Paddling from Palo Alto or Alviso

Hey all,

I live in the Los Gatos area, and my usual weekend getaway is to Santa Cruz, but it's showing 4-5 ft and 9 seconds this weekend which is a little rough for me.  I've always wanted to hit the Bay for stripers or halibut, but have no real idea where to start.  Easiest launches for me would seem to be either Palo Alto or Alviso, but I don't know if you can get on the fish from there.  Any tips?

Thanks,

-Fork

I've paddled out of Alviso, and well it's a bit of a ways to get to where you might find some fish, and the tides can make it challenging.  But I did see a sturgeon jump clear out of the water once we reached the opening to the bay.  The easiest place to launch for the bay IMHO is the Alameda Rockwall / Encinal Boat Ramp: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Encinal+Boat+Ramp/@37.7699303,-122.2909319,15z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x1aad588e1c435ff3!2sEncinal+Boat+Ramp!8m2!3d37.7699303!4d-122.2909319!3m4!1s0x0:0x1aad588e1c435ff3!8m2!3d37.7699303!4d-122.2909319 where you can park, and has a launch ramp, and the fishing can be good for halibut, but it's a bit late in the season now.  Used to do a tournament there which was a ton of fun. 

 

I grew up in east pa and we played on the mud flats If you get stuck out on a low tide there you’ll have miles of toxic mud to get across, imagine it’s the same around Alviso

I think they stopped dredging epa decades ago

Don’t know about fishing there but Redwood City at least is dredged

mud flats If you get stuck out on a low tide there you’ll have miles of toxic mud to get across

That would be a nightmare. Or maybe like being lost on a deserted island 

mud flats If you get stuck out on a low tide there you’ll have miles of toxic mud to get across

That would be a nightmare. Or maybe like being lost on a deserted island 

You can stand on an island, this mud will swallow you. very dangerous

As kids we were sliding across the mud on our bellies  When we stood up we sank to the crotch

Gotta be pretty toxic I imagine

Palo Alto sail ramp, Alviso, Coyote point, or alameda rock wall.  Be aware of tides (first two) and winds (all four).  Wind usually kicks in around 12pm.

Great advice all around!  Mud sounds like a horror show, so I'll def play the tides and winds game if I do South Bay.  Alameda is more of a haul, but I have buddies out that way that could make the drive a double-win so that may be the ticket.  I'll report back!

-Fork

Coyote Point Park
Paddle out of harbor. turn right along rock rip rap. Troll or cast 1/4th 1/2 Oz white hairraisers with or without white curly tail grub - -in close to the rocks for Stripers Also to the left - off rock islands and along shoreline can be good. Bass plugs also work. Providedthe wid stays down hour before or after high tide is best time.
Palo Alto is doable if tides are not real low.Don't put apedal drive down until you reach the bay. Mostly just Leopard Sharks there