The water is pretty shallow and flat. Mission Bay is pretty much a lake with a lot of islands in the lake. It is an excellent spot for advanced flat water riding. Booties are recommended because there is sometimes glass and/or nails especially adjacent to the fire rings. Most people ride with no problems.
Sandy beach. The beach is ok to launch, better to do it in the shallow water. Good beginner's beach. There will almost always be people to help launch/land your kite.
The Mission Bay could get a little gusty sometimes, but usually you get some nice winds there. Stinkies has the most consistent winds in this area. On a typical North wind day it blows side shore relative to the launch.
To get to Stinkies take the Sea World Drive exit off of Interstate 5 and head west. Follow signs to Fiesta Island (you can see it from the exit). Drive onto the island and the first cove you come to is Stinkies (about 3/4 mile from the entrance to the island). If you get to the fork in the road you have passed the cove and need to circle around the island. If there is wind you will see kites.
The city requests that we do not walk on the mini-island (Enchanted Isle) located in the downwind portion of the cove because it hosts an endangered species of plant.
