Evening Session - 8/9/2023

Yesterday afternoon I had originally set out to wing.  There was good wind, there was some pumping swell, and the tide was decently high.

I set up the Eagle 890/Marlin 14" and pumped up the SW2 4.2

Well - while paddling out, the ocean said "Nope" - I kept drifting downwind and did not have enough wind to get up.  On one beating (of many), I saw the rear stabilizer graze the strut and "pop"

I paddled in and waited for Marlon to come back (he had went home to grab a board).

He came back and I packed up.  I went home to grab a board also - but while at the house, I debated about bring a surfboard or a prone foilboard.

I ended up with the Vyper 170 on No.21

I had three really good rides, despite the pitching lip close out waves that were coming through.

Marlon on the other hand was able to generate enough board speed and paddled into some really good waves.

This was a tough week for the WPB crew - wings torn and deep cuts...

Sometimes you win - sometimes you lose.

W:77/F:72/S:31

Almost Skunked - 3/25/2023

Marlon and I went to the beach yesterday morning - but the waves were a little sloppy.  We actually decided to go back home and do other things (partially because Marlon was still a little sick).

Then I got a text sent from someone selling foiling gear that I could meet them in Kailua and try out a new foil.  La and I headed over but by the time we got there, the wind had droppped off significantly.

That didn't stop this guy and a few others.

This 10m Reedin Supermodel was powering a mastless Hobie Wave.

So at this point I was skunked (but I didn't set up any gear and go out - so technically I wasn't skunked).

Skunked!!!!

The wind was blowing yesterday afternoon - that is until I got setup and paddled out.  Then it dropped off the map.

Oh well - you win some, you lose some.

Wing Foiling Session - 12/19/2022

Today was the second of three days of forecasted SW-W winds.  Of the three days, today was supposed to be the strongest - that was true, but I spent most of the day studying the weather by comparing actual conditions with different weather apps.  We (Prayot, Kalani and I) even got to watch as the front line pushed through (more on that later).

Prayot showed up at 11:30 (supposed to be 10), but that was fine since the wind was so up and down - I wouldn't have gone out anyways.  Right before 12 the front passed through - the weather apps were saying the wind hit 46mph on the gusts.  Mark (retired AF) had gone out when I first got there.  It was pretty windy at first but then it slowed down a lot (pretty much by the time he had paddled out).  It was raining hard just before the frontal passage, but I think Mark had made it to the beach.  Kalani and I talked to him for a bit after - he said he was done and was going home to take a nap.

Three more shower bands pushed through before it started to clear.  The three of us decided to head out.

Here's No.28 and the SWX 5.2 with their new owner (Prayot).  This gear is off to Japan tomorrow.

Using the same gear from yesterday, I was able to get up on foil right away.  The water was really bumpy and the cloudy sky gave little contrast to the water surface - it was hard to tell where a wave was and what was just choppy water.  From the track you can see the wind had shifted more to the NW.  I was able to make a couple of runs and then the wind just died.  I bobbed around for the next hour and paddled in.  The conditions were actually pretty good for prone foiling.

Here's the wind speed data pull from iwindsurf.com - yup, enough wind for a couple of runs then nothing.  In writing this, I debated if I should even count this session, but why not - I did get up on foil.

The DKI Airport sensor didn't catch the front passage, but the Kalaeloa Airport sensor did - gusts over 50mph.

The watch recorded another erroneous reading.

This was what I got while up on foil.

Pretty much a skunk, but it was nice hanging out with Prayot and Kalani.  Actually it would have been way better if we had gone prone foiling instead.

W:126/F:99/S:42

Wing Foiling Session (if you want to call it that) - 3/18/2022

The wind had been blowing all day - so naturally I grabbed the winging stuff, but headed to WPB (so Marlon could also go out and surf).  I brought out the OR A 5.0, the NWFB, and the GoFoil PNL185.

Roland had already launched - I watched him get up on foil twice, so I decided I'd go ahead and launch.

