NPH bait barge
 

Anyone know if the bait barge at Newport is up again?

Yes.

I was there Sat morning and it was there. Also, the Thunderbird has been running for awhile now and been getting their bait from NPH barge.

Does anyone know why they take it out and where they take it?

This is just my guess but maybe the fleet at Newport isn't large enough to support it year 'round? San Pedro bait operates it I believe. They also have the one up there but I think it operates all year. No idea where it physically goes.

They take it to San Pedro.

From what I understand they have a contract with the city and the city only allows them to have it there so many months out of the year. So they operate it there during the busiest fishing months.

Gotta keep the folks paying property taxes on their multi million dollar homes happy. Can't have a stinky barge messing up their view of all the yachts going in and out of the harbor.

EDIT: I could be completely wrong on all of that. It's just what I have heard. I do know for a fact Newport and wonky regulations go pretty much hand in hand.