Sport Fishing Report: Grunion to Run Tonight

Strong, cold winds were the big story last weekend in Newport Harbor, making it tough for local sport fishing boats to set up on their favorite spots.

 J. D. at J.D.'s Big Game Tackle on Balboa Island said water temps dropped by 5 to 6 degrees during the wind.  With the wind gone, the water will warm back up, he said.

The winds died down Monday and Newport Landing ran two local trips aboard the Nautilus and the Patriots targeting local rockfish and big salmon. Forty-two anglers on board caught 50 rockfish, seven chili pepper rockfish, 16 salmon grouper, 25 sculpin and 20 sanddabs.

The Freelance out of Davey’s Locker headed to Catalina Island on Tuesday with 20 anglers and a bait tank full of anchovies. It returned with 62 rockfish, 30 red snapper, five calico bass and seven boccaccio.

Mark and I launched the kayak from the beach at the Newport Aquatic Center and drifted toward the Pacific Coast Highway bridge on the outgoing mid-morning tide.

We used plastic and natural bait but it was tough fishing. The wind came up at noon so we let it push up back to the aquatic center beach after getting one yellow fin croaker and sunburns.

The Department of Fish and Game website shows that there will be a grunion run tonight from 11:05 p.m to 1:55 a.m. It’s for observation only.

The Western Pride at Davey’s Locker is hosting a Hooter’s Girls half day fishing trip on Saturday.

 Get out and fish.