Newport Harbor

"Choosing Conditions and Splitting the Tide"

Saltwater float tube fishing in the harbors is not hard work, in fact it is quit easy when you know the secrets. The most important thing to remember is choose the right tide. For these articles I am going to talk about my favorite southern California saltwater float tube fishing venue Newport Harbor. But the principals discussed will adapt to any harbor with a good tide movement.

Choosing the Best Conditions

When choosing a day and time to fish look for a tide movement of 4+ feet, the more water movement the better the fishing will be. Tide changes of 6+ feet are common in our harbors so pick a good one. Saltwater bass are not as finicky as largemouth and the bite doesn't totally shutoff when the sun gets hot and are not controlled so much by the moon phase. Most experienced saltwater floattubers do try to fish the wee hours of the morning or in the evening because the bass are a little more active in the dark. But, because the water is constantly moving the water temp holds steady and the baitfish are abundant, you will catch just as many fish on a good tide at 3PM as you do at 6AM .

Splitting the Tide

When float tube fishing the harbors try to launch from a location that will allow you to split the tide, this means using the last 2 or 3 hours of an incoming or outing tide. Using the last 2 hours will mean your total fishing round trip will be about 4 1/2 hours. My favorite launch site in Newport Harbor is the Coast Guard, Harbor Patrol beach. The location gives me all of the best targets no matter what the tide is doing. Incoming or outgoing, I have great structure to fish. This is also a super place to launch your kayak for a day of bait fishing around the bait receiver, the breakwall or the nearby local kelp beds.

The advantage to using the tide instead of fighting it is obvious, allow the tide to do most of the leg work. Fish visible and hidden structure such as pilings, docks, moored boats along your journey. When the tide gets to its highest or lowest point it will have a short "slack tide." When this happens the bite will shutoff. This is a great time to retie your lures, have a snack, drink some water and relax. In about 20 minutes the tide will reverse and take you back the direction you just came. Fish the same structure on your way back.

If you are an experienced tuber with young legs, during the slack tide you can cross over to the other side of the harbor and take the ride back through new fishing territory. Remember when you get to the half way point (about "D" street) that you want to start your trip back to the original side.

Warning: You DO NOT want to pass the line to your original site otherwise you will be fighting the tide to get back to your launch point.

Remember, choose a good tide, split the tide as your time allows and always fish with a buddy. Here is an article on Tubin the salt in Newport Harbor that starts from Harbor Patrol beach, the best start point in the harbor.

Common Tide Splits for Newport Harbor

Splitting the tide in Newport is quit easy. Here is a list of some of the best splits for a 4 1/2 hour trip. These are listed in no particular order except that Harbor Patrol beach is my number one launch site regardless of tide condition.

1. Incoming Tide, Launch Harbor Patrol beach. Fish triangle, sailboats and south shoreline of Balboa isle down to Collins Isle with stops at fuel dock, ferry crossing and time to crankbait or spinnerbait fish collins area.

2. Incoming Tide, Launch on peninsula at "K" street. Fish north shoreline of the peninsula down to Bay Isle. Spinnerbait and jig fish the docks, ferry crossing, rock pile in front of the Pavilion and throw crankbaits or spinnerbaits at Bay Isle.

3. Incoming Tide, (This one is a little tricky and requires a little more preparation and young legs) Park at Pavilion and ferry across (gear and all) and launch next to JT's. Fish the Island loop with crankbaits and swimbaits. This covers west end of Balboa island, Collins isle, Harbor island, east point of Lido Island. Then after the turn fish the Newport Yacht club on the peninsula, Bay isle and the docks back to the Pavilion.

1. Outgoing tide, Launch at Harbor Patrol beach. NOTE; This is a tactic I usually suggest for the kayak guys but an experienced floattuber can pull this off also. Fish in front of the Coast Guard docks and swing out to the Triangle. This requires a little bit of exercise and a drift chute, but it is well worth the effort. Now let the tide movement bring you back along the channel edge using your drift chute to slow you down. Cast 3/4 oz swimbaits into the channel and bounce them back to you. Big butts and baby white seabass love this spot. If you feel yourself drifting out deeper into the channel pull your chute and kick back into the boat moorings and throw spinnerbaits and small jigs. When you make the slack tide turn stay in about 15' of water and work rocks and docks with jigs.

2. Outgoing Tide, Launch at 9th street. Fish the docks along the north shore of the peninsula around Bay Isle and down past the Pavilion and ferry crossing. Continue fishing this shoreline with jigs and spinnerbaits out to about the fishing dock at "G" street. Make your turn at slack and fish back.

3. Outgoing Tide, Launch at 15th street at the American Legion Yacht club. Kayak fishermen know this spot as the home of Paddle Power Kayak shop. Fish the docks with spinnerbaits and throw 3" swimbaits and small curl tail jigs around the moored boats. Fish down to Bay Isle and throw crankbaits and spinnerbaits. From 15th street you can also make a easy crossing to Lido Island and fish the moored boats and docks.

If you don't have time to split the tide

If you don't have time to split the tide and you are just going to fish by yourself for a few hours on a summer evening after work or on sunday morning after church you can still enjoy the trip. My favorite short trip is a variation on Incoming #1.

1. Short trip, Incoming tide. Launch at Harbor Patrol beach, spend time flippin the rock and dock area at the Guard tower and work along that shore into the Bahia Yacht Club at El Paseo st. then cross over to Balboa island and work back (south) and down the South face of Balboa island to the Grand Channel area. This is a thin channel cut through Balboa Island. Now swing south into the moored sailboats and cut across the triangle back to the Guard tower. This little run will take some energy but should satisfy your itch for awhile.

2. Short trip, Any tide. We used to be able to launch at the Pacific Coast Hwy bridge and I don't know if this is still possible. The area is great for some fast action on smaller spots and the occasional cabazon ( 16" minimum) I have even caught some small keeper halibut in this area. I know if you launch a kayak from Newport Dunes you can reach this same area.

3. Short trip with a buddy. Have your fishing buddy meet you at your destination not your launch site. Newport Harbor example; outgoing tide, meet at Balboa Pavilion and park one truck. Put both tubes and tackle in the other and drive back to 15th street and launch. Fish the west shoreline past the yacht club and Bay isle to the pavilion. The same tactics can be used for incoming by meeting at Balboa Pavilion, drop off one truck and run up to "K" street to start your fishing.

I hope this article helps give you better insight into Newport harbor and gives you a better understanding about how to split the tide. If you ever need a buddy to fish Newport with or you just are not sure you want to try this without expert help, give me a call, I can fish most weekends and I would love to show you how to Tube the Salt.

Michael