Dana Point Launch SiteDana Point is an excellent fishery for halibut, calico bass and the occasional pelagic. Located in TV's own Orange County, California, this quiet little town hosts some great fishing holes. Driving Directions From the Los Angeles area, take the Interstate 5 Fwy. South and exit at Pacific Coast Highway. From Riverside/San Bernadino area, take the Interstate 91 to the 55 south proceeding to the 5 south exiting at Pacific Coast Highway. From the San Diego area, take the Interstate 5 Fwy. North exiting at Beach Cities off ramp. All these exits will take you directly into Dana Point. Take a left at the second signal, Dana Point Harbor Drive. The two launch locations are just off this street. Option number 1, the jetty launch, is best accessed from they pay parking lot located just to the south of the jetty. An iron ranger will take your money, bring $1 bills - it's all she takes. Option 2, Baby Beach, is further down the road, past the marina and just around a bend. It's noted by the white pergolas and picnic benches. Free parking here.
Parking To park in the lot at the Baby Beach is free and there are usually enough spaces, busy summer days can fill up this lot so if you're not launching in the morning you'll have a harder time finding parking as with anywhere. The pay lot behind the jetty is about $1 an hour and gives you a reasonably short pull to the shore - wheels are strongly recommended as you are pulling over some rocky terrain and may have to navigate debris washed up on shore in the corner where the beach and jetty meet.
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Fishing Description Inside the harbor can be fantastic halibut fishing as well as barracuda and bass. Bait is sold at the receivers for only $5 for kayakers or float tubers and they usually give you a second helping at not additional charge (dont' quote us on that!). An annual tournament held by Kayak Sport Fishing is a good way to get to know the area. Lots of prefishing goes on and the reports are always hot items on the message boards. Fishing to the south of the harbor can provide some excellent halibut days near the river mouth. Working in close is the key but is also dangerous when the swell is up - be careful and mind the ocean, it's not paying a bit of attention to you! Further south you'll find some boiler rocks and happy hunting grounds for calico bass. Rocky bottom and the occassional kelp stringers lend themselves to awesome habitat for the checkerboards. To the north is even more boilers and some serious kelp forests. Work these with plastics and jigs for some outstanding calico bass. Out into the deep waters can lead you to white sea bass and yellowtail. |
