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Mariners Basin Launch Site

Mariner's Basin is an easy and quiet launch area that rarely sees any traffic at all. A few sail boats moor in the basin and bat rays churn up the shallow waters more than any boat wakes. The biggest benefit to this launch is if you intend to fish Quivera Basin or the channel or even paddle outside to the Ocean Beach Kelp or sunken structures in front of Mission Beach.

Driving Directions

Directions from I-5 For Back of the Basin

  1. I-5 to Grand or Garnet Ave
  2. Head west to Mission Blvd, Turn Left (south)
  3. Go past the Roller Coaster and turn into the parking lot. Park at the back of the lot next to the bay and unload here.

Directions from Hwy-8 For Back of the Basin

  1. Exit West Mission Bay Drive, turn right at signal.
  2. Exit again on West Mission Bay Drive
  3. Go through lights and turn left on Mission Blvd. (at roller Coaster)
  4. Go past the Roller Coaster and turn into the parking lot. Park at the back of the lot next to the bay and unload here.

Directions for the Mariner's Point Launch area

  1. Same directions as above except immediately before Mission Blvd turn left onto Mariner's Way.
  2. Follow Mariner's Way around the park and out onto the dirt road on the penninsula.
  3. All the way at the end will be a dirt parking lot, to the right is a sand road that provides access to the beach. BE CAREFUL - SOFT SAND AND 2WD DON'T MIX.
  4. Down this sand road is beach access and prime ghost shrimp pumping turf.

    Click her for driving map for Mariner's Basin (Allen's Kayaks)

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Parking
The large lots near the roller coaster are only full during special events on the bay - easy to find spots. On the penninsula there is open parking in the dirt lot.

Fishing Description

Easy fishing can be found a short distance from these launches. Paddling to the mouth of the basin and throwing weedless texas rigs or jigs at the rocks on either side can produce some nice bass. The soft sandy areas in front of the penninsula are littered with yellowfin croakers and a paddle across to Quivera basin can provide hours of good bass and barracuda fishing near the bait barge and around the docks.

The jetty wall that protects Quivera Basin deserves special mention - the incoming tides create fantastic eddies here and the fishing can be phenomenal. The areas just off the point have produced multiple halibut over 15# as well.

There is a large kelp forest outside the mouth of Mission Bay but it is at least a 3 mile paddle one way and should not be attempted alone or without practice and confidence as the channel mouth can get gnarly with big swell. The insides of the channel also hold lots of bass and perch. Good fishing all around!