China Beach @ Sea Cliff

Other than the steep road down to the beach this spot looks quite good, ...any one try it lately? I'm looking to go try it sometime next week if anyone is interested in joining....

I used to crab kayak from this beach a lot.  Similar to Baker beach, just of the other side of the rocks, the sand bar breaks the waves further out than it looks.  Depending on the tides, you could have flat water with easy launch and landing.  Or have a rough launch/landing.  I've experienced both conditions. 

Better to go on a low tide since the water will be far from the beach and rocks.  I landed on a high tide once and got flipped, then pinned between the rocks and my kayak.  That was the very last time I ever went there.  Don't even remember how much tackle I lost.  Love that little cove but that one experience terrified me.

If you go, then be safe.  Tides this week has a large tidal change.  You may have a easy launch in the morning, but you may have breaking waves after 12 noon.

- Kevin

I launch at Baker Beach as it's less of a hill/walk to the parking lot.  Haven't launched from China Beach before.

High tide will minimize swell at Baker.  Launching from the West side is the calmest.  It's not an easy launch as the waves break right on the sand. 

Check Ocean Beach surf report.  If it's small at ocean beach you should be good.  Many times it's like a lake.  But if there is some swell then it can get very gnarly.

More of a crabbing spot, although there are rockfish along the rock shoreline near China Beach and around Lands End.

I've been wanting to go to Mile Rock when the tide differential is low more for the journey but also to score some rockfish.
 Salmon run through the gate so there could be a chance of a miracle salmon if you run into them.   I'm thinking sometime in Sept will make this journey on a nice day and then chill at the beach after.

Stripers are common at the beach.  I've caught quite a few from shore.  Never caught a halibut there but considering how on fire halibut has been I'm sure there are some. 

Depending on what you are looking for, there are most likely better spots for most species. 

I just like Baker because it's <5min from my place.

Another spot near there is Crissy Field.  Calm launch but you need to be super careful about wind/tide/current but it has produced lots of halibut for me and I think this spot peaks when the halibut start leaving the bay soon.  If a school of anchovies moves in near torpedo warf it goes off.

Thanks for the info guys. I live 5min away from these beaches. But never came across my mind to launch either place. Got to give it a try

Thanks Kevin, good advise. I have been working at a house overlooking the beach (you didn't hear that from me), watching closely and came to the same conclusion, launch at low tide and keep an eye on the sets as the tide comes up....I noticed even when the waves started to build up, the west side of the beach was pretty flat and accessible...but the question remains: are there fish there?