It’s a fishing day

Newport Harbor fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmSpotted bay bass

The bite peaks at 75. Water is 74°, close to the 71° spotted bay bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Coastal Flood Advisory until Tuesday 12 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 75 for spotted bay bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap 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.

  1. 751 pm
  2. 75
  3. 75
  4. 754 pm
  5. 65
  6. 65
  7. 657 pm
  8. 65
  9. 65
  10. 6510 pm
  11. 65
  12. 65Sun
  13. 651 am
  14. 65
  15. 65
  16. 654 am
  17. 65
  18. 65
  19. 657 am
  20. 65
  21. 65
  22. 6510 am
  23. 65
  24. 65
  25. 651 pm
  26. 65
  27. 65
  28. 654 pm
  29. 65
  30. 65
  31. 657 pm
  32. 65
  33. 65
  34. 6510 pm
  35. 65
  36. 65Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
74°F

Spotted bay bass range 62–80°

Wind
10 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:54 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
76°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Spotted Bay Bass

Spotted bay bass

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

75Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

74°
52°62–80° · ideal 71°90°

Why

Right in spotted bay bass's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on spotted bay bass

Kelp Bass

Kelp bass

Paralabrax clathratus

63MarginalNow until 5 pm

Water

74°
50°60–74° · ideal 67°84°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on kelp bass

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

21Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on California halibut

The water

  • Water temperature74°F
  • Seas2.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:54 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:16 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am

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.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

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.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Doheny State Beach15 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
76Worth the trip
Alamitos Bay (Long Beach)16 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
75Worth the trip

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.