Baker Beach Crab 3/12/13

This was my first time crabbing baker beach off a kayak. I launched from Crissy fields and it was an agonizing journey there and back with the currents. I started hooping around 8:30am and started packing up around 1pm. Every time I checked my hoop nets they were full of females and undersized males. Fortunately I managed to get a 6" red rock and 3 male dungies that were just over 5 3/4." There were lots of pots soaking in the beach's entire stretch. I had a hard time finding my hoops because my buoys weren't as visible as the one's already on the water. I ended up having to abandon one because I wasn't able to find it and I needed to get ready for school. On my way back,  I was stopped by dfg officers in a small water craft. They checked my catch and verified my license. It's great to see their presence on the water.

Bummer, sounds tough.

Check out the link below, you may want to report you unrecoverable trap it if you think you are not likely going to recover it.

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/seadoc/deregearreportform.html

http://www.seadocsociety.org/california-lost-fishing-gear-removal-project

I just google mapped where youlaunched from and where you crabbed at, that looks to be really long paddle and a rough one at that.  Try you tubing crabbing at Baker Beach and I think you will find the guys from Headwaters launching from the beach side.  I am not sure what your surf skills are, but it looks (key word looks) easier than paddling through that narrow area under the GG.

Wow, that's one helluva a paddle to crab Baker!!! Like SK said, a beach launch is possible but it is NW facing and is a steep beach which makes for tough close out surf launches and landings. Way to tough it out!

Try the other side.  The paddle from Ft. Baker/Sausalito to Kirby or Bonita Cove may be easier.   I've done it a couple of times but always on a really small tide, like less than 1ft change.  If I had some wheels, I'd try parking at Upper Fisherman's lot in the Marin Headlands and going straight down to the beach at Bonita Cove.  I walked it a few months ago and it was less than 10 minutes, and seemed doable with wheels.  That beach is sheltered from the NW swells.  The day I was there it was like a lake!