Fishing around Newport

[JFurst]

I recently bought a Parker 1801 and have it stored at Newport Dunes. I have goals of taking it to Catalina or launching out of SD and going offshore, but am very new to boating and looking to start out fishing locally around Newport and work my way up to the bigger trips. Experienced in fishing but new to boating and finding fish.

Does anybody have any general areas to fish or advice to shed some light and get me started out there? I’m aware of the artificial reef, pipe, CDM, etc. Not asking for anyone’s numbers so no agros please, just looking for some general guidance - thanks.

 

[RodRage]

Boating safety course for starters and invite others with experience to go fish for a day and show you around, good times ahead, welcome to the madness!

 

[bufadora]

I say since you already spent plenty of thousand dollars on your boat go on a charter trip or two and pay attention to how the pros do it in your area.

 

[dudeman]

I'm in SD but I'd say take a couple trips inside and get to know your rig before you go offshore/ Catalina. Get a mate with some experience in the area and you'll be good to go. That boat is deluxe for 2 or maybe three.

 

[Mr. Jones]

I also keep my boat in the dunes. used to be a trailer boat but now I got a bigger one in the water (now I miss the trailer boat...). Here are my tips for whatever they're worth:

1. One spot and two spot are super fun. Small wax wings, small live sardines, and some cut up chum go a long way. Good spot for mackerel, bonito, barracuda, and some sheepshead, etc.

2. Catalina pro move. Start at the east side and try and leave from the west (or more West than where you started) because of swell direction.

3. Sometimes it's better to stay more parallel to the swell, and then run up the island, on the Catalina runs to the west side.

4. If it's windy in the dunes, it's probably windy on the water.

5. Out rigs and muscle farm aren't far. Neither are the Long Beach spots and the swell is a good direction home from there.

6. Your boat is the perfect size to park the SOL for drinks.

7. Harbor patrol loves to tag boats for going too fast at the harbor mouth

8. The PCH bridge is a good spot for halibut and bass. Close to dunes too.

9. Get an EPIRB or PLB. Always do a radio check on your way out. Your chances of surviving an in-the-water ditching scenario, like a fire, just went up exponentially.

10. Carry a bass rod even if you're fishing for big stuff.

11. 14-mile bank is an easy run from where Newport and is an easily accessible offshore spot. An easy day is 14 mile bank to the one and two spots inshore. Real easy run.

12. Buoy weather is your friend.

13. The first 10 miles from Newport to Catalina suck a lot of the time.

14. The entire drive to Catalina sucks if you leave at 3pm. You'll just take it on the chin, but sometimes it's worth it.

15. Leopard sharks are fun to catch.

16. If the wind picks up at Cat while you're there, don't be afraid to spend the night there. Some good restaraunts and there are public showers you can use to freshen up.

17. Send a Glympse message to someone you know before you make a Cat run, especially at night or 3pm (see above). You should have cell service the entire way.

18. Bad cell service on the backside of Catalina (if any).

19. There are now a t mobile and verizon tower near the Navy base on San Clemente.

20. Know where the MPAs are.

21. Finally, fish and game sit at the dunes launch ramp. So don't do anything illegal like small lobsters or put of season rockfish. Also, border patrol sits there. So dont smuggle people or drugs.

 

[Caseydmaze]

Take your phone and on the homescreen create a folder for “Fishing Info”. Put a few good links for weather on there like “SailFlow”, “NOAA” “TempBreak” etc. Get used to checking daily and looking forward into the week prior to going. The normal wind/swell pattern tends to come from the west toward the Newport Coast. Sometimes youll get a little more South...but start paying attention to the wind and swell. Since Newport Faces South/West, that means most days the weather will be approaching from Starboard side as younleave the harbor. Want a wet ride home, turn left. Want to ensure a dry(er) snoother downswell ride home, turn right! This is why when oeople head for Newport from Catalina, theyll head up toward the West end prior to leaving the lee and making the crossing through the San Pedro Channel. Others can definitely comment on this part, but typically youll see things like “Wind 10 knots, 15 in the afternoon, wind swell less than 2’, Swell West 2-3’ and SW 1’ at 8 seconds.” Learn and ask around what that means and what your boat can handle. Typically a bigger swell isnt that big of a deal...IF the interval is big like “5’ at 20 seconds”. When its tight, like 3-4” at 9 seconds” or when the wind is predicting to be 15+ w wind waves to 3’.....these are things that should peak your concern w an 18’er.
As you pull out of the harbor leaving Newport...the end of the jetty on your right holds bait. Has since I was 9...and Im about Five 9’s now . Take a can or two of wet catfood, meter bait, start jigging a sabiki and make some mackerel.
There are a zillion small rock Piles up off HB. Go search out a good chart or map of the area. Mark Wisch up at Pacific Edge in HB should be able to direct u to these maps. Sit in your boat at home, get a beer and begin plugging in Spots. These can be fished for Rock Fish when in season, Bass, Halibut. Izors reef is good for the same as well...rarely a yellowtail. I would avoid the Mussel Farm. Dont even bother. Waste of tackle and dangerous for a new(er) boater.
These are my starter tips for Newport, Boating and fishing. There’s about a zillion other things....but early on, keep it simple, keep it fun and be stoked with ALL the small victories!

