Newport Harbor Spotties and nice Halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Uncle_Tomas · 03-14-2020, 01:35 PM

Could not wait to get on the water again. After I got up saw that there is short window of decent weather before is starts raining again. Decided to fish harbor and I much prefer Newport over Dana although it’s further away from me. Launched under the PCH bridge at around 9, tide started to climb back up. spotties were surprisingly active despite the water being super murky.
I focused on ledges today and fished 3” swimbaits. Started with pearl white which worked great, then switched to brown/green and got couple on that as well. Then went back to light color and got some more. I had second rod rigged up with drop shot using Berkley 5” pink jerk shad. Spotties either shut down by the time I switched or did not like this lure or my presentation. No Spotties on drop shot. As I was working my way back I made cast towards the middle of the channel and slowly reeled back and got bit by 20” hali. Very happy about that catch. Off the water by 11:30.

jbl_91762 · 03-15-2020, 10:04 AM

Nice day on water. I've never launched from PCH bridge always from coast guard station. Nice butt weird spots.

Udine219 · 03-15-2020, 04:38 PM

Wow, Awsome

Salty · 03-15-2020, 04:40 PM

Well done! Thanks for sharing the lure size/colors too. I was up at 6:30 in Mission Viejo planning to head out, but the rain was coming down pretty good so I decided to stay inside... Seeing these pics makes me wish I stuck it out! Guess I forgot the saying... the best time to go fishing is RIGHT NOW!

03-14-2020, 01:35 PM	#1
Uncle_Tomas Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Laguna Niguel Posts: 49	Newport Harbor Spotties and nice Halibut Could not wait to get on the water again. After I got up saw that there is short window of decent weather before is starts raining again. Decided to fish harbor and I much prefer Newport over Dana although it’s further away from me. Launched under the PCH bridge at around 9, tide started to climb back up. spotties were surprisingly active despite the water being super murky. I focused on ledges today and fished 3” swimbaits. Started with pearl white which worked great, then switched to brown/green and got couple on that as well. Then went back to light color and got some more. I had second rod rigged up with drop shot using Berkley 5” pink jerk shad. Spotties either shut down by the time I switched or did not like this lure or my presentation. No Spotties on drop shot. As I was working my way back I made cast towards the middle of the channel and slowly reeled back and got bit by 20” hali. Very happy about that catch. Off the water by 11:30. Attached Images

03-15-2020, 10:04 AM	#2
jbl_91762 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 347	Nice day on water. I've never launched from PCH bridge always from coast guard station. Nice butt weird spots.

03-15-2020, 04:38 PM	#3
Udine219 Banned Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 86	Wow, Awsome

03-15-2020, 04:40 PM	#4
Salty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 434	Well done! Thanks for sharing the lure size/colors too. I was up at 6:30 in Mission Viejo planning to head out, but the rain was coming down pretty good so I decided to stay inside... Seeing these pics makes me wish I stuck it out! Guess I forgot the saying... the best time to go fishing is RIGHT NOW!