First time harbor fishing this weekend

[StumpFisher]

my son has been begging for me to take him out to the salt to do some fishing. I have only fished freshwater except for the occasional cattle boat or pier fishing. I've done a lot of research on this site and others and I've narrowed our first trip down to Dana point harbor or nph. I wanted an experts opinion on which they prefer. We will be targeting spotties and I received my load of big hammer swimbaits yesterday and I'll take some of my freshwater spinnerbaits as well. I've already looked at the tides for this weekend so I think I have that down although I'm still concerned about the unknown of salt water in a kayak even if it is in a protected harbor. If anyone has any other advice or cautions for a new harbor kayak fisherman with his 10 year old I'd appreciate it. Wish us luck and ill post some pics of we happen to get lucky. Just looking forward to trying something new.

[murphy]

If u want to stay in the harbor I'd go to newport. The docks can hold a lot spoties and u can get a good mixed bag around the bait barge and channel. I use swimbaits and drop shot at the docks for spots. Spoons and hard baits can score some Cuda and calico around the barge and jettys. Dana is good for a short paddle to open ocean and big calico around the kelp but it can get choppy in the late morning. The harbor at dana is pretty small as well. Wherever u go, be safe and have fun. :Big Grin:

[bowler]

my son has been begging for me to take him out to the salt to do some fishing. I have only fished freshwater except for the occasional cattle boat or pier fishing. I've done a lot of research on this site and others and I've narrowed our first trip down to Dana point harbor or nph. I wanted an experts opinion on which they prefer. We will be targeting spotties and I received my load of big hammer swimbaits yesterday and I'll take some of my freshwater spinnerbaits as well. I've already looked at the tides for this weekend so I think I have that down although I'm still concerned about the unknown of salt water in a kayak even if it is in a protected harbor. If anyone has any other advice or cautions for a new harbor kayak fisherman with his 10 year old I'd appreciate it. Wish us luck and ill post some pics of we happen to get lucky. Just looking forward to trying something new.
Newport will be your best bet. The perfect place to put your kayak in the water is at the coast guard dock area the parking is free but limited so get there early. It has a nice beach to launch out of plus restrooms to use if you need to.

[murrieta angler]

Safe enough at NPH.
There will be [plenty of other yakkers, paddle boarders and row teams out there.
Cast in between the boats and docks on the shade side.
Hit up the Southeast side of the little island, drag your Big Head and wait for the flatties to bite.
Good Luck,
Robert
<><

[Ornery Bob]

FWIW, I never knew about fish attractants until I went to salt water, so if they're new to you too, I would recommend Pro-Cure Calico Cocktail. The fish seem to bite more aggressively with it.

[StumpFisher]

Thank you to everyone! Good tip about the fish attractant, I've read about uni butter as well. Thank God for amazon prime though because the pro cure is on its way before Sunday :)

thanks again

[StumpFisher]

Safe enough at NPH.
There will be [plenty of other yakkers, paddle boarders and row teams out there.
Cast in between the boats and docks on the shade side.
Hit up the Southeast side of the little island, drag your Big Head and wait for the flatties to bite.
Good Luck,
Robert
<><

When you mentioned the little island did you mean lido or bay island? I know bay is really tiny and not sure it is even considered much of an island so wasn't sure. Thanks again

[GhettoBasster]

Another vote for NPH. It gives plenty of options. The bait barge is an almost sure bet for calicos, macs and cudas but you will have to deal with aggressive sea dogs and birds. The dock pilings are good for spotties; especially when there's current. You're never too far from a dock or the shore in case you have to swim for it or the winds get too bad. Just be aware that some boat owners may get grumpy when you fish their docks. I'm quite sure they can't actually do anything about it though.

[vdisney]

another vote for nph. It gives plenty of options. The bait barge is an almost sure bet for calicos, macs and cudas but you will have to deal with aggressive sea dogs and birds. The dock pilings are good for spotties; especially when there's current

x3..............nph

[bowler]

When you mentioned the little island did you mean lido or bay island? I know bay is really tiny and not sure it is even considered much of an island so wasn't sure. Thanks again

He is taking about balboa island there is a island next to it called little island it's closer to the coast guard dock area.

