Best tides/surf conditons to fish and launch

I was wondering and hoping if anyone can give me there opinion on ideal safe sea conditions to fish/launch for most beaches and bays in Nor Cal! I have only launched once from monterey, moss landing, and Santa Cruz. Monterey being first and luckily a good safe trip! But Moss Landing and Santa Cruz a Completly different story!! At Moss Landing me and my Gf almost didnt make it back into the harbor from the outgoing tide! that was too scary and dont wanna be in a Sticky situation like that again! Especially with her! How do you know when conditions are safe enough to paddle out, and when to just say NO, even when your fishing Craving are High? Would hate to make a Long drive from Sac to run into bad conditions, but would hate it more to paddle out and then get stuck in trouble!!!! Any and all advice on this are welcome please. thanks fishworks.

Swells affect each launch differently, so it's difficult to generalize. And, of course, one man's terror, is another's adventure...it largely depends on your experience and skill set. You can improve both by taking a surf launching/safety class like the ones offered by MBK (e.g., http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,19112.0.html).

On my first outing, I got rocked by a small shore break at Seacliff, which made me anxious about future surf launches. I took MBK's class afterwards. It's like Enzyte for kayakers. Now, I enjoy the rush of charging the winter surf, and my wipeouts, which are inevitable, are rarer and less spectacular, much to the disappointment of onlookers, I'm sure.

Thanks bro appreciate the advice! Yea taking the class definetly sounds like a must. Ive launched exactly there where the seminar was being hosted just east of the harbor and did find launching but probably because the surf is actually real minimal there and not very big at all...but i know in the future and in certain spots its gonna be harder, stronger waves rollin in! And thats wat i need experience in! More so for safety and losing tackle reasons! would hate to lose another rod! Should probably take the class before rockfish opener! Thanks again

   I got caught in a freakish offshore summer wind one evening that was blowing straight down the mountains and out the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor. I was paddling more or less in place for about an hour. I wish I'd had an anchor. Uncharacteristic condition.
   Wind is  a factor to always consider.

   I got caught in a freakish offshore summer wind one evening that was blowing straight down the mountains and out the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor. I was paddling more or less in place for about an hour. I wish I'd had an anchor. Uncharacteristic condition.
   Wind is  a factor to always consider.

No, not an anchor!  Too dangerous!  Try a drift chute instead!

fish with mcag , my one time fishing with him he got me through some big surf near pigeon point