I strongly advise you to go out with someone that has lots of experience to show you the ropes

I also strongly suggest that you do not go out alone
Crap happens out there and if you got injured or worse yet became unconscious you might end up a statistic:twocents:

 

Good ideas. I have spent lots of time in the bay and have been out on several charters. I pretty much know what to expect, I just need some guidance on the tides and understanding the bar crossing routines. I have read the coast guard info on Yaquina, and I am confident in my vessel. I will not be pushing any kind of limits. Just looking for a calm(er) day to get the first one out of the way and maybe get some fishing in. Thanks.

 

Safest bar in Oregon pick your day and you will be fine.There can be alot of fog during the summer and the dredge usually works the bar in August.Pick your day and do not cut across either north or south before the second bouy past the tips which is a "lighted gong" Goggle chart # 18561 and review.Go with someone who has experience with crossing Yaquina Bar on your first trip.The North side of the north jetty looks like it could be the entrence at times don't let that confuse you.Line up with the bouys red on your right while returning.Stay close to the bouy line while fishing for your first few trips.If you see fog starting offshore head in.Always verify bar restrictions before you atempt to cross.You can listen on ch 16 on the vhf and someone every 5 minutes will ask for a bar report please listen for a while before asking for a bar report..Keep your vhf on ch 16 and changing condtions or restrictions will be announced.You need to listen carefully as they will have you change to ch 22 for more info.Wear your life jacket have a good working radio,compass,flares,etc.
Good luck and be safe.

 

Thanks!

 

Pick your day and enjoy.

For years people ran out into the ocean fishing for bottomfish and coho with nothing but a compass, and certainly you can as well.

But.... a GPS is certainly a wonderful safety item, and one that nobody should be without on the ocean. Not only that, it makes you incredibly more productive when fishing, whether it be for bottom fish or for coho. You are able to return EXACTLY to the pinnacle that was holding fish or that bait ball that produced the double header on coho.

Again, you can go without and be just fine, but handheld models are inexpensive, and even some fixed mounts are too. You'll be safer AND more productive on the water if you get one!

 

Pick your day and enjoy.

For years people ran out into the ocean fishing for bottomfish and coho with nothing but a compass, and certainly you can as well.

But.... a GPS is certainly a wonderful safety item, and one that nobody should be without on the ocean. Not only that, it makes you incredibly more productive when fishing, whether it be for bottom fish or for coho. You are able to return EXACTLY to the pinnacle that was holding fish or that bait ball that produced the double header on coho.

Again, you can go without and be just fine, but handheld models are inexpensive, and even some fixed mounts are too. You'll be safer AND more productive on the water if you get one!

I agree, even the cheapest pocket model gps with a basic understanding of how to use it for navigation is pretty much an essential now days. If you need help, one of the things the CG is going to ask is your location in latitude and longitude, if you can't give them that, they're going to have trouble locating you. Two waypoints, the second can, and dead center on the middle of the jaws should always be in there, then in a pea soup fog you can slowly run to the can, turn and make your way through the jaws.

 

Your kidding yourself if you dont buy a GPS before you go out. I learned that lesson the hard way about 7 years ago. Bounced around in the ocean for about 5 hours until I found someone to follow in. Not a good experience. One I hope I never repeat.

 

Get a GPS. You can get them for about fifty bucks used on an internet auction site. New they are around $100.00. Well worth it.

 

Cubsfan,

" I have a FF, and am getting a VHF. No GPS yet, but I will be close to the mouth and watching for fog banks carefully. "

" handheld models are inexpensive, and even some fixed mounts are too. You'll be safer AND more productive on the water if you get one! "

I'll bet you can get a decent used hand hald GPS for $75 or so. This day and age why would someone venture out into the Ocean without a VHF and a GPS. No offense, but most skippers have hard mount VHF and GPS and hand help backups.

Fog can come up fast in the summer, so be careful.

On Yaquinna, probably the best and safest bar in Oregon.

Good luck, make good decisions, try not to go out alone and do catch lots.

And remember, not worth taking unnecessary chances just to catch a couple of fish.

