Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Camping in California: Malibu Creek State Park

Malibu Creek State Park & Campground



Malibu Creek State Park is over 8,000 acres of beautiful scenery that is truly spectacular.. There are 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands and chaparral-covered slopes. After a good rain, namesake Malibu Creek comes to life. The park is a famous filming spot seen in M*A*S*H, Planet of the Apes, and over 100 other Hollywood productions.


Malibu Creek slopes from west to east through the middle of the park. The creek was dammed in the early 1900s to form the seven-acre Century Lake. Numerous small seasonal creeks empty into Malibu Creek from the highlands.

What makes the park so great?  Dramatic, jagged peaks, stunning canyon vistas, oak woodlands, rolling hills of tallgrass, a large volcanic swimming hole, world class hiking and running trails, fishing, kayaking, biking and rock climbing and more!  

While visiting, you may get a glimpse of the abundant wildlife enjoying the habitat we strive to keep safe. Please join us in our efforts to preserve and protect this magnificent park.Here's what else you may find:

Reptiles & amphibians:  salamanders, newts, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes including the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Birds:  loons, boobies, cormorants, herons, egrets, vultures, geese, ducks, hawks, eagles, falcons, quails, terns, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, owls, ravens, larks, sparrows, cranes, thrush, bluebirds, wrens and swallows

Mammals:  bats, raccoons, skunks, badgers, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, mice, voles, rabbits and deer. We saw a lot of deer there on our trip. 

Campground: There are 63 campsites (tent and trailer campsites). Check-out time is noon. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Camp fires are permitted only in the metal fire rings provided. Wood may be used during low fire danger conditions, and charcoal during medium fire conditions. No fires are permitted when fire risk is high.
 

Want to make a reservation?

Reserve America


Newt's Surf Company Travel Guide
California Campsites
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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Camping In California: Doheny State Beach Campground

Doheny State Beach Campground 

Doheny is located in the city of Dana Point, California and is one of California's most popular state beaches and attracts almost one million visitors per year. Doheny has a day use surfing beach at its northern end and a five-acre lawn with picnic facilities and volleyball courts. 


The state beach is divided into three areas. The area north of the creek is reserved for day use, with a landscaped picnic area equipped with picnic tables, barbecues and re rings. Ample parking is available. Protected tide pools are located in the very north end of the beach. Visitors can observe a wide variety of coastal marine life. Please remember that the tide pools are protected, so do not touch or trample. The campground located south of the San Juan Creek has 118 developed family campsites and a developed group campsite. 

Doheny is a great family campground, perfect for the family camp trip in the summer. You can go surfing or learn how to surf (newtssurfschool.com), fishing, tide pools, volleyball, picnic tables, and much more.  

Reservation Tips
  • Park selections
  • Date you wish to start camping
  • Type and size of camping equipment
  • Number of people that wil occupy the campsite
  • Number of nights you wish to camp
  • Alternative park and camping date choices
  • Your phone number and area code
  • Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
  • Mailing address

How to Make a Reservation

Whether you are a first time camper or an experienced enthusiast, you’ll find that California State Parks offers quality camping facilities in beautiful surroundings. Most state park campgrounds are open year-round, and some offer discounts for off-season camping.
Reservations for California State Parks facilities are handled through Reserve America. Please consult that website for fee information and availability. Before you make a reservation, have the following information available. The reservation system allows campers to plan ahead and secure their campsites, thus reducing long waiting lines and turn-aways at park entrances.
Online: The link to Reserve America and the phone numbers that follow include all campgrounds that provide the convenience and service of reserving a campsite. Online reservation and other helpful information on camping is also available at CA State Parks.
By Phone: Call For Reservations at 
TEL: 1-800-444-PARK (7275) 
International Callers: TEL: 916-638-5883 
TDD: 1-800-274-7275

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Thursday, September 22, 2016

Travel to Big Bear City (Fishing Edition)

Fishing Big Bear Lake in Southern California 

The cool alpine lake is just a short drive from scorching deserts and inland valleys in Southern California . In fact, Big Bear Lake’s temperatures rarely exceed the 80’s during summertime, which makes it a pleasurable experience for anglers looking for refuge from the heat!
Let the rod and reel do all the work as you sip a cold beverage and wait for fish to nibble on the bait. Reel in the big one or catch some pan fish with the kids. Fishing in Big Bear Lake has become a family tradition where grandpa once caught his first fish. It's also a great getaway away with just the guys to see who can bring in the most fish. You can throw just about anything in your tackle box at the fish and they will bite!
The most popular species of fish found in Big Bear Lake is rainbow trout. It is a first-rate trout fishery lake because its depths allow rainbow trout to thrive, even in the heat of summer. One of the best ways to track down Big Bear’s healthy population of rainbow trout is down rigging deeper waters and trolling leadcore lines at three colors or more. The west end of the lake tends to see a majority of the action during the summer months. Shore anglers fishing near Big Bear Dam will have success with slip bobber setups with power bait or live bait 15 to 18 feet.

