Newport report 8/25
 

Thought I'd target rockfish since it's not something I've done. Launched at the CG station around 6 am. Got bait at the bait barge. The cattle boats were lined up getting theirs. Surprised he only charged me $10.00 since I've heard bait prices went way up even for us kayak guys.

Threw a small swimbait for fun around the barge before heading out. Small calicos on almost every cast along with the occasional macs/cudas.

Went out to the buoy past the jetty then angled a little to the north west till I reached 150+ ft. Went back and forth looking for structure, but I'm not real good at reading the botttom. Saw a little something on the graph so I dropped down a chovie and got slammed by my first ever ling cod. Caught a couple small reds as well. I reeled them in slowly knowing I'd probably be sending them back down again. After a couple hours and nothing else, headed in and tried for a hali off Corona. Got one on a chovie, but certainly not a keeper.

Headed in and threw some plastics for a few more calicos. Off the water by 12:00 as the wind started coming up. All fish released and swam away happy (even the reds).
Great day on the water.

(Sorry the pic orientation is all messed up. They look right on my computer but kept showing up the wrong way.)

Thanks for the report. I plan to fish Newport tomorrow but just stay inside the harbor. My highlight of the day may be where you began yours, just messing around the receiver, lol.

Good job on the catches! That fish gripper...I'm not a big fan. Reveals a past injury (not bleeding). This separation is not the norm... I'm thinking it'll be a greater challenge for this fish to put food into its stomach...but I'm no expert...:paddleersmilie:

Good report, thanks for the info. I went out the day before and fish the bait barge. Tons of bass (all 3 kinds), mackerel and cuda. Got one bonito as well. I was fly fishing but now I am tempted to try what you did.