Awesome Day in Newport
 

Went out of newport today in the hunt for red snapper, and boy did I find them. Launched at around 745, water was super glassy plus the air temp was approaching mid 60s. It was already turning out to be a great day just because of the awesome weather. Paddled out to my first spot, dropped down bait at around 815 for nada. Paddled a little deeper for only a small rockfish. Just kinda floated around a bit looking for schools on my ff, and at this one spot I noticed a little bit something on the ff. Dropped down, only got another small rockfish, but now I just let it sit down there as I pulled out my other setup which was loaded up with 50# braid. I dropped down some squid with that setup, right as I hit the bottom, BAM!, I hook up. I pull up a quality red. Drop down again and I get another good red. For 20 min at this one spot, every drop I was getting good reds. Then I drifted off of it, so that was the end of that. Couldn't really find that honey hole again, so I called it a day at around 11. Kept 6 reds and a chucklehead. The crowd was basically nonexistent out there. It was me, another kayaker who left at around 10 whom I didnt see get anything, and there was a private boater who stayed a little longer than myself. Enjoy the pictures. Good luck and it looks like I'm having plenty of tacos tonight.

Tight lines everyone.

I love catching and eating Reds...good job!

Awesome
 

Wish I could have met you out there, gonna try and go on out tomorrow. Hope I have half your luck! ;-)

Hey I think I talked to you as you were heading in. I was in the yellow pro angler. Man I wish we had half the luck you head, only one short calico all day.

Way to go!

Very cool! :cheers1:
Stoked that rockfish season is finally open.
I took my dad out to LJ rockfishing yeaterday, mid day retiree shift 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. We managed a dozen, but only one red.

Great Catch!

from the photos, it look like you paddle way out there...How far out did you go to catch those?

Its really not as far as you might think. Its around a 30-40 min paddle from where I launch, which is right inside the harbor. I'd say its around 3/4 of a mile out there.

nice going out there. by any chance, is this the matt that i met with the yellow OK scrambler xt?

that looks awesome. Nice catching!

Mind if I ask you, where approximately you launch? I know of a spot on Lido island, but sometimes I worry I'm going to get hassled about launching in a private community. I unload and launch as fast as I can.. I've also heard people talk about somewhere, like "J street"? or something like that? A letter..

Ok.. thanks. :cheers1:

Go down Balboa just past "M" Street, it will be on your left.
You can try Googling "Kid Beach, Newport Beach, CA."

You can launch at the Coast Guard station as well. It's a small parking lot, but I'd like to think the coast guard being there will deter anyone from breaking into the cars.

The end of H street has a public access as well.

I actually launch at an area thats closer than what everyone else has said. On the Corona Del Mar side of the bay, there is a little beach at the end of a street called Cove Street. Only issue is that there is a pretty steep hill to get down there, but otherwise its a pretty prime launching area. All the neighbors are pretty cool as long as you are respectful.

Nice catch-thanks for sharing the cool pics.