Newport provides! 3/24 report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Gleaspoon · 03-25-2018, 03:29 PM

What’s up everyone, long time lurker, first time poster (been waiting for that one big catch for my first post).
Went out to Newport harbor 3/24, launched out of the coast guard station with my boy @stuck20 and his pops at roughly 630 just as the sun was rising. Weather was perfect, water conditions were unreal with a damn near perfect drift and absolutely no boat traffic, which was nice for once.
Stuck got out on the water a few minutes before us and by the time we got past the rocks at the launch he was already on his first legal calico. Pretty much set the mood for the day. Scattered around the docks south of the Launch @stuck20 landed a total of 13bass (10 spotted with 3 being legal, and 3 calico with 1 legal) all within 3 or so hours. Luck wasn’t on my or his dads side so much. Pops got a few bass, don’t recall his count. I picked up one legal sandy and a barely legal calico. The real fun was when we decided to move up to the boats right below balboa. Headed Inbetween the boats and within 15 minutes hooked a feisty halibut (around 14”) and through out a few more casts a few boats over. Then, BAM, my light action ugly stick with 8lb braid went full bendo. Cranked up the drag and started fighting. Few minutes later I pulled up a 32” halibut, set the gaff and been living off that high ever since. All fish Stuck got were with calico colored kietech and war baits white underspin jig head. All fish by me including halibut were caught with minnow kietech and big hammer white jig head
Big boy provides 8lbs of meat, which is currently being put on the grill.
Newport can be hit and miss for a lot of us, but days like this make it all worth it.

(a D u B) · 03-25-2018, 04:37 PM

What a day! Congratulations on the halibut, Newport can definitely be up and down.

Orca Winfrey · 03-25-2018, 05:59 PM

Congrats!!! Sounds like a awesome day. It’s been too long since I’ve been out. Time to change that. BTW, red Prowlers rule😀!

Stuck20 · 03-25-2018, 06:35 PM

Good times aboard the SS Lizardfish yesterday. Definitely my favorite day of fishing the salt. Let's do it again soon, brotha!

aftahour · 03-25-2018, 07:29 PM

Nice first report and great catch.

katchfish · 03-25-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orca Winfrey

BTW, red Prowlers rule��!

Dreamers fo sho.......

Iceman · 03-26-2018, 08:49 AM

love those Kietechs, nice halibut on the plastic!

blitzburgh · 03-26-2018, 08:04 PM

Nice work! Great lookin 'but!

King Saba · 03-27-2018, 12:22 AM

Congrats! That first legal butt on the yak is always a rush! Did you eat the cheek meat and engawa? Primo cuts right there!

Harry Hill · 03-27-2018, 08:39 PM

What is engawa? I still don't have my first legal halibut and I haven't been out since last August. It's time to get the boat wet.

03-25-2018, 03:29 PM	#1
Gleaspoon Junior Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 1	Newport provides! 3/24 report What’s up everyone, long time lurker, first time poster (been waiting for that one big catch for my first post). Went out to Newport harbor 3/24, launched out of the coast guard station with my boy @stuck20 and his pops at roughly 630 just as the sun was rising. Weather was perfect, water conditions were unreal with a damn near perfect drift and absolutely no boat traffic, which was nice for once. Stuck got out on the water a few minutes before us and by the time we got past the rocks at the launch he was already on his first legal calico. Pretty much set the mood for the day. Scattered around the docks south of the Launch @stuck20 landed a total of 13bass (10 spotted with 3 being legal, and 3 calico with 1 legal) all within 3 or so hours. Luck wasn’t on my or his dads side so much. Pops got a few bass, don’t recall his count. I picked up one legal sandy and a barely legal calico. The real fun was when we decided to move up to the boats right below balboa. Headed Inbetween the boats and within 15 minutes hooked a feisty halibut (around 14”) and through out a few more casts a few boats over. Then, BAM, my light action ugly stick with 8lb braid went full bendo. Cranked up the drag and started fighting. Few minutes later I pulled up a 32” halibut, set the gaff and been living off that high ever since. All fish Stuck got were with calico colored kietech and war baits white underspin jig head. All fish by me including halibut were caught with minnow kietech and big hammer white jig head Big boy provides 8lbs of meat, which is currently being put on the grill. Newport can be hit and miss for a lot of us, but days like this make it all worth it. Attached Images

03-26-2018, 08:49 AM	#7
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	love those Kietechs, nice halibut on the plastic! __________________

03-26-2018, 08:04 PM	#8
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice work! Great lookin 'but! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

03-27-2018, 12:22 AM	#9
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Congrats! That first legal butt on the yak is always a rush! Did you eat the cheek meat and engawa? Primo cuts right there! __________________ Baitfish catcher extraordinaire

03-27-2018, 08:39 PM	#10
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	What is engawa? I still don't have my first legal halibut and I haven't been out since last August. It's time to get the boat wet. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

03-25-2018, 04:37 PM	#2
(a D u B) Junior Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 29	What a day! Congratulations on the halibut, Newport can definitely be up and down.

03-25-2018, 05:59 PM	#3
Orca Winfrey Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: The I. E. Posts: 353	Congrats!!! Sounds like a awesome day. It’s been too long since I’ve been out. Time to change that. BTW, red Prowlers rule😀!

03-25-2018, 06:35 PM	#4
Stuck20 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 100	Good times aboard the SS Lizardfish yesterday. Definitely my favorite day of fishing the salt. Let's do it again soon, brotha!

03-25-2018, 07:29 PM	#5
aftahour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: torrance Posts: 155	Nice first report and great catch.