Richmond, Pinole Point, South San Pablo Bay Launches//Striper

Hey all,

Looking for new places to go striper fishing.  I work on TI and live in Concord; looking mostly for places accessible on my way home from work.  I've tried throwing lures off the jetties and rocks along TI, just not catching any stripers at any of the spots I've tried - time to bring the kayak and try something different. 

I like trolling - keeps me moving and I can sell it as "exercise" to my wife - and occasionally to my boss as an early release for good behavior. 

Thinking the flats north of Ferry Point would be OK trolling grounds, or maybe areas along the south side of San Pablo Bay.  I've only launched at Ferry Point and targeted halibut; does anyone have experience at any of the other launches in that area?  Pinole Point and/or Point San Pablo both look like they might be worth checking out if the launch situation is favorable there.   

Thanks for any intel!

-Kevin

Point Molate at the start of the outgoing.
Rodeo around Lone Tree Point.
“Hot Water” by the Rodeo Sanitary plant
Shoreline around Crockett Bass club
Shoreline around Eckley Pier

Point Molate at the start of the outgoing.
Rodeo around Lone Tree Point.
“Hot Water” by the Rodeo Sanitary plant
Shoreline around Crockett Bass club
Shoreline around Eckley Pier

Hot water, haha.  Thanks for the intel!  Will def try some of those spots on the way home soon!

we did Benicia 9ths street launch a few weeks ago with good success, nice launch, clean restroom (a plus), but no fish cleaning station.  Had some good luck that day, plan to do it again when the weather on the coast is not so great

we did Benicia 9ths street launch a few weeks ago with good success, nice launch, clean restroom (a plus), but no fish cleaning station.  Had some good luck that day, plan to do it again when the weather on the coast is not so great

For sure - my experiences at Benecia have all been great!  Looking for somewhere to launch on this side of the bridge to avoid traffic and tolls a little, but still have a similar experience fishing. 

Point Molate at the start of the outgoing.
Rodeo around Lone Tree Point.
“Hot Water” by the Rodeo Sanitary plant
Shoreline around Crockett Bass club
Shoreline around Eckley Pier

I'm gonna do some scouting drive-bys of a couple of theese spots today, checking out launch potential, parking, etc.  These are kinda all spots I was already thinking about - shallow flats near shore with access to larger, deeper bodies of water.  Seems to be the primary habitat for stipers, from what I've seen anyway. 

For sure - my experiences at Benecia have all been great!  Looking for somewhere to launch on this side of the bridge to avoid traffic and tolls a little, but still have a similar experience fishing. 

I hear ya, Benicia is the 'free' side for me (Sacto area)

For sure - my experiences at Benecia have all been great!  Looking for somewhere to launch on this side of the bridge to avoid traffic and tolls a little, but still have a similar experience fishing. 

I hear ya, Benicia is the 'free' side for me (Sacto area)

Yeah, I find myself re-thinking our process for finding a setttleing down point 12 years ago when we first moved to the area.  We picked Concord for a couple pretty good reasons, and we are very happy here.  That said, recently other areas have really been attractive to me, especially when looking at access for fishing and cycling - my only two hobbies to speak of. 

Really though, traffic is so terrible here that it is the main reason I am looking for spots on this side of the bridge.  Would love to have a couple options to try in the afternoons on my way home from work.  I need that decompression from busy office life, and the traffic just drains me, physically and mentally, making it difficult to even think about doing anything after I get home.  So, gonna try to hit it before I even get home! 

we did Benicia 9ths street launch a few weeks ago with good success, nice launch, clean restroom (a plus), but no fish cleaning station.  Had some good luck that day, plan to do it again when the weather on the coast is not so great

For sure - my experiences at Benecia have all been great!  Looking for somewhere to launch on this side of the bridge to avoid traffic and tolls a little, but still have a similar experience fishing. 

Point Molate at the start of the outgoing.
Rodeo around Lone Tree Point.
“Hot Water” by the Rodeo Sanitary plant
Shoreline around Crockett Bass club
Shoreline around Eckley Pier

I'm gonna do some scouting drive-bys of a couple of theese spots today, checking out launch potential, parking, etc.  These are kinda all spots I was already thinking about - shallow flats near shore with access to larger, deeper bodies of water.  Seems to be the primary habitat for stipers, from what I've seen anyway.

Just note that you'll need 2-2.5 fow for landing in most of these launches or it gets a lil messy...

Actually at San Pablo yacht club you could prolly find a way in from the harbor...

Just note that you'll need 2-2.5 fow for landing in most of these launches or it gets a lil messy...

Actually at San Pablo yacht club you could prolly find a way in from the harbor...

Good to know!  I've had a couple mud walks, not trying to make a habit of it, haha!  Fish the incoming, is the translation.  Got it!