Summertime also generates action from a variety of other species, namely largemouth bass. The aggressive northern bass start to get hungry after their mid-summer spawn and will attack just about anything thrown in their direction. Crank baits such as, Rapala Husky Jerks, Luhr Jensen Mini Speed Traps, and plastics fished Carolina or Texas style near docks, rocks and weed beds get good results. Some of the hot spots for bass fishing are Eagle Point and Grout Bay.

Channel catfish are fished throughout the summer. These fish inhale stink baits, mackerel, shrimp or chicken livers, and are on the prowl for a good meal both day and night, so fishing is good all day long. Catfish are primarily found on the east end of the lake near Stanfield cutoff and the East Boat Public Launch Ramp. 

There are a variety of panfish in Big Bear Lake such as bluegill, pumpkinseed and crappie found in and around the south shore, especially at the marina docks. These tasty fish make great fishing for young anglers.

Newt's Surf Company Travel Blog
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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Travel & Fishing at Santa Catalina Island off the California Coast

Catalina Island’s many coves and reefs provide an amazing fishing habitat. Within the reefs there are school of bait fish like anchovies, sardine, and mackerel. The bait fish attract larger sport fish like White Sea Bass and Yellowtail. When the waters warm up you may even have a chance to catch Marlin, Bluefin Tuna, or Yellowfin Tuna.

Early fisherman at Catalina Island used heavy lines and could catch an abundant amount of Albacore which were considered inedible and were thrown to the seals. The tuna club was established by Charles Frederick Holder on Catalina Island in 1898. Holder was a respected angler from the east coast that traveled in search for large gamefish. Charles was the first to introduce rod and reel in big game fishing on Catalina Island. Rod and Reel game a fish more of a fighting chance making it more of a sport for some. Charles and his friends established the Tuna Club to promote sportsmanship and conservation on Catalina Island. In 1908 they built a clubhouse that created rules and regulations for fishing. It is one of the most prestigious sport fishing clubs in the world. In 1913, Catalina Island become incorporated as a resort community. Fishing became a popular activity for many visitors. 

Fishing in the Spring:  