 

[acefuture]

I fish weekly out of Newport on my 19’ bayrunner. You’re welcome to hop on with me any time, or we can take your sled out as well. Shoot me a DM

 

[Mr. Jones]

Here's my wife's tips, with some elaboration:

1. Know how to pull a Catalina mooring line (front and back). They have videos online.

2. String line in Isthmus is awesome.

3. Wire a nice size solar panel to your batteries (25-100 watts). Use a charge controller. Have a battery switch with an ACR system so you don't have to switch to "all" or "combine" to ever charge both batteries. It's cheap and easy. So, you never leave the dunes without a full charge. Don't rely on the engine for that.

4. Put a bolt on rod holder on the front railing to leave a live bait on while you're fishing. If not live bait, leave a shiny spoon there to bob up and down.

5. Back bay bistro is a nice bar when it's open.

 

[Chuck T]

I recently bought a Parker 1801 and have it stored at Newport Dunes. I have goals of taking it to Catalina or launching out of SD and going offshore, but am very new to boating and looking to start out fishing locally around Newport and work my way up to the bigger trips. Experienced in fishing but new to boating and finding fish.

Does anybody have any general areas to fish or advice to shed some light and get me started out there? I’m aware of the artificial reef, pipe, CDM, etc. Not asking for anyone’s numbers so no agros please, just looking for some general guidance - thanks.

 

[Chuck T]

using and understanding your electronics will make you a better fisherman. I try not to follow the masses and find fish on my own through charts and numbers. Hopefully this will help.

 

[neue]

The guys have given you some good info. The No. 1 and No. 2 spots can be fun. I used to have a boat at the dunes, and got tired of the long journey out of the harbor and the less than stellar bait. Dry storage at Dana Point is cheaper, the bait is much better, and honestly, the fishing can be better, depending on what you're targeting (I like halibut fishing). You're out of the harbor in 5 minutes. The downside is it is much farther to Catalina, but when you do that you can trailer up to Long Beach, and really shorten the trip over (you can get decent bait from Nacho or San Pedro).

 

[bazzturd]

I had a Parker 1801. Hit Cat, fished offshore, trailered to SD and killed it. Loved that boat. Get the 38 gallon blue water tank and mount it behind the lean post if you don't have the lean post with built in bait tank. I had mine pretty dialed in. You can probably search my for sale ad to see pics. Next boat is gonna be a 20-22cc, but not for a couple years unless a clean older outrage pops up for the right price.

 

[BrianBurchfield]

There are a lot of small stones/ piles of stones/ wrecks on your way from the harbor mouth to the artificial reef/pipe, in 40-80'.. these often hold. The artificial reef on up to the pipes is a fishy area - pay attention to how the current is hitting the zone (downhill vs. uphill, sometimes in vs. out), as certain spots in this zone fish better on diff. currents. The Laguna coast OUTSIDE of the mlpa zones can be great reef fishing for bass and bottom grabbers, as well as halibut. Pay attention to your sounder and find the hard bottom / soft bottom interfaces..Outside these reefs barracuda, bonito, and yellows/WSB breeze up and down with proper conditions. That said the spots above the harbor see the exotics breeze through in right conditions...

Right now the lobster buoys are showing all where the local hard bottom is, and with not as many folks out, great time to go learn.

 

[JFurst]

Big thanks to everyone who's replied, getting much more insight and advice than expected. I am an anchor and engine service away from getting out there, should have both done by end of next week then will get started.

Looks like there is a good chunk of territory in MPA's from Laguna down through Dana Point, some at Catalina too. What is the best way of knowing you are staying away from them - are there buoys or something indicating they are there? Or is it up to you to know their location and stay outside of them?

