By Paul Lebowitz

Oh no, not the safety thing again! Yep, its time for another save-your soul-primer. Stick with it. If you’re out on the water long enough, eventually trouble will find you. Will you be ready?

This is no joke. In just over eight years of paddling, I’ve had to tow an exhausted and disoriented friend to safe harbor. Another time, I was forced to wait out an hours-long white-out before returning to blessed solid ground. I’ve pumped out flooded kayaks lest they tip or even sink, and twice, I’ve had the Coast Guard on the horn in emergency situations. No, not for myself. One concerned a life-threatening situation faced by another boater; the other involved a life preserver discovered floating empty in the water. Stuff happens.  

Ok, kayak fishing isn’t so dangerous it requires a crash helmet... at least not most of the time. Still, bad things occasionally happen to good people. The fog rolls steals in, the wind and swell kick up, or maybe someone plays it a little too loose and goes for an unplanned swim. It pays to be prepared.

Here’s the number one rule, as common sense as it comes. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Walk or paddle away from potentially dangerous situations. Don’t let the distance of the drive, stubborn pride, or sheer stupidity talk you into going when you should be sticking to the beach. Is the voice in the back of your mind whispering that the surf’s too big or the wind too strong? It’s right! There’s always tomorrow, but first, you have to be around to greet the new day.

Number two: own your safety. This one is simple. Don’t count on anyone else to save your bacon. Your life is in your own hands. Look, we’re fishermen, natural hunters. Most other paddlers know well enough to stick together. Not us. With fish on the brain, it doesn’t take long to lose track of a buddy. In other words, plan self reliance.

Hmm, what’s next? It might be nice to know how to climb back up on that thing! Also known by the fancy term self-rescue, remounting that sit-on-top steed is usually easy to accomplish. Second nature even, although nasty conditions, poorly placed rigging, and fatigue can make it a challenge. You’ve practiced, right? In case you missed the memo, it goes like this:

First, flip your kayak right side up if necessary. Position yourself on the upwind side of the kayak towards the front of the cockpit. Get ready by placing one hand on each side of the cockpit, taking care to keep your elbows high. Now, taking your time and performing each step in sequence.

Next, kick vigorously while using your arms to guide or pull the kayak beneath your upper body. Continue to kick until you are lying across the kayak on your belly. Now, with your head held low, roll your hips into your seat. At the same time, pivot your head towards the center of the kayak. Next, slowly raise your head. When you complete this move you will be sitting sidesaddle in the cockpit. The only remaining step is to swing your forward foot to other side of the kayak and follow with your other leg. Pick up your paddle (it was leashed, right?) and go on your way.

The next one is easy. If you see someone in distress, render aid. You might think this a no-brainer, but you’d be wrong. I know of at least three occasions when other kayak anglers paddled past people struggling in the water. Worried about litigation? Then stay home.

Aid usually comes down to helping someone climb back on his kayak. That’s – wait for it! – an assisted rescue. In brief terms, get parallel to their ‘yak and steady it as they slither aboard. Other common scenarios include calling the Coasties (you invested in cheap life insurance, a submersible handheld marine VHF radio, yes?) or pumping out a flooded boat (kayak pump, check!).

Oh my, there’s a lot of safety stuff. DO: dress for immersion. This is a water sport. DON’T: go out in jeans and t-shirts – ever – when wet, they sap your body heat. In California, prolonged ocean exposure can potentially cause hypothermia at any time of year.

SMART: wear a PFD. Don’t cry “comfort” unless it is dangerously hot out such as under a broiling Baja sun. Too warm even here at home? Invest in a cooling mesh-back vest or an inflatable. You never know when it might save your life. NOT SO SMART: stashing a PFD below-decks. A lot of good it’ll do you if you get separated from your ride. Besides, most of our Type III PFDs take a contortionist’s flexibility to put on properly once you’re in the water.  
 
Kayaks are small, low-slung craft, not the easiest things to see. Choose a brightly colored boat and wear high-visibility clothes. Don’t fade out; carry a light for use at night.

Almost essential extras: a first aid kit, marine flares, a tow rope, an extra paddle, a GPS, spare batteries, a compass, a SPOT Satellite Messenger or EPIRB, a dry bag full of warm clothes, and surplus food and water or even an emergency shelter. What you need for a reasonable level of safety depends on where you’re fishing and paddling. In a remote coastal corner, be conservative. Paddling the busy Southern California coast? You can dispense with most of this kit.

DISCLAIMER: rely on your own best judgment, not mine. I make no warranty, express or implied, that following the incomplete advice in this story will keep you from harm. Kayak fishing, normally safe, entails risk. It’s like anything else worth doing in life.

SAFETY STARTS WITH KNOWING HOW TO CLIMB BACK ON – Sit-on-top fishing kayaks are as stable as they come, but even so, people somehow find a way to fall off once in a while. Here kayak fishing guide Jim Sammons demonstrates a key step in retrieving the situation. Right the kayak, then pull yourself aboard on your belly.

THE NEXT STEP IN SELF-RESCUE – Finish climbing back onto your ‘yak by rotating your hips into the seat and slowly raising your head. The rest is easy.

AN OVERLOOKED SAFETY ACCESSORY – Every kayaker should carry a pump. Although extremely rare, fishing kayaks sometimes take on enough water to compromise their stability and flotation. If you’re out alone miles from shore when it happens, you’ll be swimming if you don’t have one of these $20 accessories.

IF IN DISTRESS, VHF IS BEST – A marine VHF radio is usually the fastest route to Coast Guard emergency assistance. If they can’t hear your call on channel 16, other boat traffic may be able to relay your message. Cell phones? Great, if you want to talk with the Highway Patrol. Other useful distress signaling tools include the SPOT Satellite Messenger and EPIRBs.

A PFD SO LOW-PRO YOU’LL FORGET IT’S THERE – Many kayakers who choose not to wear a PFD claim a standard vest is too hot or confining. A manually-triggered inflatable PFD such as this model from Stearns is nearly as safe, but much more comfortable. Of course, they don’t work if you’re out cold.