crossing tillamook bar

[Rightbait]

next weekends(10-10 to 10-12) tides appear fairly strong anyone want to provide their two cents on safest crossing advice? thanks.

[Lepper]

if you have the slightest inkling of a bad feeling about going across it.. don't..

[Pete]

Stay inside unless tide is rising. The worst conditions occur on the outgoing tide. The waves get chaotic even in the best conditions. Plan to be back in well before the top of high tide. Watch someone else go out in a boat similar to yours ... see if it looks at all edgy. If you think theres any chance you couldn't recover from something going wrong, don't go. Remember, it's only fishing. If it isn't fun, don't do it!

[Miss B Haven]

Remember that the current flow lags the "high" and "low" tides in the books (and the current is the predominant factor on bar conditions.... amount (height) of water on the bar is secondary). The ebb current will continue to make the bar rough (esp. on a big Ocean and big swing) for an hour or so after the published low tide (height wise).
On the other hand- a big incoming will have a current push well beyond the published "high" tide and the bar will remain calm (as calm as
it's gunna get anyway) well past the published high tide.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Avoid tidal exchanges with minus tides.
If the bar is breaking do not go.
It is hard to give advise other than this and what has been offered above without knowing more about your skill level and your boat.
Be safe, not sorry.
The memorial on the North jetty was pretty sobering when I saw it a few weeks ago. Far too many lives have been lost at that bar and others on our coast line. Please do not become a statistic. It is wise of you to post here and try to educate yourself but experience is the best teacher. I would recommend crossing several times with someone who knows the bar very well and asking lots of questions and obvserving just what it takes to read the bar and negotiate it.
This is the second worst bar on the coast in my opinion, second only to the Columbia River bar which is one of the worst in the world.
It is getting late in the season too and conditions can and will change very quickly. I know several people who have been caught outside when the bar was closed. Nowhere else close to go that would be open if Garabaldi is closed so they had to stay outside in less than favorable conditions for several hours to wait out the bar. Not fun.
Anyway, enough doom and gloom. Be safe and have fun .

[Miss B Haven]

Originally posted by Mr. Fisherman:
This is the second worst bar on the coast in my opinion, second only to the Columbia River bar which is one of the worst in the world.
.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Only if you count high traffic ports (and some of the "old" high traffic ports like Siuslaw might be worse). Nehalem, PC, your name 'em, lots worse for a given Ocean/runoff conditon. I'd take a canoe out of either one before I'd cross some of the other bars in Oregon. Course- no one ever accused me of being smart! Paranoid yes, smart, no! :grin:

Not to make light of the CR or T-bay, but there are lots worse, some better, all can be really scary at times. Be careful, study, ask, follow and BE PARANOID! :shocked:

[Rightbait]

I have been out a number of times in my own boat and as a passenger in others.I have always played it safe.
I appreciate the words of experience you guys have shared. thank you!

[kenai]

Actually for me, the Nehalem bar always makes my hair stand up. I always get a weird feeling there even when the ocean is flat. Maybe its psychological but it still gets my full attention.

[Nalu]

Almost hate to even respond to this but I'll give my .02 In GOOD condintion, not a breaking bar, this has been the genreal idea for a long time:

Head West on the North side until the CG tower. From the CG tower, head to the South side of the line of demarcation. Go around the tip of the South Jetty heading South. Clear the bar area, and if heading North, go out and around the farthest bouy before making way North.

In calm weather this is how I would proceed. In rough weather I'd stay in port.

I've come across the North side, incoming, on a "no swell" day, and had a sneaker come up and almost breach us.

If in doubt, don't go. Put some pots in Crab Harbor and take a siesta.

My .02

Mike

[foursalt]

till bar is open and closed by the CG.
the CG go out on the bar every morning
to check the condions.
if you lesson to ch 16 on VHF radio
they will report the condion of the bar
and if they will open or close it to cross.
they are being real careful opening
it in iffy condions.if its closed they will
be on the bar making sure no one goes out.
i checked the ocean condions for this
weekend and looks like the bar will be closed
but that could change.
when crosing the bar go strait out the middle
pass the red bouy then turn north or south.
coming back in is the same.
i like to turn north on a bad bar and come in
from the north too.
p.s. be careful no fish is worth it if it`s bad

[Barviewrocks]

I have seen many accidents and close calls on this bar over the past 30 years including the loss of my neighbor's son. Proceedures for going out have been mentioned. One should be conservative and allow plenty for time for returning during a calm bar well before the tide change. This may be complicated by wind and waves that come up while you are out in the deep blue. I have seen many boats trapped out side waiting for a break in the waves to come in while the coast guard stands by.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for the coast guard. Is anyone interested in organizing a BBQ with the coast guard as honorary guests?