 

I have a good sized 20' boat with a splash well on it. I really want to coho and bottomfish out of Newport. I may be running solo out there, depending on if I can recruit friends to go or not. I have a FF, and am getting a VHF. No GPS yet, but I will be close to the mouth and watching for fog banks carefully.

I suggest not going alone and also not going until you have the vhf installed. A handheld would also work (though installed is better) if you're staying fairly close to Newport.

Should I just bottomfish, or would I have to go much farther out to coho fish?

Often the coho are as close to the bar, certainly within your reach on a nice day. Just don't go past your comfort zone, it can be too easy to get puled farther away than you really want to be.

What is the Yaquina bar like on a 1.5-2.0 Low? ( I know wind effects this too)

Do you guys come back in on outgoing tides when they are not too strong?

What days in July/August, on paper, look to be the best to get out? I know a morning high tide is best, but should I cross while it is early in the incoming stages? Would this allow for safer passage inward before it bottoms out (if I were to only be out for a couple hours)?

I've crossed the YB barseveral hundreds of times, but I surely am no expert. I consider the bar to usually be passable for me (23 ft Edwing) if the swells are 3 ft or under unless there is a tidal exchange of more that 8 ft and it's the middle 3 or 4 hours of the outgoing tide. And sometimes it's even quite passable then. Often, even usually, the tidal exchange is under 8 ft.

One of the reasons you want the vhf before you go out is what Bluefin said. Ask for a bar report before you cross the bar, also it's a good idea to listen for a bit to get an idea of how to reasonably ask for a bar report. While you're out fishing, monitor channel 16 and switch to 22 when they tell you they will be giving an update on the YB bar conditions. That way you will know if ya need to return because of deteriorating bar conditions beside the obvious advantage of being able to call for help if you need it.

I am probably over thinking this, but I want to be confident when I get past the bridge I am sure once you do it a few times on your own, it's no big deal. There is a lot to know and learn.

Thanks very much
Cubsfan

Thinking it's no big deal can cause you to stop paying attention and they you may find that it is a big deal! Even when you've done it often, even hundreds of times, things can go bad way to easily and quickly. Always pay attention, always watch the conditions, the wind and wind waves can come up very fast. When the wind starts coming up, start thinking of heading back across the bar and don't think about it too long before you do it. The ocean can get amazingly white while you're thinking and then going back in is not much fun and can get iffy.

Have fun out there, Newport is a great home port!
ron m

 

I got the absolute crap scared out of me in the fog crabbing in Winchester Bay.
It was my last trip and I don't mean maybe without a GPS.


Pharmseller

 

A gps does nothing for you if you do not know how to use it.Get one and drive around in your car with it practice and get familar with it.It is a great tool for sure but alot of people would be totally lost with out one.They would not have a clue as which way to go if the gps quit working.As far as the tide question.Yaquina bar is not influenced by tide as much as say the Columbia bar.You still want to watch for tides with big exchanges of water say a big flood with a big minus low.Tides with minimal exchanges of water will be the best for crossing.Keep track of wear you are at all times,how much water you are in,what direction you are heading and how fast you are traveling what landmarks you see.Practice these basic things while you are on the water and if and when your GPS fails you will still be able to give valuable info to the Coast Guard to help them help you.:bearhug:This is the symbol for a big hug.

 

You will cross the bar fine it is a easy bar to cross.
Saying that just don't become complacent and think because you have crossed it just fine that it wont ever get dangerous.
You will venture out for salmon and bottom fish and stay within sight of land but that fog bank could very easy work its way form the bay out and that will make you wish you had your vhf radio and at very least a handheld GPS that you know how to use with way points for the entrance buoy and the jaws.
Don't second guess the CG and the bar I don't.

 

High tide or low I go, but have GPS. It is like American Express, don't leave home without it. The depth at the bar is around 50 ft or so, but on the low tide just watch out for the wave. I am use to the Hawaiin bars with the real big surf at time. But I don't take the yaqina bar lightly, it can get down righ hairy at time so be carful. We need all the Cubsfans we can get.

 

For safety, I have two GPS units.

NRS

"NorthRiver Pirates"

 

For safety, I have two GPS units.

