Originally surveyed in the 1880’s, Newport Bay is a combination of two distinct bodies of water
Lower Newport Bay and Upper Newport Bay
The Lower Bay, referred to as the outer harbor, was formaly a coastal lagoon formed between 1824 and 1862 due to sand deposition from the Santa Ana River. The Upper Newport Bay is essentially a submerged river valley formed by a precurser to the Santa Ana River.
Today, to say that the lower bay is heavily urbanized would be an understatement to say the least. Over 70,000 people live within the 9,472 acres (14.8 square miles) of land area that surround the 600 acres (0.93 square miles) of the Lower Bay, that equates to 7.3 persons per acre.
Several species of marine mammals are common to the harbor and vicinity. They include the California sea lion, harbor seal, and several species of dolphins. Marine birds found in the harbor are primarily spring and fall migrants or winter residents.
Year-round residents include several species of gulls, the Western Grebe, Brandt’s and Double-Crested Cormorants. Grebes. Seasonal migrants include Surf Scooters, Red-Breasted Mergansers, and Red-Throated Loons which can stop in to forage in the calm, open subtidal waters of the harbor.
Other periodic inhabitants in Newport Harbor area are the California Brown Pelican, the California Least Tern, the American Peregrine Falcon, the Light Footed Clapper Rail, the Marbled Murrelet, the Western Snowy Plover, the Tidewater Goby, and the Pacific Pocket Mouse. Personally I have no idea what a Tidewater Goby is, but it sure sounds like some kinda twin tailed, go-to, hand-poured, powder-coated, sure-fire, super-scented bait to me.
Newport Harbor, California
No, not to figure out the fishing patterns, but to locate the launch ramp and strategically plan out my ingress and egress routes. Nothing sucks more than being lost amongst thousands of pissed-off morning comuters that have zero-tolerance for a lost fisherman and his boat doing four-point u-turns whilst trying to find a sign for the launch ramp.
As for Newport Harbor, the launch ramp is located at the Newport Dunes RV Park - 101 N. Bayside Dr. , Newport Beach, CA 92660. The Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has the only public launch ramp in all of Newport Harbor. Launch fees are seasonal - $10. gets you in on a winter weekday, $15. for weekends and holidays. Summer rates jump to $15. and $20. Ramp is a solid three holer, but it can shrink to two or even one hole on super low tides. Tons of parking and never seems to get too crowded, unless there is a wedding going on. Although I have launched there upwards of 15 times, I still do not know where the public restroom is, so you are on your own in that department. Personally, after the hour long coffee slurpin’ drive down from Burbank, I often seek refuge in the large flowery bush to the left of the walkway leading up to the Back Bay cafe... Speaking of the cafe, I understand it is quite good and they even do a nice Sunday brunch program. You can get further intel on the cafe, launch ramp and RV park at www.newportdunes.com or by calling (949) 729-1100.