Newport Beach/Harbor

Anyone have some intell on that area down south. Heading down with Yaks in tow for Christmas. Berta needs to bring something to her sister in the kayak trailer when we go, so I suggested we take the kayaks to. She went for it. She wants to hit Newport since there is a lot of room for exploration. She does not need to know that in the bow of my kayak there will be gear for fishing. What would be the target in Dec there in the bay? Halibut maybe?

HELP!

Thanks guys, Rob

Spotted bay bass are a ton of fun on light tackle from the kayak.  1/4 to 1/2 ounce jighead with 3 1/2 inch swimbait fished around pilings or any structure really can produce.  Spinnerbaits, DS, all the classic black bass lures and tactics work. Always the chance for a but too.  Love that piece of water, worked on the party boats out of Davey's Locker while in high school.  Good luck and have fun!  Hope to see a report.

That pretty much sez it.  Spotted Bay bass  (14" size limit now) and if you can get some live bait, use a trap rig for CA Halibut!  Good luck.  Let me know when you're there with a PM and maybe I can get down to try it.  I'm not far away, just up in LA Harbor. 

Dave

Don't forget a good cleaner for your hull.
With all those high end homes and yachts, you would think they would take better care of their bay.
When we used to fish the events in so-cal, that was one of the dirtiest places ... Don't land the golden browns their

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Ditto on the Spotties....I would also think you may be able to find some Sand bass out near the harbor entrance as well.

My favorite bait for them was probably drop shotting the gulp 5" jerkbaits...it was a pretty consistent bite.  Just pitch/fish around the docks and if you have a fish finder, finding the eel grass was also the ticket as well.

Here's a small spot from a few summers ago, you can see I'm fishing right on the docks.

I usually launch at the Coast Guard station.  They have a nice sandy beach and free parking, you just need to get there early.  I've caught sand, spot, and calico bass there plus halibut.  The scenery is awesome, girls on SUP's in bikini's in the winter.

If you have time, head down and fish San Diego bay, you launch out of Glorrieta next to Coronado hotel.  Free parking and you might get lucky and catch a bonefish.

You can also launch at the newport aquatic center, and avail yourself of their washdown afterward.  See yakhopper's note, so true lol.

http://newportaquaticcenter.com/

Located in the back bay, somewhat of a long paddle to the jaws, but the scenery along the way is killer.

Rob, you know fish down there don't count towards AOTY.  How are you gonna win if you're taking the last week off? 

You can also launch at the newport aquatic center, and avail yourself of their washdown afterward.  See yakhopper's note, so true lol.

http://newportaquaticcenter.com/

Located in the back bay, somewhat of a long paddle to the jaws, but the scenery along the way is killer.

Isn't the back bay now closed to fishing?  I thought I read it is.

You can also launch at the newport aquatic center, and avail yourself of their washdown afterward.  See yakhopper's note, so true lol.

http://newportaquaticcenter.com/

Located in the back bay, somewhat of a long paddle to the jaws, but the scenery along the way is killer.

Isn't the back bay now closed to fishing?  I thought I read it is.

IDK.  Shallower than Kim Kardashian back up in there so i don't even attempt to drop until much closer to the lanes

BUG HUNT!!!