Checked out Point Molate Beach Park today, looks like it could be a good spot to launch.  Lots of wrecks and other old stuff in the water around it.  Bit of a drop off to get to the beach from the parking, but there is a trail on the south side that negates this.  Nice little cove is probably fairly protected from the wind.  Porta potty and no running water.

Also checked out Point San Pablo Marina.  Old, kinda run down, disconnected from the rest of the world marina, strong bohemian vibes there.  Big metal art pieces in the lot in front, and lots of live-aboard tenants on boats in the marina.  Fairly easy beach launch access.  Biggest drawback is that it is a long ways down a narrow road with huge speedbumps - will def try this out some weekend, but not ideal for a quick-in quick-out on the way home kinda spot.  Had nice restroom near launch, and basic fish cleaning table nearby - had ZERO signs of any fish residue though - probably been AGES since it was used. 


I didn't feel like parking and leaving my truck would be a problem at either place, both are kinda outta the way. 

Will definitely give Pt. Molate a shot some day soon. 

At San Pablo Yacht club, there’s a kayak launch dock to the right of the clubhouse.  We used to run amateur NCKA events pre-Covid years.  You can launch directly into the marina and no worry about a mud walk.

There’s another beach 2/3s between Molate beach and SP yacht club.  Rocky trail going straight to the water.  No mud walk, shallow but ok to launch.  Just south of one of the chevron piers.  Questionable parking, you may find broken glass by your car. 

Otherwise, all of these spots will produce fish plugging from shore.  No need for a kayak. 

At San Pablo Yacht club, there’s a kayak launch dock to the right of the clubhouse.  We used to run amateur NCKA events pre-Covid years.  You can launch directly into the marina and no worry about a mud walk.

There’s another beach 2/3s between Molate beach and SP yacht club.  Rocky trail going straight to the water.  No mud walk, shallow but ok to launch.  Just south of one of the chevron piers.  Questionable parking, you may find broken glass by your car. 

Otherwise, all of these spots will produce fish plugging from shore.  No need for a kayak.

I saw the other beach too - there were a couple cars parked.  I peeked at it pretty quickly, looked like the trail to the water was kinda steep but doable with good wheels and a lighter kayak. 

I was thinking those spots all looked like they would probably be pretty decent for shore fishing too - might take the kids out to try from shore.  They would enjoy playing along the shore line if the fishing gets slow, haha.  I almost tossed a line out today too...

I think in the next couple days I am going to check out around Rodeo and Crockett.  I've been around Crockett a little - Crockett Hills is one of my favorite places to ride my bike.

Does the park at Eckley Pier have an accessible beach for kayak launch?  I've fished that pier before, but it was a while ago, before I was a kayaker.  Never caught anything there, but was also before I really knew what I was doing.  I remember a pretty strong current there - seems like a good place to time the tides and plan on an "out and back" type trip. 

 

Checked out Point Molate Beach Park today, looks like it could be a good spot to launch.  Lots of wrecks and other old stuff in the water around it.  Bit of a drop off to get to the beach from the parking, but there is a trail on the south side that negates this.  Nice little cove is probably fairly protected from the wind.  Porta potty and no running water.

Also checked out Point San Pablo Marina.  Old, kinda run down, disconnected from the rest of the world marina, strong bohemian vibes there.  Big metal art pieces in the lot in front, and lots of live-aboard tenants on boats in the marina.  Fairly easy beach launch access.  Biggest drawback is that it is a long ways down a narrow road with huge speedbumps - will def try this out some weekend, but not ideal for a quick-in quick-out on the way home kinda spot.  Had nice restroom near launch, and basic fish cleaning table nearby - had ZERO signs of any fish residue though - probably been AGES since it was used. 


I didn't feel like parking and leaving my truck would be a problem at either place, both are kinda outta the way. 

Will definitely give Pt. Molate a shot some day soon.

Sorry to bring up an old thread.  Did you ever get a chance to try launching from Point Molate Beach Park?  We are thinking of launching there this weekend to go after the herring that are supposed to be spawning in that cove.  I’d prefer not to launch at the San Pablo marina and go all the way around. 

Sorry to bring up an old thread.  Did you ever get a chance to try launching from Point Molate Beach Park?  We are thinking of launching there this weekend to go after the herring that are supposed to be spawning in that cove.  I’d prefer not to launch at the San Pablo marina and go all the way around.

I never did launch there - but I think it is definitely do-able.  I've been thinking about heading there for the herring spawn also, maybe from shore with a sabiki though.  Maybe tomorrow?  I'm kinda on the fence - have the day off and the hall pass, but thinking about sturgeon.  Maybe sturgeon are around there for the herring spawn too? 

I would also rather launch at Molate Beach than San Pablo.