Pt. Molate Beach Launch and Intro

Hello to my fellow yackers. I've got a hobie outback, live in the Richmond area and am getting into kayak fishing and crabbing.

I was wondering whether anyone has tried launching at the newly re-opened Pt. Molate beach park in Richmond. If you are not familiar with it, it's on the peninsula that faces San Rafael and is just north of the Richmond/San Rafael bridge.  It would be a great spot to launch from if you want to cross San Pablo bay or head over to Red Rock.

The marine charts say that there is debris in the water from a wrecked pier. I want to give it a try, but not if there's stuff that might rip up the yak.  The ranger at Brooks Island told me that he's seen plastic kayaks get torn up from rebar.

I always thought that looked like a great place to launch but the last time I was down there a couple years ago it was locked up tight.

Good to hear it's open, and good to know the warnings,

Maybe it would be a good idea to visit it on a low tide and snap some pics for reference. 

I would be careful of crossing the channel there it can get pretty nasty on the outgo. Take a look at a map of SPB all that water has to come through those narrows.  4 or 5' standing waves with a 3+ knot current is tough even on smaller PBs.

Ive driven over there a few times over the past few years. I heard there was killer perch fishing. Looks to be a bit sketchy leaving the car there for hours on end. I would try China Camp or McNears park first.

I haven't checked out the park yet but plan to. I live in the Richmond area as well and fish Red Rock and Pt. Molate on occasion when conditions are doable. Mickfish is right you need to check the tide and wind carefully before heading out in the shipping channel, and watch for the Vallejo ferry, oil tankers and tugs pulling barges through that stretch. The tankers move a lot faster than you think and the rips have spun me two full rotations before I could power out of them. As for parking I've fished the Brother Islands a lot and never had a problem, and there are park and Chevron security guards that patrol the entire road regularly. I have seen some sketchy characters out there as well so I'm not saying a break in couldn't happen. The perch fishing can get very good in late fall and winter especially when the rubberlips are in. Good luck, and see you out there.

I have fished around that area several times.  There is a deep channel out in front and that can get swift on the ebb and flood.  Check your charts and know what you are in for.  Around the corner to the north, there is a large sand bar, that gets as shallow as 15 feet and that is a good place for fish.  It is tuff to anchor, at least it was for me.  I have caught halibut and stripers on both live and frozen anchovies.  Again, be real careful as the tide can surprise you at how powerful it can be. One thing that is fun is to float through the brothers and fish it.  Good luck.