Fishing off Catalina Island
Spring fishing at Catalina Island starts picking up on March 1st when Rock Fishing season opens. You can catch any of the fish below, but will range from 1-6lbs, Lingcod can get up to 15-20lbs and Halibut and White Sea Bass can get up to 50lbs.
Rockfish – Rockfish is a commonly used name for a number of species. They have a regulated fishery which begins March 1st though December 31st. 
Bocaccio – Also known as a Salmon Grouper. The Bocaccio’s main food source includes mackerel, anchovies, sardines, perch, squid, octopus, crab, and other small fish. You can usually find Boccaccio in deep rocky environments. Bocaccio are part of the rockfish family and is closed for fishing January 1st through March 1st. Bocaccio spawn between December and April. 
Whitefish – Whitefish can be caught from central California to Peru. They are found on sandy, muddy or rocky seafloors. You can catch from depths from 30 to 300 feet deep. The largest Whitefish caught is 13lbs, but the average size would be around 4 -5lbs.
Sanddabs – Sanddabs are part of the flounder family. They have both eyes on the left side of their head. They are found in deep waters on a sandy bottom.
Sargo – Sargo are found close to land and can be cost mostly in waters up to 40ft deep. You want to fish for rocky bottom to sandy floors. You can catch Sargo in the summer months and you can use clams, mussels, shrimp, or cut bait.
Blue Perch – You can catch perch in shallow waters up to80 feet deep. Perch like to feed on plants most anglers can catch perch using anchovies or striped squid.
Vermilion Rockfish – Also known as Red Snapper. Young Red Snapper primarily feed on shrimp -like organism, while adult red snapper feed on squid, octopus, and other rockfish. The spawn season is from December to March. Red Snapper are considered a rockfish and is closed to fishing from January 1st and opens March 1st. You can fish for Red Snapper on any rocky bottom deeper than 100ft.
Cabezon – Cabezon feed on crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and fish eggs. Cabezon inhabit the tops of rocky ledges. Cabezon fishing is closed from January 1st to March 1st.
Sheepshead – Sheepshead don’t make long sustained runs like yellowtail or other gamefish at Catalina Island do, but they use every ounce of their body to try and pull you down into the rocks where they can break you off. Sheepshead love feeding on hard -shelled animals. Most anglers prefer using shrimp as bait drifting over reefs using a sliding egg sinker in shallow water and a reverse dropper loop in deeper water.
Sculpin – Also known as a California Scorpionfish. The sculpin’s main food source includes crab, squid, octopus, shrimp, and other smaller fish. You can usually find sculpin in shallow rocky areas. There spawning season takes place from April through August. Sculpin have poisonous spines on the top of their body which causes severe pain at the wound. There are many treatments, but soaking it in hot water seems to be the most effective.
Calico Bass – Also known as kelp bass. Calico Bass live in kelp forest. They range from 1 -3lbs but can reach double digits. Fishing for calico bass can be frustrating at times. If you not paying attention they will swim back into the kelp and wrap your line up which makes it difficult to get them out. Most people fish 15 -30lbs test for calico bass. Calico bass feed on anchovies, sardines, squid, and other small bait fish. Most people will use a flyline or sliding egg sinker with an anchovy or sardine. Another technique is using a leadhead with a Squid
Sand Bass – Sand Bass range from 1 -3lbs but can reach double digits. Sand bass can be found in 60 -100ft of water along sandy bottoms. Most people use 15 -25lbs line, but when fishing in structure it is nice to have heavier line. The most commonly use bait is anchovies and sardines with a small sliding egg sinker or no weight at all. You can also you fresh dead squid on a dropper loop or a leadhead. 
Lingcod – Lingcod are extremely aggressive and predatory fish. The Lingcod habitat is a rocky bottom where there are massive boulders and cliffs with crevices. Lingcod lie in wait for their prey to swim by. Best technique for fishing lingcod would be fishing on the drift from the shallow water to deeper water to avoid snagging the bottom.
White Seabass – White Seabass can be found of the coast of Catalina Island around the squid nests. Best time to catch White Seabass is early morning. They can grow up to 60lbs, but the average is 20 -30lbs. 
Halibut – Halibut are a large -tooth flounder and typically feed towards shore. They range from 6 -50lbs. You can fish for halibut using anchovies, sardine, squid, and mackerel. Most halibut are caught in 10 -80ft of water.
Yellowtail – Spring yellowtail fishing usually begins in March at Catalina Island. ¾ day boat and overnight boats are able to target these fish during this time. Fishing in a warmer season Yellowtail like to feed on fin bait such as sardines, anchovies, and sometimes mackerel, but during cooler years you may need to use live squid to get the yellowtail to feed.

Fishing in the Summer:

