Sonoma Coast good launches and fishing

While fishing out of Bodega Bay (caught jacksmelt for bait but no halibuts) a local boat owner told me the rocks north and south of Portuguese Beach were good fishing, but when I looked at the beach, aside from the difficulty of getting back up, the beach break looked very tricky, even with waves that were not too large.  It drops off steeply and looked very unprotected. Are there any good ways to access this part of the coast and get back in?  Is the beach south of Duncan's  Cove a good spot , or the beach south of Goat Rock, a good launch/fishing spot?  I'm fairly new to this, live in Novato and am  trying to find good local options in the ocean.
   

pretty much that whole section of coast is bad access and shore break and most not forgivung, but you can go further north to fort ross on weekends, timber cove ocean cove gerstle, and also mush better fishing further north, cameron

It's usually easy to launch at Duncans Cove. It is very well protected. You do need to take your gear down to the cove. The good news is the parking is good. The bad news is you are better off with two guys or wheels to get down to the cove. It's not that bad a haul. This can be an excellent place to go out for salmon when you hear they are hanging in the Carmet area. If you look for underwater rocky formations you should be able to do ok. This is also a decent place to launch for crabbing.

Thanks,
There is also a beach access about a mile south of Duncans Cove where the road is down at beach level.  It doesn't look as protected as the cove itself, but much easier to get to.  How is the beach there for launching and landing? 

I know where you are talking about and there are some days you could launch there.  Maybe go to the north end of that beach and tuck behind the rocks for some more gentle water. But generally that is a pretty dumpy wave. If you read the Bodega Bouy and it is less than 1.8' yes you could launch there but for me it is a lot harder going though the sand (don't have sand wheels) than launching at Duncan. Goat Rock is an easy launch as well, south of the rock on Blind Beach. I do know of 2 shark V kayak incidents there but you pays your dues and takes your chances. Take a buddy and smear some fish blood on his yak when he isn't looking that should cut your chances by well over 50%. You can only fish south of Goat Rock or paddle way north and out of the MPA. You are allowed to set crab traps in the MPA in front of the river mouth.

Thanks a lot for all the info.  I will look at the trail down to Duncans.
 I've been told to stay away from Duxbury area due to the resident sharks there.
 I want to try off Stinson  close in for halibut, and south of the beach for salmon at rocky point.
I launched from Muir Beach on my first Yak try on a neighbors Prowler 13 .  About a half mile south of the north point, an  about 10'  blackish (.........?)  swam across my bow about 40 feet away a couple of times.  3 dolphins (much smaller)  came up swimming along side me and towards it.   
Are the rocks on the south end of Muir good for rockfishing?

Bringing back an old topic...

Looking at camping at Wrights Beach and launching at Duncans cove.  I've camped at Doran pt at Bodega and fished with my boat but the MPA has taken a lot of that area.

How is the fishing right there at Duncan's cove?  It's far enough North and South of boat ramps that it might not get fished at all by boat.  Really the main reason I use my kayak.