[Miss B Haven]

Originally posted by foursalt:
[QBwhen crosing the bar go strait out the middle
pass the red bouy then turn north or south.
coming back in is the same.
[/QB]

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Maybe this bar has changed (I used to run it/fish it a lot but it's been bout 5 years last time out). No one who knew anything about t-bay would run the bouys/middle gorunds back then on a rough Ocean/Bar. The middle grounds were the most dangerous spot you could be.
Depending on the wave direction either the North or South holes, but never up the middle. Has something changed?

[HawgJaw]

Barview, I think your Bar-b-q idea is great. It may be a little late in the year for something outside but I would think maybe we could set something up at one of the local resturants (maybe a nice dinner). I would be willing to donate a few bucks to the cause and know at least a few other dogs that would help. It would be real nice to thank these guys when there not towing someone in or pulling them out of the drink. I know Miller's (in Garibaldi)would help set something up and maybe cut us a deal on food and drink. I'm open to other suggestions. I'm sure Jennie could even scrounge up some little door prizes or something. Send me an email if you have something in mind. Those guys are the best. HJ

[Pilar]

Mel, it's been a while for me but I am toying with the idea that I could sneak out and bang a King or two with Tuna Tom and his bud from Florida when we crab the bay on my B-day.

From what I remember when I used to hang out there ...

1) Absolutely listen to your 'little voice'. If it starts bugging you ... you are destined to troll the ghost hole and drown crabbait. Don't cross if it is breaking or you can't be sure of your return before the ebb or predicted wind show.

2) Stay away from the Jetty tips, especially the south jetty. This changes every year but I am sure the broken south jetty still extends some 200 feet beyond the visible part. Many of the ignorant insist on fishing for Salmon in this area. It is very risky!

3) If you insist on fishing behind the South Jetty, be on a very alert lookout for sneakers. Every year several jet sleds end upside down on the jetty and sometimes people die.

As for the rest of it. I usually run at least a hundred yards past the south jetty tip in the middle of the jaws and then angle SW until I get to 80 feet of water. Then turn south and run to 3 Arch rocks. If I am going north I can cut it a little closer to the north tip and turn to run parallel to the beach until I get out of the wave train that focuses on the jaws. If you have not seen this, you should hang out on the North jetty and jig for bass and watch the ebb tide. There almost always develops a train of big waves that run in from the WNW to the Jaws.

This is the 'Middle Grounds' that Mel is talking about. A shallow area that amplifies the ocean swell and often causes it to break as it comes in.

The Coast Guard is very protective of this bar. They will not let you cross under any questionable conditions. Especially now during the t-Bay King season. Way too many inexperienced boaters are playing fast and loose on that bar. Way too many inadequate boats are about to get into trouble.

2 or 3 boats get smashed on the South Jetty every year. Listen to what has been said above and get some experience. Never relax on a bar crossing. Complacency will kill you.

[Smily]

This weekend sounds pretty narly. I think it's time to break out the surfboards!! :shocked: :shocked:

Small Craft Advisory

High Surf Advisory



NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON



COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON AND WESTWARD 60 NM PZZ200-091630- SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN OREGON COAST... WEAK HIGH PRES WILL GRADUALLY BUILD ACROSS THE WATERS TODAY THROUGH FRI. SEAS WILL REMAIN ABOVE 20 FT UNTIL NOON TODAY. ANOTHER STRONG LOW WILL TRACK WELL N OF THE WATERS SAT...WITH THE ASSOCIATED PAC COLD MOVING THROUGH THE WATERS LATE SAT.
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON
AND WESTWARD 60 NM


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON

330 AM PDT THU OCT 9 2003



...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS... ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL NOON...
TODAY...SW WIND 15 KT... WIND WAVES 3 FT... W SWELL 25 FT AT 15 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 20 FT BY NOON...AND 17 FT BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
TONIGHT...W WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 15 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
FRI...NW WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 13 FT AT 12 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 13 FT
SAT...S WIND RISING TO 25 KT... WIND WAVES BUILDING TO 5 FT... W SWELL 10 FT. RAIN DEVELOPING.
SAT NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT...BECOMING W 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT... WIND WAVES 5 FT...SUBSIDING TO 3 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. W SWELL 17 FT. RAIN.
SUN...NW WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 15 FT
COLUMBUS DAY...SE WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 15 FT

[ 10-09-2003, 07:28 AM: Message edited by: Smily ]