 

[BrianBurchfield]

GPS Coordinates from dept. of f/w ---> your electronics. You should also have paper charts - it's all on you to be out of the boundaries...

 

[Robdog1]

Big thanks to everyone who's replied, getting much more insight and advice than expected. I am an anchor and engine service away from getting out there, should have both done by end of next week then will get started.

Looks like there is a good chunk of territory in MPA's from Laguna down through Dana Point, some at Catalina too. What is the best way of knowing you are staying away from them - are there buoys or something indicating they are there? Or is it up to you to know their location and stay outside of them?

Coordinates are listed on DFG’s site, and it’s up to you to know where you are in regards to those coordinates. I use landmarks at Cat to know, Long Point is a big one, Lion Head, the casino, lovers cove, etc etc. I’d highly recommend getting a chart of the island and a chart of the coast from LB down to SD and out, you can download them on a lot of apps (I use one called I boating marine charts and GPS, it’s an all in one and the charts are about $29 (if they still are, they were when I downloaded them.)

 

[JFurst]

Coordinates are listed on DFG’s site, and it’s up to you to know where you are in regards to those coordinates. I use landmarks at Cat to know, Long Point is a big one, Lion Head, the casino, lovers cove, etc etc. I’d highly recommend getting a chart of the island and a chart of the coast from LB down to SD and out, you can download them on a lot of apps (I use one called I boating marine charts and GPS, it’s an all in one and the charts are about $29 (if they still are, they were when I downloaded them.)

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I have a Simrad go7 xse with the boat and printed the MPA coordinates from DFG - I think with that I should be able to plug the coordinates or set waypoints and mark them as my “no go” zones. Still have so much to learn about my electronics...

 

[jer dog]

I recently bought a Parker 1801 and have it stored at Newport Dunes. I have goals of taking it to Catalina or launching out of SD and going offshore, but am very new to boating and looking to start out fishing locally around Newport and work my way up to the bigger trips. Experienced in fishing but new to boating and finding fish.

Does anybody have any general areas to fish or advice to shed some light and get me started out there? I’m aware of the artificial reef, pipe, CDM, etc. Not asking for anyone’s numbers so no agros please, just looking for some general guidance - thanks.

Around crystal Cove is good for Bass,
Just watch out for the Mlpas , get a map.

 

[heatsource]

FishLegal app free download

 

[Hollis Harris]

The most descriptive information i have ever seen on these pages... Bravo gentleman... this is why we are part of this community..

 

[neue]

Be careful anchoring at Catalina. Search the forums on how to rig a trip wire on a claw style anchor, so you can get it back if it gets stuck on rocks. And have a spare anchor. Cut my first trip to Cat short after I lost my anchor. Left several there over the years. I even bought a special grapnel anchor (with bendable aluminum tines) for setting up on rocky spots over there.

 

[Tiagosahn]

I recently bought a Parker 1801 and have it stored at Newport Dunes. I have goals of taking it to Catalina or launching out of SD and going offshore, but am very new to boating and looking to start out fishing locally around Newport and work my way up to the bigger trips. Experienced in fishing but new to boating and finding fish.

Does anybody have any general areas to fish or advice to shed some light and get me started out there? I’m aware of the artificial reef, pipe, CDM, etc. Not asking for anyone’s numbers so no agros please, just looking for some general guidance - thanks.

Dave Hansen, mysaltwaterguide.com, if you have the money and the boat he is your go to guy. Not cheap, but worth every penny

 

[flytie]

If you turn left towards CDM, you will start seeing LARGE pinnacles that come up just below the surface within a mile. Those pinnacles go all of the way down to reef point. All are very fishy. Be careful of the one we call the 7' pinnacle as it is only 7' below the surface. Also be careful at reef point. The reef area is very shallow.

Bryce, on the bait barge is a dick. Go there and understand that, and you are good.

All of the weather apps have good info but they are all localized to a zone. Go to www.surfline.com and pull up the cameras of the ocean as a way to back up info. Some days the apps are on, some days they are way off. The cameras will give you real time info. The first one I look at is the Wedge if I'm launching out of Newport.

On summer days, bring sun glasses. Not for the sun and glare when fishing, but for the cruise in the harbor. You will thank me later for that one.

If traffic in the main channel is crazy when you enter the harbor, you can take a right at Coast Guard dock and go the back way for a much more laid back ride.

www.freeais.com is good to get rockfish spots. A couple of the commercial boats don't turn their AIS off and you can see where they are fishing and compare it to fish counts.