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Summer fishing at Catalina Island can bring a lot of excitement for the day. You can catch a variety of fish from Bass to Yellowtail, Tuna, and Dorado. Most summer fishing is done of the surface using Irons, Flyline Live Bait, or Sliding Egg Sinkers. The first gamefish that starts biting is usually Yellowtail when the water gets around 65 degrees.
Yellowtail – Summer yellowtail is known for huge quantities of yellowtail being caught from Overnight trips to ¾ day trips and even on half days sometimes. During the months of June, July, and August you can catch yellowtail in a number of different area from Floating kelp paddies, to local islands, to coastal areas and reefs. You can catch yellowtail on live bait, artificial jigs, or Iron jigs. 
Bluefin Tuna – Bluefin Tuna are caught in the early months of summer usually starting in June off the coast of Catalina Island. Bluefin tuna are one of the most sought out gamefish there is. Bluefin Tuna can get over 100lbs, but the average you will see is 20 -50lbs. Bluefin tend to be a surface fish that tend to feed on live bait or jigs. You can also fish for tuna in waters deeper than 100ft using a dropper loop technique.
Yellowfin Tuna – Yellowfin Tuna are caught later in the summer in July and August off the coast of Catalina Island. They range from 8 -50lbs. Yellowfin Tuna can be found offshore of Catalina Island around the 14 mile bank. You can find them on meter marks or off of kelp patties. You can fish for yellowfin tuna with live bait or jigs.
Skipjack Tuna – Skipjack Tuna are caught usually mixed in with Yellowfin Tuna and range from about 5 -10lbs. 
Dorado – Dorado can be caught off the coast of Catalina Island in the late summer when the water temperature is the warmest. Dorado are known for their aerial acrobatics and their ability to change colors. You can see Dorado in a vibrant gold, yellows and greens flecked with blue. These colors changed on the fish’s mood. They tend to be yellow and green when they are exciting, but when they get onto the boat they quickly loose there color and revert back to their silver -grey color. 
Barracuda – Barracuda can be found in the shallow waters off of Catalina Island. You can find them in huge schools on the front side of Catalina Island. Barracuda are extremely aggressive fish and will bite almost anything. The two most efficient way are live bait and irons. When using live bait most people will recommend using a wire leader, so that the barracuda can’t bite through the line. Using just monofilament brings a better chance for the barracuda to bite through the line and break free. Fishing the Iron can be exhilarating as you are winding the iron in you may get a bite at anytime
Bonito – Bonito can be found in any warm water area. You can catch them off the pier of Catalina Island or anywhere off the coast. Bonito feed on small bait fish such as anchovies. 
Calico Bass – Calico Bass can be caught in the shallow waters around Catalina Island. Best method for catching Calico Bass is to use live bait while flylining.
Striped Marlin – Striped marlin is found in warm tropical waters. They can reach u to 420lbs and can get up to 13ft long. They feed during the day in the top 100 meters of the water column often near the surface. One of their chief prey is sardines.
Blue Marlin – On average blue marlin usually reach 11ft in length and weigh up to 200 -400lbs. Females can grow to be 3 times larger than males. Most Blue marlin are caught trolling of the coast of Catalina Island. When trolling you want your lure anywhere from 20ft to 100ft depending on the boat you are on. You also want to make sure you have a staggered pattern of fish so it looks like a school of fish behind your boat.

Fishing in the Winter: 

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Winter fishing around Catalina Island can be pretty tough at time. When fishing in the winter at Catalina Island you really need to get when the weather is perfect and you have the correct bait. Your best chance would be getting live squid from a bait barge or being at the Island in the middle of the night to make bait, but if you have the right bait you can make a day out there catching Calico Bass and Blue Perch and sometimes even Yellowtail depending on the water temperature. The average water temperature in the winter is 59-65 degrees. 
Calico Bass – Calico Bass can be caught off the coast of Catalina Island, but are usually not as active because of the cooler temperature.
Blue Perch – You can catch perch in shallow waters up to80 feet deep. Perch like to feed on plants most anglers can catch perch using anchovies or striped squid.

Locations:


Church Rock – Church rock is in an area known as the East End of Catalina Island and encompasses the area from the Southern California Edison power plant east of Avalon and to Catalina Island’s southeast point. Barracuda, White Seabass, and Yellowtail start showing in local waters here and many will stay for long periods. The underwater seamount off the rock face and the kelp bed make great areas for fishing.
Farnsworth Bank – Farnsworth Bank is a Marine protected area that prohibits the taking of all living marine resources except the recreational fishing for Bonito, White Seabass by spearfishing, Marlin, Tuna, and Dorado by rod and reel. The rocky reef, kelp forest, and emergent rock habitats support specials of invertebrates, plants, fish and marine mammals. 
14 Mile Bank – The 14 mile bank like its name is just 14 miles from the entrance of Newport Harbor. The 14 mile bank has been known to produce good amount of Marlin, as well as Tuna in the summer months.
For more fishing or travel information about Catalina Island, Check out our website:

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

SoCal Surf & Fishing Trip

Newt's Surf Company is proud to present our Epic Southern California Surf & Fishing Trip. 4 days and 3 nights of crazy adventures and even better stories. Surfing, fishing and loving everyday.

www.newtssurfco.com








Family Surf Trip

Are you looking for something to do with your family?

Why not disconnect from the world and go out somewhere to camp and explore.

Thats what Josh did with his two family members on there two day camping trip.

Surfing, fishing and good old fashioned tent camping.



Newt's Surf Company

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Thursday, June 2, 2016

California Coast Surf Trip

California Surf Trip 

Have you or any of your friends wanted to surf or explore the California coastline? We have planned a trip from San Diego all the way up to the California - Oregon Border. We have a list of campsites and some supplies you might need. So check out this incredible. 