As soon as I got outside, the wind dropped below the strength I needed to get up on foil.  I kept heading outside trying to get to stronger wind, but it wasn't happening.  Twice when I had turned back in, I was able to use the waves and a slight puff to get up on foil.  But I was still too far away to land on sand.

I decided to would just try to land at Campgrounds.  I did manage to get up on foil one last time and got to ride a wave in most of the way to the sandy spot.

Marlon did see me beach at CG and he paddled in to come grab me.  Good thing he had the key this time...

You win some, you lose some - just glad to get wet!

W:15/F:28/S:10

Twofer Sunday

To start - Marlon and I did a dawn patrol.  The waves were a hair smaller than yesterday, but still super fun.  We were paddling out while you could just barely see and the crowd was manageable.  When the sun did rise, there was a haze in the air so everything had this muted lighting - don't get that all that often around these parts (takes a large storm passing to the north).

I brought the Armstrong HS1550/300 (switched out the HS1250/232 from yesterday).  Totally better suited to waves today.  I got several with cranking turns back to back.  The more I think about it, this really is the perfect setup for me on waves less the chest high (above that, I'm thinking CF1200 right now).

Towards the end of the session, the wind picked up really strong from the west (front moving through).  Kalani immediately went in to set up his winging gear.  I stayed out to see if the wind was going to hold - and caught a ride in to go home and grab my winging equipment.  I brought the HS1850/300 and blew up the Ensis 5.2m.  By the time I got to the water's edge, the wind was still up but it was also dropping off.  I paddled through the break (I guess I didn't look cool because a surfer asked if I needed some help... I'll help him -).  I got beyond the breaking waves popped the wing up and away I went (thanks to the HS1850).  I got three runs in before the wind just dropped off completely.  I had to paddle in, and with the dropping tide I had to flip the board over (still a little leery from the last session where I poked the rear stabilizer through the wing).  Three runs where I foil surfed three waves on my strong side (wind was completely backwards from the normal direction) was worth it.  If I knew the wind was going to come up like that, I would have brought all the gear this morning.  Tomorrow is still forecasted to have strong winds.

9:30 was when I paddled in to go grab my winging gear.  11:00 was when I was paddling in.  It's fun when you are out on the water and you can see conditions change - a big northwest swell arriving, riding a passing front, watching the sun rise or set - so awesome!

Double Duty - 9/19/2020

Marlon and I dawn patrolled WPB this morning.  The new SSW swell arrived and was delivering solid chest to head high surf.  It was not as nice as the last swell.  There was a chop on the surface and it was really throwing me off - literally.  I could not stick a landing for my first several waves.  I also would be hauling at top speed and just drop out.  Not fun body slams.  I did eventually get some good ones - one was 348 feet and my top speed was 13.9 mph.  I am not sure what the issue was, but I've had better foiling sessions.

I saw Marlon drop into a few good sized rides early on.  I also saw Dennis on his new e-foil from Lift.  I actually tried to go winging today at Hickam.  When I left the house, it was blowing decently.  By the time I got to the beach, the wind had swung more North and died back significantly (it was clean enough to surf).  I also tried to go winging on Friday afternoon - caught a skunk then also.  This started to clog my chi flow.

I did a solo run to PTs in the evening (Marlon stayed back to study for his upcoming mid terms).  Similar conditions to this morning.  And I even botched up my first few waves to repeat that part of this morning as well.  I had switched out my tail wing from the 16" straight cut stab I had been using, to the new rounded edge 16" stab I recently got used (I also got a 12", but I didn't think it was the right conditions to test this one out).  I'm going to cut down the straight 16" stab to a rounded 14" and see what results I get from that.  Eventually I got my bearings and started getting long rides. 
Some days you win, some you lose.  I'd say I lost big today (but I'm still a winner - any days spent in the water is a win).

Went Out Fly Fishing...

But didn't hook any fish.  I lined up the Scott Meridian 8wt with a Scientific Angler long belly WF8F and used a gut-less crab fly.

