Gerstle Cove kayak launch?

Hey all,
Is Gerstle Cove okay to launch from for kayak fishing?  How do the rangers feel about bringing in fish & cooking them there, all legal & caught outside the cove?  What I mean is, is it a hassle to launch there, all considered?  Also, what is the trip like from Gerstle to Stump Beach like?  New to Sonoma Coast fishing... Thanks

Gerstle is a really protected launch. Sounds like you know that part of the cove is a reserve but just outside both north and south are open to abalone and fishing.  As long as you make sure all your gear is stowed when either going out or coming in thru the reserve you won't have an problem with DFG.  Allot of game is harvested just outside the reserve and brought thru on an almost daily basis. Once back on land cleaning and cooking is alright.  I believe they even have a cleaning station just above the launch but I'm not sure on that anymore.

From Gerstle launch out around and on to Stump beach is about 2 miles.  There's some pretty good fishing and diving within a mile either north or south of that launch.  Nothing special about that trip except that once out of the cove it is exposed to the open ocean with all it's associated hazards.

Getting the yak down to the water at gerstle is a bit of a chore.  If I'm in that area I usuall launch at Timber cove a few miles to the south which also has equally good fishing and diving and you can drive down to the beach for a much easier launch.  $8 and park at the beach if there's room, or park up top after dropoff, still a pretty short walk.

Ocean Cove is much easier, especially if you're solo.

I like Still Water Cove better. Best part is it's free.

Thank you all for the great detail and your expertise.  I guess I'll have to try it at least once at Gerstle.  Have any of you heard of a roadside (Hwy. 1) trail that goes to a put-in halfway between Stump Beach and Fisk Mill Cove?  I've got two weeks vacation to explore all possible put-ins between Jenner and Pt. Arena and will make a report on this.  Any and all intell would be appreciated.
Thanks

I like Still Water Cove better. Best part is it's free.

I launched for the first time at Stillwater Cove on 9-17-12 (Monday) and had a blast.  I found the put-in to be fairly easy and much quicker than Ft. Ross, although there isn't a channel out through the kelp there.  They have a changing room and, like you said, it's free.  What makes it a tough put-in at Gerstle, steep take-out, long walk, no parking...?  Thanks Dale L for all that info on Gerstle.
Soon, soon, the ling will be mine, all mine...Bwah ha ha ha!

My opinion of launches usually refers to a solo trip.

So for ease Timber Cove is tops for me, you can back down to the beach and drop you yak on the sand about 50 ft from the water, no cart needed and no carrying required just a short drag. $8.

Stillwater you've seen, mostly flat from parking to water and free and protected.

Ft Ross not as close to the water, not as protected, long walk after parking. Day use fee

Gerstle is just a bit of a chore like I said, very protected launch, from dropoff to water is pretty short but rocky and depending on tide the exposed rocks can be slippery.  day use fee or free if you're camping there.

I've camped at Ocean Cove but never launched there, but allot of people do. steep road down, drop off at the bottom, parking up top, short walk back, looks like a pretty good launch spot but I've not spent allot of time looking at it.  Not free.

Thank you all for the great detail and your expertise.  I guess I'll have to try it at least once at Gerstle.  Have any of you heard of a roadside (Hwy. 1) trail that goes to a put-in halfway between Stump Beach and Fisk Mill Cove?  I've got two weeks vacation to explore all possible put-ins between Jenner and Pt. Arena and will make a report on this.  Any and all intell would be appreciated.
Thanks

There is a place that is probably this one.  I wouldn't do it especialy with all the other spots available nearby.  A little south of the Fisk Mill Parking lot entrance there's a small pullout, and a trail to the blufftop overlooking a slanted shale slope leading down to the water, there's what appears to be a really protected launch spot right at the bottom.  But this spot can be really hazardous depending on the direction of the swell and the height of the tide, meaning it can change allot in a few hours. ALSO, The Stewarts Pt Marine protected area starts about 100yds north of here so you're pretty much confined to heading south to fish or dive. 

I like Still Water Cove better. Best part is it's free.

I launched for the first time at Stillwater Cove on 9-17-12 (Monday) and had a blast.  I found the put-in to be fairly easy and much quicker than Ft. Ross, although there isn't a channel out through the kelp there.  They have a changing room and, like you said, it's free.  What makes it a tough put-in at Gerstle, steep take-out, long walk, no parking...?  Thanks Dale L for all that info on Gerstle.
Soon, soon, the ling will be mine, all mine...Bwah ha ha ha!

Hard to beat Stillwater unless you can't solo your kayak down a set of stairs, then that's another story.  Changing room WITH shower.  Short walk from unload to designated parking by the hedge row.  Remember, don't park by the head of the stairs or near the firness center.  Oh, and NEVER yell out "four"  or play with your air horn 

Hey FFTC, they're talking about still water up north, not SWS.

My opinion of launches usually refers to a solo trip.

So for ease Timber Cove is tops for me, you can back down to the beach and drop you yak on the sand about 50 ft from the water, no cart needed and no carrying required just a short drag. $8.

Stillwater you've seen, mostly flat from parking to water and free and protected.

Ft Ross not as close to the water, not as protected, long walk after parking. Day use fee

Gerstle is just a bit of a chore like I said, very protected launch, from dropoff to water is pretty short but rocky and depending on tide the exposed rocks can be slippery.  day use fee or free if you're camping there.

I've camped at Ocean Cove but never launched there, but allot of people do. steep road down, drop off at the bottom, parking up top, short walk back, looks like a pretty good launch spot but I've not spent allot of time looking at it.  Not free.

Thank you all for the great detail and your expertise.  I guess I'll have to try it at least once at Gerstle.  Have any of you heard of a roadside (Hwy. 1) trail that goes to a put-in halfway between Stump Beach and Fisk Mill Cove?  I've got two weeks vacation to explore all possible put-ins between Jenner and Pt. Arena and will make a report on this.  Any and all intell would be appreciated.
Thanks

There is a place that is probably this one.  I wouldn't do it especialy with all the other spots available nearby.  A little south of the Fisk Mill Parking lot entrance there's a small pullout, and a trail to the blufftop overlooking a slanted shale slope leading down to the water, there's what appears to be a really protected launch spot right at the bottom.  But this spot can be really hazardous depending on the direction of the swell and the height of the tide, meaning it can change allot in a few hours. ALSO, The Stewarts Pt Marine protected area starts about 100yds north of here so you're pretty much confined to heading south to fish or dive. 

Thanks for all that great info.  Yeah, that put-in by Fisk Mill Cove lot entrance sounds like the one I heard about, and that safety info is what I'm looking for (and fish). 

Hey FFTC, they're talking about still water up north, not SWS.

I think you might be right, phishphood, I was at the Stillwater Cove up on the Sonoma Coast north of Jenner.  It's funny, though, it sounds the same in a lot of respects.
Can anyone give a heads-up about Anchor Bay, Gualala, and Pt. Arena?  Any favorite put-ins from Pt. Arena south to Jenner, safety tips, secret hot spots, etc. are all appreciated.  I have been to Ft. Ross, Timber Cove, Stillwater Cove, and Ocean Cove, but any good information on any of the Sonoma Coast is what I'm fishing for...that, and of course...fish.