I was fishing balboa island all weekend in between docks for spotties. Landed only 2 with 4 inch big hammers. I am picking up a lot of kelp and seaweed. Any suggestions on how to avoid this and areas around balboa to catch more fish? Thanks, Peter

There have been some really good posts on how to fish the bays as of late. I try to fish Newport/Balboa about 20 times a year whether by skiff or kayak. First off the pressure on the bay is getting incredible and often times I see unseasoned anglers depleting the Spottie stocks by killing everyting they catch. Frustrating to say the least. Every spottie and Calico needs to go back IMO. Secondly I prescribe to the Gardner methods of fishing the bays but on occasion live bait is a nice advantage. Normally I outfish my father 5 to 1 using plastics (AA 3" and 4", big hammer 3" swim baits and the AA curlytail 3" all colors but I have a few favorites.) Anyway two weeks ago Dad was flying lining the best 4" chovies I have ever seen out of one of those Davey's locker skiffs and getting a steady pick on all species. I was scratching a few out on the plastics but working really hard only to watch him get bit on every other bait. No dummy I am, so I switched to bait and we finished off with some decent numbers. It was by no means wide open but still fun. The water has warmed up and the kelp and eel grass is thick in there making it tough to keep a clean bait but just keep trying different methods and you'll get them. Try the skiff and the fly lined chovies if nothing else is working but normally if you can bounce a plastic right off the dock you should have no problem getting some fish. Also there is quite a lot of structure in that bay and when you find it make a note because we have spots that produce time after time. LOL

Please release everything in that overfished bay,

MediumTim