Since the reports always seem to be a bit thin from the LA area I decided to give a report from my trip out to Newport Bay this Past weekend. I started off fishing the Coast Guard area, making some drifts between the tied up boats, using a red and black Kalin's grub. Before heading out to the spot I ended up having to talk to Fish and Game, luckily i was legal so i had no problems but the guy told me that fishing in the Harbor has been pretty slow due to the cold water in the bay. This wasn't good information to hear in the morning before my first cast, but man was he right. Back to the drift, the only real hit I got in that area was a fish that picked up the grub on the bottom. It was a nice fish, it felt like a toad spotted bay bass which tend to hang out in that area. After a quick fight the bass headed straight for a bouy line and wrapped me up. That sucked!!!! After a few more drifts and nothing, I ended up heading to the back of the bay towards Lido Island. Drifted back there but was only able to pick up 5 short halibuts and one small sand bass. During the trip i tried about every color, swimbait and retrieve imaginable. If you plan on going out there, focous your efforts on slow retrieves and deeper water. Heading to Norway this week to finish up my degree, but I will be back in So Cali in May. (Just in time for the summer action) I will post again when i get back.<P><BR>el pescador