51 Big Yellowtail on the Thunderbird Despite the Bait Crisis

Matt Mantz just got back from a 1.5-day trip on the Thunderbird out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach, and they put together a really solid score — 51 nice big yellowtail — even with the ongoing bait headaches that have defined this entire 2026 El Niño season.

Live bait has been tough to come by all year and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better anytime soon. Once they ran out, the crew had to get creative. The yellowtail still cooperated and ate dead sardines, box-frozen squid, and cut bonito chunks. That’s pretty wild when you think about how selective yellowtail can be. Discriminating fish like that eating freezer bait and bonito chunks tells you just how hungry and concentrated these fish are right now.

They also picked up one bluefin, one yellowfin, and one skipjack on the troll for good measure.

All the action came during daylight hours, roughly 6 a.m. until about noon, on Tanner Bank. The techniques that worked were classic: dropper loop, sliding egg sinker, sniper jigs, and yo-yo jigs.

Big shout-out to the entire crew on the Thunderbird for grinding and making it an epic trip under less-than-ideal bait conditions. These guys know how to get it done.

The yellowtail bite is still very much alive out there if you’re willing to adapt.

For the latest reports, captain’s audios, landing counts, and more, check http://friedmanadventures.com.

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