Stillwater and Gerstle Coves

Kim and I are planning a camping/kayaking trip over Thanksgiving weekend up to Stillwater and Gerstle Coves.  Having only drooled over the aerial photos online and the reports we've read here, we're pretty darned excited about it.

Hoping to get some advice from others who have had experience there.  It sounds like the Sonoma County Park at Stillwater Cove is the place to camp since it has coin showers and I hope that means hot.

Then there always the much needed fishing advice.  All the reports I've read are so encouraging but I know there's no substitute for experience.  If it's a secret, I promise not to tell...

And if the need for creature comforts becomes too great or the weather become unfavorable, are there any places to get a good meal or a real room with a real shower.

Hoping this will inspire some other's interest out there for the last weekend of lings for this year.  Hope I don't jinx the weather.


Thanks,
Pete

The stillwater cove campground is very nice with the hot showers and all.  Salt point has no hot showers and you have to drive down to the water but it is a nice campground and I like the launch there.  There are decent restrooms, cold outdoor showers(for wrinsing the saltwater off), and a fish cleaning station at gerstle cove.  Gerstle cove is very protected and you can back down pretty close to the water but there are a few steep steps at the bottom and you have to walk over some slippery large rocks to get th the water(be carefull).  When I fished salt point a few weeks ago we did good with 4.5-6.5 oz megabaits in sardine.  I had a few nice lings hitchhiking on blues that either got off the gaff or let go when they saw my yak.  A few times I hooked small blues and left them on the bottom.  It was never more than a few minutes until I had a ling after them.  We had the best luck just north of the point to the north of gerstle cove.  Just go out of gerstle cove, around the point to the north and anywhere around there in 50-90 feet should be good.  Just my 02 cents.  Hope the ocean cooperates for your trip.

Thanks for the spare change, Travis.  Hoping to put your info to work.  It sounds like you are using much heavier tackle that I would have thought.  No substitute for experience!

I agree with Travis about the campground at Stillwater Cove; it is very nice.  Hot showers, just bring quarters.

There is a 10 min parking area to drop off your kayak and gear at the Cove itself.  Park your car up the hill and walk back.  The launch is protected.  On the few times I've been there, it was always an easy launch but not sure if it ever gets rough.

Have fun.

Thanks for the input, Kevin.  We have a campsite reserved so if anyone wants to drop in, please do so.  The fire will be big and hot and it would be great to share some fishing and conversation.

Just look for two yellow kayaks having fun and full stringers...