Day 1: San Diego 
Campsite 1: South Carlsbad State Beach
This popular bluff-top campground is located 3 miles south of Carlsbad, 50 miles north of San Diego. South Carlsbad SB Campground, the large bluff-top campground, is very popular, especially in summer. Stairs lead from the campground to the beach. Offers swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing, picnicking, and a camping.

Day 2: San Clemente 
Campsite 2: San Clemente (SB Campground)
​​San Clemente State Beach is located at the south end of the city of San Clemente, California. The area around San Clemente is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish Colonial style architecture.

Day 3: Malibu 
Campsite 3: Leo Carrillo (SP)
Leo Carrillo State Park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing. The beach also has tidepools, coastal caves and reefs for exploring. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking with a lot oh hiking trails. Campsites have a fire ring and a picnic table. 

Day 4: Big Sur 
Campsite 4: Pfeiffer Big Sur SP Campground
On the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the peaks of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park tower high above the Big Sur River Gorge. This is a place where the land, the sea, and forests of giant redwoods adjoin in a rugged landscape jigsaw puzzle.In winter, temperatures range from the 20s to the 50s. Summer mornings bring fog, which usually burns off by midday.

Day 5: San Francisco 
Campsite 13: Half Moon Bay SB Campground 
Four miles of broad, sandy beaches stretch out to welcome visitors to Half Moon Bay. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, fishing and picnicking. The Francis Beach campground has 52 family sites, some suitable for tent camping, others for trailers or recreational vehicles.

Day 6: Redwood Country 
Campsite 14: Manchester SP Campground 
Manchester State Park features a beach, sand dunes, and flat grasslands, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean frontage. The beach line curves gently to form a "catch basin" for sea debris, which accounts for the volume of driftwood found here. Five miles of gentle, sandy beach stretches southward towards the Point Arena Lighthouse. One of the main attractions is the excellent steelhead fishing in the park’s two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek. 

Day 7: California - Oregon Border 
Campsite 17: Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP Campground 
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California's coast. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with huge ancient trees. In fact, it contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. No roads or trails mark "Jed Smith's" core--just pure, primeval majesty. 

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How to plan a camping/surf trip

How to Plan a Camping/Surf Trip


Throwing a sleeping bag, a tent and your surfboards into the back of a car and hitting the road without a care in the world is one of the greatest adventures. But putting a little time and energy into planning your camping/surf trip helps ensure a safe and exciting trip rather than a disaster. 5 easy and simple steps to help make your trip a one to remember. 
Step 1. Have a plan: Know where you want to go, how to get there and what will do there.
Planning this will help you out in the long run. Make a plan to what campsites (hotel, place you lay your head) you will be staying at, and call ahead to make a reservation and/or check availability. Make sure you have a map or GPS to help guide yourself to the desired location (always having a backup map of the area and know where the gas stations are at). Try to have an idea of what you want to do when you get to the desired location; whether thats exploring the local area, surfing, fishing, or just camping.
Step 2. Make a list: Know what you need from your trip and some extras. 
It helps to visualize a day at camp, hour-by-hour. Have an idea what you want to do when you get to the campsite. Organize by: kitchen, equipment, clothing, food, car essentials. Always plan for inclement weather. If you need help with your check list, check out Newt’s Surf Co. (www.newtssurfco.com/travel-guide). Always have a medical kit and double check your list!!!
Step 3. Plan out your meals: Make sure you have a plan for every meal. 
It is both a cost effective and smart to plan out ever meal for your trip; because you are human and have to eat. Just understand that the more you eat out somewhere the more money you will spend on the trip. If you're trying to keep the cost of the trip lower, bring food along with you on your trip (Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are a best friend to the road tripper). It is always recommended to to try the local hotspot restaurant or the local cuisine. 
Step 4. Have your transportation (Car, RV, etc.) ready to go for your trip.
If your planning to travel a great distance to your campsite or desire location; I would always recommend having that vehicle double check before you leave. Take it down to the local automotive shop, tell them of your desired plans and they will let you know their professional opinion. There is nothing worse than breaking down and having to cancel your trip. Once, they give the go ahead, start loading your vehicle with all the equipment (equipment, food and water on your checklist).
Step 5. Start your trip and bring a camera!
When you feel ready and prepared, go for it, head out for your trip. Always bring along a camera, to capture those special moments of the trip. Remember the trip is what you make it, if you make it a fun and exciting time then you have a great trip. Good luck and don't forget to share those pictures with your friends and family.

Newt's Surf Company