Fishing and sightseeing in and out of Newport Harbor is an excellent past time for boaters. The following is a short synopsis of fishing with information gathered from J.D.’s sport fishing website. He services the local tackle needs, fishing gear and apparel, and is located behind the Beek family’s fuel dock beside the auto ferry on Balboa Island.
Two Sundays ago, Bill on the “Agitator” caught a Marlin on the 267 Bank. Robe Bents, I assume son of Robert Bents who took over the Yachtsman’s Luncheon following the 30 year stint of my Dad, Pete, caught a 26.6 pound halibut fishing the Interclub Tournament between Balboa Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
They wound down their fishing followed with two more halibut, one sheephead and a whole bunch of sand dabs. This allowed them second place in the tournament. Kudos to the Bents family.
Last weekend was the annual Stan Miller Yachts Cabo, Hatteras and Viking Challenge Fish Tournament. This weekend is the 25th Annual and final Church Mouse Marlin Tournament, I believe out of Avalon. This is the beginning of several tournaments which for more than 100 years have featured Catalina.
We have several international fishing supply and apparel businesses with local beginnings out of Newport Harbor. I will feature some of them in future columns and will mention one now.
For many years I have seen ads prompting Ballyhood lures in almost all saltwater full service tackle stores. I dropped by their factory in Santa Ana recently and spent some fascinating time with owner Darrell Primrose. Darrell has been fishing six years longer than me out of Newport Harbor (he is that many years my senior).
I was shown some of his tackle, which we will use in our Mexico adventure with the FUBAR fleet this November. I learned that when he was 5 or 6, he would obtain bait with his Dad at Port Orange sport fishing landing owned by my Grandfather and run by my Dad in the 40s and 50s. Around 1959, my grandfather sold the property to Arnold Haskell, who built and started Ardell Yachts and the Stuft Shirt restaurant on Mariners Mile in Newport.
The tackle Darrell produces is shipped all over the world, and has been used to win scores of international fishing tournaments.
Like many marine businesses, it all started on Newport Harbor.
Sea Ya,
Skipper Steve
