Bullet Tuna Show Up on the Redondo Special – El Niño Delivers Another Surprise
This afternoon the Redondo Special half-day boat put 12 bullet tuna on the deck.
That’s not something you hear every day out of Redondo Beach. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that many bullet tuna come across a local half-day boat. The last time numbers like this showed up with any consistency was during the previous strong El Niño years.
Right now the warm water is doing exactly what we hoped it would — pushing more tropical and subtropical species into our backyard.
What Exactly Is a Bullet Tuna?
Bullet tuna (scientific name Auxis rochei, and in the Eastern Pacific often referred to as the subspecies Auxis rochei eudorax) are one of the smallest members of the true tuna family. Most of the ones we see run 12–16 inches and weigh under a couple of pounds, though they can reach about 20 inches and just under 4 pounds in rare cases.
They have that classic tuna look — streamlined body, dark blue-black back with those distinctive zigzag or vertical markings, and a bright silver belly. They’re built for speed and travel in tight schools, feeding on small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Why This Catch Matters
Bullet tuna are not “rare” worldwide — they’re found in warm waters all over the globe. But here in Southern California, especially on the half-day boats working close to the beach, they are uncommon outside of strong warm-water years.
When the Redondo Special starts putting a dozen of them on the boat in a single afternoon, it’s a clear signal that the 2026 El Niño is fully dialed in. Warm water is moving the bait, and the bait is moving the fish. We’re already seeing yellowtail, bonito, and even the occasional dorado closer to home than usual. The bullet tuna are just the latest confirmation that this summer is shaping up to be special.
These little rockets also play an important role in the food chain. Bigger predators (yellowtail, larger tuna, billfish) love to eat them, so when the bullets show up in numbers, it often means the bigger game is not far behind.
A Few Fun Facts
• They’re sometimes called “bullet mackerel” because of their shape and speed.
• They school tightly and can mix with frigate mackerel, making identification a little tricky at first glance.
• Even though they’re small, they fight way above their weight class — pure tuna energy in a compact package.
• In other parts of the world they’re a valued food fish; here they’re more of a pleasant surprise and a sign of changing conditions.
I’m genuinely excited every time something different shows up on our local boats. It keeps the fishing interesting and reminds us why we love this coast so much.
Big shout-out to the crew and passengers on the Redondo Special today — 12 bullet tuna on a half-day is a story worth telling.
Keep checking http://friedmanadventures.com for the latest Captain’s audios, landing and boat counts, bait reports, and all the other updates. The ocean is talking right now… we just have to listen.
Tight lines,
Phil
Friedman Adventures