NRS

:yeahthat:

 

Great information fellas, thanks. I can't wait to get going on this, but think I will get the VHF and GPS before I do the deed. No need to rush it, I guess. Bluefinn, thanks, I never saw the arms on that little face. Now it makes sense. DaveG, DeRo is now a Cardinalassout:!!

 

Another must have item is a nice compass.

 

Hey nancy boy,

I will give you my GPS. it will work great on your boat. It just was not the best for huntingassout:

 

cubsfan,

We should talk about your boat and gear. I might be interested in taking a ride with you for Coho and bottom fish, on a nice day, in the next few weeks. Not over the 4th however. Looks like the Coho are out a ways because of the cold water. This should change at some point and you can get into the Coho in close. I sent a PM your way.

 

All you guys with GPS, CFR, DUI's etc...technology is for girls and sissies. Thats why I always have two tanks of gas, if you don't have a compass and are stuck in the fog, and all by your lonesomes, you can run out aganist the swells on one tank and run back to shore on the other until you hear the breakers crashing or see the top of the rolling waves behind you. Then just head to shore and sand, rock breaking up waves makes a different sound. I have done this several times and it is a real thrill and adds real exictment when everyone eles in the boat thinks shore is in the complete opposite direction you think it is. Try this before using your usless instruments and you'll see how much more fun it is when in the big blue. (If the water starts to get warmer to your hand you might be headed in the wrong direction, just make a wide enough turn that no one on the boat notices you are pulling a 180), yeah man!:meme::meme::meme:

 

:bigshock: Thanks but NO THANKS

 

Dino! Is that you?

 

Dino! Is that you?

Now THAT is FUNNY!


I just find it hard to believe that....with this state budget crisis, they have internet service in the state prison system.

 

One more small comment to add, wear your life jacket, especially when crossing the bar. Conditions can change rapidly, sneaker or rogue waves are real, and if you wind up in the drink on the bar with a life jacket on, your chances are good, you are very close to help. Without it...they are greatly reduced.

 

Excellent advice! I can't believe I forgot to include to wear your PFD at all times, but especially when crossing the bar. Wearing your PFD at all times is exactly the reason so many of us have the inflatable PFDs, they are comfortable enough to be able to wear them all day. Remember too that a person must be wearing the inflatable PFD for the CG and law enforcement to count the inflatable PFD as meeting the PFD requirement for your boat.

A note of caution though: be careful when putting crab pots out! It's way too easy for the little pull tab on the inflatable to get caught in the crab pot, tends to activate the CO2 cartridge!
ron m

 

Dang, thanks for all the good help guys. Orca-thanks again, maybe we can work something out. SalterC-nice offer, maybe I'll just borrow it from you. It will work on your boat too if the fog rolls in on the big C. We'll be going together many times anyway. Did a scouting trip this last couple days with my wife. The launch is nice and the bait shop is right there. Learning now that you don't pay as much attention to the tide as you do the swell height and interval at Yaquina, and of course wind. I guess guys cross it whenever as long as it's open. 50 feet deep is pretty nice eh??

 

gee- I thought I was the one who has inflated a life vest by getting it caught in the crab pot. I have done it twice- it is almost like my annual check of the vest to see if it still works

 

yeah. . .that's it. that's what i was doing. . .checking the vest.

we popped 3 vests in 2 days on a trip once. i was the LAST one. you'd think i'd have learned watching the other guys (including the captain). not too smart this one is.

sorry for the hijack. seems like good advice here (except for one dino!).
PFD on all times (especially bar), ride w/ a salty skipper a couple times, get the GPS, get the radio, practice with both.

 

Technology is great, it's cheap compared to being on the rocks. I have two mounted GPS's, each on it's own power supply and a hand held. I also have a high end wet compass, water proof charts and I know how to navigate with them just in case. Wired VHF and hand held, radar and all kinds of flotation.

I know, over kill. I'm not suggesting everyone should go this route, just that if you can, do it. I'm an ex-commercial pilot and I strongly believe in redundancy. Believe it our not, in the air you have more options then you do at sea when it comes to emergencies.

The sea can bite you, why tease it.