Float tube Fishing Newport Harbor

"Mastering an Incoming tide"

For the purpose of this article we will launch from my favorite spot, Coast guard Harbor Patrol beach. The Harbor Patrol is located on the North side of the harbor on Bayside next to the Balboa Yacht Club. It takes about 5 minutes from the corners of PCH and Jamboree, down the hill, left on Bayside 3/4 mile on the right. There is about 10 parking spaces in the lot if you get there early or you can park on the street. The walk to the water is about 50 yards. This is where we hold our Tubin the Salt Tournaments.

Today's tide is incoming and we are fishing the last 2 1/2 hours. (splitting the tide article) Because of our launch site we will have a shot at sand bass, halibut and spotted bass. The path of our drift will start just outside the mouth of the beach and work Northwest as far as Collins isle and should take us about 5 hours total round trip. I carry two rods with one rigged with a spinnerbait and the other with a leadhead and plastic. For complete tackle suggestions see the Bay Bass Tackle Suggestions article.

You have two choices here. Some fishermen will 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. This is not a bad area and I have pulled some nice bass out using this path. The bad side of it is you pass up the sandbass and a shot at a halibut.

Note: If you continue along that north shore instead of crossing at the Bahia Yacht club you can get to the same final destination via the backside of balboa island but your target species will include covina, perch, and lots of junk fish. Some good fish have come out of that area including an occasional white seabass but your chance of a good day is better following one of my routes.

Your second choice is to kickout further, maybe about 25 yards and start your drift. I fish the drop off bouncing leadheads until I get to the triangle. This is the first split in the harbor just before the sailboat moorings. I have picked up some very nice sandbass here and more than a few keeper halibut so I spend a little time here. Next we move into the sailboats, this is sandbass country. Bounce small leadheads off the bottom, get in tight to the boat shadows and anchors. Boats that seldom move make the best targets. Some guys spend a lot of time here but I move through a little faster than most because I know what is on the other side.

Flippin the Docks and Locating the rock pile

After you pass the sailboats move in closer to shore and start fishing the docks with your spinnerbait. Your target fish is now spotted bass. Cast your spinnerbait along the sides of the docks and as close as possible. Be ready, the strike can be subtle like a heavy weight or an awesome whack. There is also a lot of mooring wires and barnacles so be carefully of snags and retie often.

The spotted bay bass are the most abundant and thus they are the most common target for floattubers. these feisty fish attack jigs and spinnerbaits with a ferocity that rivals and even surpasses their freshwater cousins. Here is a article I wrote Spinnerbait Tactics for Bay Bass that explains in detail how to target bay bass with my favorite weapon.

If the spinnerbait is not working or if you are just not confident with it use the #1 Spot killer, 3/4 oz football leadhead with a brown/orange crawfish or colored curl tail. move up close to the docks and flip or drop your jig down close to the piling. be ready, usually you will only get a little tap. When that happens, set the hook.

One of the best dock fishermen i know is Ed Whited. here is an article he wrote called Dock Fishing for Dummies it will teach you all you need to know about this technique.

Fishing Newport Bays Two Best Spots

As you keep moving northwest you come to my favorite spots, The Balboa Ferry Crossing and the Fuel dock. This spot accounts for most of my biggest spots to date. Successfully fishing the ferry crossing is a little tricky to explain and and a little dangerous. The secret is not in what you do as much as it is in what the ferry does and where you position yourself.

Here is how I do it. When the ferry comes and goes it reverses it engines and kicks up the bottom. When this happens the bass go nuts for about 2 minutes (every 10 minutes). Position your tube about 50 feet from the right end of the dock at JD's tackle store where the big fancy private boats stop. Look to your right, you should now be a long cast from the slot where the ferry docks. Face the slot and cast your jig right at the ferry just after it reverses its engines. Hold on, when the jig makes the bottom it will be right in the mix. Start a slow bounce and pause retrieve you should get bit instantly. The ferry will sound his horn when he starts to back up. Quickly reel in and make one last long cast back into the spot when he has left.

Now spin 90 degrees to your left and fire your jig to the edge of the fuel dock letting it sink next to the dock and starting a slow bounce and pause retrieve making two or three casts. Now spin 90 degrees to your left and make a long cast and let your jig make it to the bottom. If you were on target your jig should be dropping into the least known rock pile in the bay. I located this one day with my fishfinder and it has never failed to reward me with a nice fish or two. OK, the ferry is back, now repeat the sequence until you are tired of catching fish.

The tide is going to be slack in about 30 minutes give or take depending on how long you stayed at the dock so its time to continue your northwesterly drift, fishing the remainder of the docks up to the point at Collins Isle. This is a great place to give the spinnerbait an other try or to throw a crankbait. This is the basic area where Paul Weintraub won his first Bay Bass Shootout.

OK we made it to our destination and the tide has gone slack. 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. I had a good time today, we caught some fish, learned a few secrets and got some exercise. I hope you enjoyed it