Kayaking near the Marin Headlands (Black Sands Beach and Kirby Cove)

Hi, still pretty new to ocean kayaking but one of my favorite surf spots was Black Sands Beach hidden away in the Headlands.

https://goo.gl/maps/qix74JmZWbZFHM6K7

Had good luck with rock crab and rock fish from the surf, and one time I saw someone cruise by on a hobie. Any idea where I could launch to fish these locations from the kayak? I would love to fish my favorite surf spot from the other side.

looks to be a five mile round trip from Rodeo. 

someone with actual experience will have a better answer, and give you all of the safety information you will need to make the trip.  All I did was to go to google maps and measure the distance.

Launch from Fort Baker and go under the north tower.  It’s not too far but make sure to check tides and wind.

Yes, as simplycook said above. Launch at Fort Baker right next to the coast guard station. I was there yesterday, beautiful. Didn't catch anything but tried, but I really just wanted to check the launch area.

Yes, as simplycook said above. Launch at Fort Baker right next to the coast guard station. I was there yesterday, beautiful. Didn't catch anything but tried, but I really just wanted to check the launch area.

Any tips for avoiding traffic going under the bridge? Is For Baker a hard launch?

It was an easy launch at Fort Baker, easy, free parking.  I unloaded right in front of the ramp and parked right next to the Coast Guard Station.  Just bring all your safety equipment (wetsuit, radio, PFD, etc.)

Once outside of the protected area (cove), I stayed close to the North Tower.  There are alot of strong currents (eddy's) in that area (you can see it from my picture).  Be careful. No much boat traffic that day for me.  I went to Point Bonita and back.  You'll reach another area of strong currents near, Point Diablo.  Be careful there too.  Again beautiful day (watch the weather and tides).  It will be a long day if you're going against it.  It was about 1-1.2kts.

Lmk if you need a launch buddy for Fort Baker. This place has been on my list .

Will do. Waiting on the weather to improve for sure.

Your best bet for launching is definitely Fort Baker. My first time out I nearly got run over by a boat around 10am so definitely pay good attention because they aren't always and tons of boats pass surprisingly close to the North Tower. As others have mentioned the current and wind can get strong and nasty so make sure the tide is incoming if you want to get back to Fort Baker. You could probably make it against the tide but I wouldn't risk it, the current really rips through the gate. Best of luck and if you'd like a buddy shoot me a PM

What the others have said about current and tides, as well as the easy parking and protected launch.  The past few days have been ideal as far as tides, due to small swings between high and low, but I'm curious how the big ocean swells affected that area, although it is somewhat sheltered from NW swell.  Black Sand Beach is also a great spot for dungies, but you gotta get in close, just a little outside the surf zone where it's sandy.  Rocky farther out so fewer dungies.  My avatar pic was taken on this trip btw.