wondering?

Thanks Scott

You forgot to mention the tourists constantly wanting know about your fish. It's an easy launch and land on a good day and then there's the fish that crabbycabby pulled up Sunday

I've fished PC many many times and never had a negative experience with dory fisherman, surfers, or tourists on the beach. In fact my experience interacting with all of those groups has always been really positive.

However, I did catch some local punks stealing the transducer from my yak when I went into the Pelican afterwards to grab a pint.

A couple of references to parking tickets and $100 parking fee.  Whats all this about? Dave

See http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=15525.msg168414;topicseen#new .

OK , so it is $100 to park, long sand portage, surf launch, teritorial surfers and commies to dodge on the way out and in, all you are missing is white sharks for the most least favored place to kayak fish. Don't get me wrong, I am going to fish there because it looks like a cool place and an adventure, but if it is mainly rockfish, what is the attraction? Just wondering?

Thanks Scott

You're right. It's definitely not worth it. I suggest that everyone stop kayak fishing there. Spread the word!!!