I always launch at Cuttings Wharf (free) and go with the tides, usually down river to the Napa Sough but sometimes upriver to Kennedy Park, where there is another launch. I suspect fishing is better further down from Napa Slough towards Vallejo.
Unlike Benicia, most of Napa River is technically considered SF Bay so only one rod can be fished.

What’s the A-hulls motto? Love it when a plan comes together…then there’s the other reality that can happen to any of us!

Sorry to hear your trip had a few mishaps, especially the part about the risk of watching a buddy wash up on the jetty. Losing the bugs must’ve been a crusher, but making sure Thuy got out safely was the natural and correct thing to do obviously. That’s why going out in numbers can really pay dividends. After I said hello to you guys in the lot, my buddy (also a first timer) and I launched and went pretty far north up the jetty. We were doing pretty well until my buddy lost his balance and ended up in the drink. I missed it in the dark, but he reported a quick re-entry. Like Thuy, he had rudder issues once he was back in his kayak, and wound up right up against the rocks. I swooped in and attempted to hand him a paddle to grab onto so I could drag him away, but we missed each other and fortunately, he got out of the danger zone on his own. We called it shortly thereafter. Though we first had to untangle his rudder from the pot/line he snagged, then untangle ourselves from the sabiki rig that was poorly stowed in my panic to try and provide assistance, then deal with several pots loaded with mostly undersized lobsters. To make things more fun, I had a few of those pesky sabiki hooks buried in my legs and shoulder. I understand the choice not to film, or perhaps it just being an afterthought. In the moment when shit goes sideways on a rough ocean in the dark, safety is the only real thought on your mind.

Glad everyone exited the water safely, sorry to hear about the lost haul and the rod/reel combo.

We ended up with a few keepers, and I’m looking forward to trying Ventura this weekend. Thanks for posting, it was a good video despite the difficulties you had to deal with.

Bump.  Anything?

blast from the past!
CCK Oakland and Moss were my first pro kayak gigs.
I have many fond memories of the year plus i was there before i moved to AK.

Thank you for the update Keith!

Nice looking kayak! Congrats!