Newport Pier... when I started.

[Ken Jones]

Although the first saltwater pier I fished in California was the Crystal Pier, where I really learned to pier fish was at the Newport Pier from 1962 to 1963. One of my first jobs was at the Coffee Haven Cafe at the foot of the pier and I would go fishing before or after work many, many days. I watched the regulars who knew what they were doing and lo and behold I eventually learned a little myself and became a pretty fair pier angler. Ran across this postcard that shows the pier in those days, No railings but who needed them?

 

[MisterT]

Wow! People back in the day were really into fishing.

 

[moonshine]

Good memories. And look at all that open land in the background.

 

[dblsmk]

I remember those years. Spent a lot of time there. The second white hat on the left almost looks like ol' Sculpin Shorty.

 

[Ken Jones]

Maybe.

 

[Angler67]

Newport was my teething ground too but in the 80's before the rails came up. The Halibut ran HUGE mid-pier on live anchovies from the pier bait tank , the calicos plentiful from between the pilings from the under pier platform, the mackerel ran 1-2 lbs and the smallest Bonito were 3lbs ... I can just imagine what it was like in the 60's

 

[Ken Jones]

Some good days and some bad days but definitly more bonito and they ran to a good size. Lots of halibut too which I think in parrt was due to the live anchovies abailable at the bait shop.