I did get some follows from some bonefish, and I get got a follow from a sizable puffer, but no actual sign ons for a game of tug-o-war.  Fishing ain't easy....

New Spot

We had some errands to run on Saturday, so I took Marlon to a new spot that was (kinda) on the way.

We waded Hawaii Kai - only saw one humuhumunukunukuapua'a and one grazing green sea turtle.

Perhaps if we got closer to the break we would have seen more fish - I think this would be a good place to take out the Hooked SUP...

Strike Two -

I decided to drive in earlier this week instead of taking the motorcycle - so I could bring my fishing gear.  I went back to the same part of the Flats to see if I could get one of the triggerfish to play tug-o-war.

I totally struck out.  Where I would at least get some interest and head turns from the orange fly, I used some brown shrimp flies and I didn't get a single look.  I did have plenty of humus to target, and a big solitary oio even swam right up to me (while I was snagged on a rock).  Typical.

I may go back tomorrow morning to get laughed at again - I'm such a glutton for punishment!!!  Or I may bring spinning gear...

Fishing with Noe Again

Marlon was still on his trip to Molokai on July 4th, so I brought Noe out to try and catch some oama that we had seen on the previous fishing trip. The oama were not there...

 

 We found a beached sea urchin (hawa'e)

 

And I cast out a kastmaster hoping to hook up with something (besides seaweed). Skunked again - OH WELL - that's why it's called fishing...

Fly Fishing Skunk

Yup. Got skunked again. But not really. I brought out the Seele Salz and fished the drop off and the flats. On the drop, I did manage to get a strike using a small green crab. It hit and splashed on the surface, then immediately drug the fly into the rocks, where it stayed for a few minutes. Until the fish spit the hook. Most likely a Stocky Hawkfish or a Triggerfish - but didn't make it to hand so not a catch. Then while fishing the flats, I did see one blacktip, one huge ulua, a school of surgeonfish and several bonefish. I got four to at least notice my fly (without getting spooked), but I was not able to connect. And thus the skunking. The 8'0" length and the softer action on the Seele were not assets today. There was a good breeze and the fish were hanging out around the 50' mark. I was contemplating bringing the old Helios, but I wanted to give this rod a good shake down to get to know it better. Definitely a SUP fly fishing rod, or one to bring out on the calm days. And lastly - I didn't take any pictures, but I did go flyfishing last weekend - used the Epic 888 with a full sink line. I was at the Kaneohe Fishing Pier (while the kids were at the regatta), and I had a bunch of follows from papio and some needlefish - but not connections. Skunks suck!!!

Fishing with the Kiddoroosters in High Winds

On Saturday afternoon, I took the kids out to the flats to get in some fishing. It was fishing and not catching - got skunked again. We saw fish - some big bonefish, a bunch of mullet, a decent sized snowflake moray eel, some lizard fish - but no takers on the hook. Darn skunks!!!

Fly Fishing with Sharks on Friday Afternoon

The Trout Unlimited group had a Fishing With Friends outing this past Friday. Only a few people showed up (it was super windy). I started off fishing towards the harbor side, and eventually walking it out towards the channel. Along the way, I bumped into three of these guys... I finally did get a bite - but it bite through the tippet. I believe it was a triggerfish and it took one of the oama clousers I tied a while back. That still wasn't a fish to hand so my fishless streak is still going. But as the saying goes - it ain't the fishing that is good about fishing. Here's the sunset to validate that.

Kaku Crack Not Working

I've been fishing several times now and have not caught a fish. For fly fishing, this fly in particular was supposed to be the "never fail" solution when a bite had to be conjured up. I still haven't broken the dry spell... (I didn't count the actual syllables, but this was supposed to be a haiku).

Skunked On Saturday

I took the kids fishing on Saturday. The solunar table showed there was supposed to be high activity levels. Well, we did see several fish, but none of them wanted to play tug. Noe and Marlon were using spinning gear - but the tide was coming up and it was a bit too deep to wade out to the edge of the shelf. Oh well - there is always next time.