Right now: 60 for spotted bay bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Spotted bay bass, hour by hour
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
60Mon
60
50
503 am
55
55
556 am
55
65
659 am
65
65
6512 pm
65
65
653 pm
65
65
656 pm
65
65
659 pm
65
65
65Tue
65
55
553 am
55
65
656 am
65
65
659 am
65
65
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now
Water
73°F
Spotted bay bass range 62–80°
Wind
5 mph
From the northwest
Light
Dark
Sunrise 7:05 am
Sky
Partly Cloudy
No rain expected
Air
67°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Rising
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
100% lit
Full
What’s biting
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.
Right in spotted bay bass's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 2–30 ft down.
Keep
14" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" total length (10" alternate length) minimum. 5/person/day in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass, with no more than 4 barred sand bass. Fillets at least 7½" with a 1" patch of skin.
Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside kelp bass's active range. Holds 5–100 ft down.
Keep
14" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" total length (10" alternate length) minimum. 5/person/day in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass, with no more than 4 barred sand bass. Fillets at least 7½" with a 1" patch of skin.
California halibut prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Above California halibut's active range (55–72°F) — fish move deep. Holds 4–60 ft down.
Keep
22" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. 22" total length minimum. 5/person/day south of Point Sur (Monterey County); 2/day north of it. Open year-round.
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
Fishing report
No current report covers these waters.
We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.
Newport Bay's harbor behind the Balboa Peninsula, with public docks, bayside beaches and the harbor-entrance jetties. Spotted bay bass along the docks and eelgrass, California halibut on the sandy channel edges, and calico (kelp) bass on the entrance jetties.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
Mon
3 am
6 am
9 am
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Tue
3 am
6 am
9 am
Newport Beach1 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the barCoastal Flood Warning
31Sit it out
Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)7 mi · CaliforniaBest today 12 pm–2 pm
56Marginal
Seal Beach15 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the barCoastal Flood Warning
31Sit it out
Doheny State Beach15 mi · CaliforniaBest today 4 am to tomorrow 9 am
82Worth the trip
Alamitos Bay (Long Beach)16 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tomorrow 12 pmCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
San Clemente State Beach22 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the barCoastal Flood Warning
31Sit it out
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Newport Harbor?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Newport Harbor you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Newport Harbor?
Newport Harbor is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Spotted Bay Bass, California Halibut, Kelp Bass. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Newport Harbor?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Newport Harbor against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Newport Harbor have?
Newport Harbor has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Newport Harbor?
state agency regulations apply at Newport Harbor. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Newport Harbor tidal water?
Yes. Newport Harbor sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.