[Ornery Bob]

Just be aware that some boat owners may get grumpy when you fish their docks. I'm quite sure they can't actually do anything about it though.

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice, but I was curious, so I looked into this and it depends on where you are... exactly. In general, the harbor is "Tidelands" and therefore Public Trust Land owned by the citizens of California, however, the issue is where the "Tidelands" begin and where "private property" ends. There is a "bulkhead line" and a "pierhead line" and public water starts and ends at the bulkhead line. On the peninsula, the bulkhead line is defined about halfway between the end of the longest docks and the shore. For Balboa island, the bulkhead line is basically the boardwalk and everything on the harbor side of that is public water (in other words, "public" water extends all the way to the beach). Regardless of public water, the docks themselves are still private and touching them is trespassing.

Homeowners pay for the construction and maintenance of the docks and they also pay rent to the City of Newport for the privilege of having their dock on a public waterway. Someone shelling out $800/yr for dock space rental is likely to feel that whatever water is around that dock is also theirs, which may or may not be true, depending on where you are.

There are also a few exceptions, like the Linda Isle lagoon which are not considered a Tidelands public waterway.

You can check it out here (pdf) Residential Piers (http://www.newportbeachca.gov/home/showdocument?id=20168)

[StumpFisher]

Thanks guys really appreciate it! I absolutely want to follow all the rules so that was helpful. I've also learned from other information that some feel it is ok to launch from the small lido island parks but this is not ok and those are all association parks and launching or even being at the parks is trespassing. You may get away with it if no one is around but I just don't want to take that chance.

Thanks to everyone!

[GhettoBasster]

Just be aware that some boat owners may get grumpy when you fish their docks. I'm quite sure they can't actually do anything about it though.

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice, but I was curious, so I looked into this and it depends on where you are... exactly. In general, the harbor is "Tidelands" and therefore Public Trust Land owned by the citizens of California, however, the issue is where the "Tidelands" begin and where "private property" ends. There is a "bulkhead line" and a "pierhead line" and public water starts and ends at the bulkhead line. On the peninsula, the bulkhead line is defined about halfway between the end of the longest docks and the shore. For Balboa island, the bulkhead line is basically the boardwalk and everything on the harbor side of that is public water (in other words, "public" water extends all the way to the beach). Regardless of public water, the docks themselves are still private and touching them is trespassing.

Homeowners pay for the construction and maintenance of the docks and they also pay rent to the City of Newport for the privilege of having their dock on a public waterway. Someone shelling out $800/yr for dock space rental is likely to feel that whatever water is around that dock is also theirs, which may or may not be true, depending on where you are.

There are also a few exceptions, like the Linda Isle lagoon which are not considered a Tidelands public waterway.

You can check it out here (pdf) Residential Piers (http://www.newportbeachca.gov/home/showdocument?id=20168)


Sorry. I wasn't clear where I mentioned boat owners and their docks. I should have said fishing near the pilings of their docks from your kayak. I absolutely do not condone fishing off of private docks.

[SP Dan]

FWIW, I never knew about fish attractants until I went to salt water, so if they're new to you too, I would recommend Pro-Cure Calico Cocktail. The fish seem to bite more aggressively with it.

I have used Pro-Cure, I now use Bio-Edge. It was developed for both the fresh and salt water alike. Many flavors to choose from and it stays on longer. Lots of bites.

SP Dan <"))><

[SP Dan]

This probably goes with out saying ... for a fun time ..... PDF's all around.

SP Dan <"))><

[SoCal_Fishing]

Can someone give me some info and spots in NPH? I hear it is very good but when I search on Google Maps, I don't know what people are talking about. I am fishing from shore but a kayak or boat rental place would be good if there is one near by.

[bowler]

Can someone give me some info and spots in NPH? I hear it is very good but when I search on Google Maps, I don't know what people are talking about. I am fishing from shore but a kayak or boat rental place would be good if there is one near by.

Daveys locker you can rent a skiff for half day or full day. On here they have a map of Newport harbor and place to fish on it