Santa Ana River Surf Launch - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

fishingfiend · 09-01-2015, 05:06 PM

I'm curious too! Fishdope reports quality YT at the end of the Santa Ana Pipe. That would explain the increasing boat traffic out there.

Is there a reasonable place to surf launch in the area?

Iceman · 09-01-2015, 08:44 PM

I always considered launching where the dory fleet does near the Newport Beach pier. Only problem was metered parking.

bigbarrels · 09-02-2015, 07:10 AM

Wouldn't recommend launching there unless it is absolutely flat. Top to bottom barrels there. launching at pier as Andy suggest is perfect in the summer when there is primarily south swell in the water.

You can easily launch there but you will likely get launched yourself

hage0429 · 09-02-2015, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the feedback all! Not quite the same topic but I took a paddle from the jetty toward balboa pier last night and had a small school of YT pop up on the surface. I didn't have an iron handy so had to throw my jig at them. Is there a general rule on how close you can get without spooking fish? I had to get pretty close to reach them with what I had tied on and might have chased them back down.

Octico, I'll have to follow you around one of these days. I haven't specifically spent a day looking for rockfish yet but have dropped chunks of squid down several time upon stumbling across a hump or dip on the sonar with no luck.

Fishingfiend, the feedback doesn't sound promising but I'll have to take a scouting walk one of these days. Depending on the direction/size of the swell some of the small breakwalls along the coast could potentially offer enough shelter to make an easy-ish launch. Newport pier wouldn't be a long paddle either if that made for an easier launch.

09-01-2015, 08:44 PM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I always considered launching where the dory fleet does near the Newport Beach pier. Only problem was metered parking. __________________

09-02-2015, 07:10 AM	#3
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	Wouldn't recommend launching there unless it is absolutely flat. Top to bottom barrels there. launching at pier as Andy suggest is perfect in the summer when there is primarily south swell in the water. You can easily launch there but you will likely get launched yourself __________________ The shorter you are, the bigger your fish appear

09-01-2015, 05:06 PM	#1
fishingfiend Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 196	I'm curious too! Fishdope reports quality YT at the end of the Santa Ana Pipe. That would explain the increasing boat traffic out there. Is there a reasonable place to surf launch in the area?

09-02-2015, 08:23 AM	#4
hage0429 Junior Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 11	Thanks for the feedback all! Not quite the same topic but I took a paddle from the jetty toward balboa pier last night and had a small school of YT pop up on the surface. I didn't have an iron handy so had to throw my jig at them. Is there a general rule on how close you can get without spooking fish? I had to get pretty close to reach them with what I had tied on and might have chased them back down. Octico, I'll have to follow you around one of these days. I haven't specifically spent a day looking for rockfish yet but have dropped chunks of squid down several time upon stumbling across a hump or dip on the sonar with no luck. Fishingfiend, the feedback doesn't sound promising but I'll have to take a scouting walk one of these days. Depending on the direction/size of the swell some of the small breakwalls along the coast could potentially offer enough shelter to make an easy-ish launch. Newport pier wouldn't be a long paddle either if that made for an easier launch.