Stinson Beach

Not much to report fishing-wise from my weekend at Stinson, other than there ARE living things in Seadrift Lagoon (some small rock crab & fish).  Saw some fish swimming around but they didn't take the squid we threw out there...Friday PM would have been the time to launch in the surf as the waves were ankle slappers and the wind was nonexistent!  Waves stayed small but wind REALLY picked up Sat. and Sun PM.  The surf fishermen were catching perch on sand crabs...We did launch the yaks in the lagoon - the kids had a blast on them. 

However, I scouted out a good spot to launch Stinson.  Good access, less people than at the main beach, and you can bring your dogs!  The main beach can get CRAZY on hot summer days.  When the main lot fills up, people go looking for alternative access (like this one!).  However, getting there early (not by fishing standards), like 10am, should be no problem on even the busiest days.

You can also launch from the northern end of the main beach where the houses start (lifeguard's jurisdiction ends where the houses start - I've launched before they got there but was told upon landing to move it down the beach)  - parking in the main paved lot on the northernmost end.  Even parking in this spot is no problem on busy days if you get there between 9 and 10. 

The party boats fish right off the beach in the summer for Halibut, so why can't we? 

The signs from 101 steer traffic to Hwy. 1, but you can also take Panoramic Hwy. out of Mill Valley (take a left at the 2am Club on Miller Ave.) - that's my preferred route.  Stinson Beach is about 30 Minutes from the 101/1 junction in Mill Valley, which is about 5 minutes north of GG Bridge.  You can also take Richmond Bridge from East Bay then 101 south. 

Once you arrive in town of Stinson Beach (from the south), go north past stop sign, past main park entrance to Calle Del Arroyo (left) and follow to the end (before it ends at Seadrift Private Gate).  Parking is on right.

I forgot to mention...this is the place that "launched" my kayak fishing curiosity.  Actually, it began as canoe fishing curiosity.  In the mid '90's, a friend and I rented a canoe and launched from a beach house he was renting.  We actually caugh a barely legal Halibut in only about an hour of fishing.  Hooked!!  A couple of times after that I rented a SOT Kayak from a shop there on Hwy 1 between the main beach entrance and Calle Del Arroyo.  The shop is still there, and they had a variety of Ocean Kayaks for rent out front this weekend - not sure of the name.  You can buy bait (as a last resort) at the Stinson Beach Market at the stop sign (the only one in town - market & stop sign!).

Every time I hear "Stinson" - I visualize this.....

Yeah, those shark warning signs at the main beach are pretty ominous.  But don't worry, they don't have those signs at the alternative launch, so they must not hang out at that end of the beach, right?!    

sure 

Davenport gives me the heebe geebees...yet, I still "like" fishing there  .....not crazy about the surfers either