Questions about Newport Bay?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

M Street block is the best place to launch in my opinion. It's literally like 15 feet from the sidewalk to the water. Sounds like you got all the right gear for what you're targeting. Maybe bring a small Sabiki to catch Smelt For halibut

ok great! i do have a sabiki , where do you go about catching the smelt?

[William Novotny]

Originally Posted by Fish

ok great! i do have a sabiki , where do you go about catching the smelt?

Do you have your fish finder hooked up? Just paddle around till you see clouds on your screen and drop straight down. The smallest sibiki you cab find works best for smelt. They have small mouths. Like size 16 is good. I'd say hit the mouth by the bell bouy for Macs but being your first time solo I'd sick to the harbor.

[William Novotny]

Also a good place for halibut is around the sail boat moorings. Lots of grass with big patches of sand.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

Do you have your fish finder hooked up? Just paddle around till you see clouds on your screen and drop straight down. The smallest sibiki you cab find works best for smelt. They have small mouths. Like size 16 is good. I'd say hit the mouth by the bell bouy for Macs but being your first time solo I'd sick to the harbor.

yea i have my sonar hooked up, yea im a little hesitant about where to launch and how to get there , also i dont have my bait bucket working yet need a battery for that but , i do have a submergable bait bucket that should work for now.

[CheapPelican]

Launch from the coast guard station. I think your yak is small enough to make the turn down the walkway. You can wheel it between the buildings, lift it over one step and follow the walkway down. It will get you within 20yds of the water. You can use the hose by the restrooms to wash down your gear.

[Amish Ed]

Originally Posted by Fish

i have wheels for the yak but prefer to launch from a ramp....around the corner from where that restaurant ferry used to be , if i remember right there's a launching ramp there ?

Much better fishing up front, launch ramp at the Dunes is expensive, and I think from the PCH bridge back is closed to fishing (I could be wrong on that).

Originally Posted by CheapPelican

Launch from the coast guard station. I think your yak is small enough to make the turn down the walkway. You can wheel it between the buildings, lift it over one step and follow the walkway down. It will get you within 20yds of the water. You can use the hose by the restrooms to wash down your gear.

Are they done with all the construction? I had more days walking the sand than the pathway last year.

[CheapPelican]

The last time I was there was in September and they were done.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

Much better fishing up front, launch ramp at the Dunes is expensive, and I think from the PCH bridge back is closed to fishing (I could be wrong on that).



Are they done with all the construction? I had more days walking the sand than the pathway last year.

yea im still confused where to launch, without an adress im going to be driving around lol.

[William Novotny]

Drive to the end of Balboa peninsula. When the road turns like you are going to the wedge you will see a small Beach witha dock on your left. Easy launch

[William Novotny]

[rpd]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

this place is better to launch imo if your Fishing outside the harbor!

[Fish]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

Drive to the end of Balboa peninsula. When the road turns like you are going to the wedge you will see a small Beach witha dock on your left. Easy launch

Map and all hah thanks Will!

[William Novotny]

Yep. When you going out? May join you fora few hours before work

[CheapPelican]

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

Are they done with all the construction? I had more days walking the sand than the pathway last year.

Also they recently installed an additional set of hand rails between the top landing of the walk and the restrooms. Kayaks longer than 11' will have trouble making the turn. There's also a curb between the top landing and the sand. I guess you could lift your stuff over the curb and make the pull through the sand from here if you cant make the turn. It would save you from pulling the distance from the pipe gates to the wash rack.

[StinkyMatt]

To me the coast guard station is a no brainier. Super secure off street parking, free, wash down a walkway to the water.....12.5 kayak makes the turn on that corner no problem. Easy in and out without any regard to the tides(unlike the little landing on the other side). As close to the harbor mouth as any other landing.


Google the coast guard/sheriff station on the ater and it will show you exact location.

[Amish Ed]

Originally Posted by CheapPelican

Also they recently installed an additional set of hand rails between the top landing of the walk and the restrooms. Kayaks longer than 11' will have trouble making the turn. There's also a curb between the top landing and the sand. I guess you could lift your stuff over the curb and make the pull through the sand from here if you cant make the turn. It would save you from pulling the distance from the pipe gates to the wash rack.

Dang, mine is 14'. Used to just make the turn. Good thing I have good wheels now. Thanks for the update.

[CheapPelican]

Stinkymatt could be right about fitting a longer boat through the turn. A Scrambler was a tight fit but it might have just been us making it difficult

[Hawkman]

Try the main channel just inside the harbor entrance. No need to meter, just look for the surface breaking by hundreds of smelt. Nice patch of eel grass /sand right there as well. Good luck

[William Novotny]

I've been using m Street for 3 years and never had a problem. With parking, security of my vehicle, putting my yak in the water or rinsing off my things using the shower by the side walk. I have launched from the coastguard a dozen times and ran into problem every time. Either my yak not fitting in hair pin turns, or pulling through super soft sand. Plus it's further from where I'm ultimately trying to go anyways. Doesn't matter to me where anyone puts their yak in at its all personal preference. Allot of guys like that there are actual parking spots and a hose at the cgs. I launch so early there is always parking on m Street and I bring a bucket to rinse my things