The Bonito
March 11, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Editor
The Little Tunny (Bonito) , Euthynnus alletteratus
Wavy lines on back and spots around pectoral fin make this one easy to identify—but it is well known anyway to nearly every angler who ventures very far from shore.
DESCRIPTION
Wavy lines on back and spots around pectoral fin make this one easy to identify—but it is well known anyway to nearly every angler who ventures very far from shore.
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SIZE
Common anywhere from a couple of pounds to 15 pounds; exceeds 30 pounds. World record 35 pounds, 2 ounces; Florida record 27 pounds.
FOOD VALUE
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Not highly valued in Florida, but very good when lighter meat is separated from the darker.
GAME QUALITIES
Outstanding battler on light tackle.
TACKLE AND BAITS
Schools can often be approached and cast to with jigs, spoons and small plugs.They can be moody and selective, however, so you may have to try various baits and retrieves. Also a good fish for fly casters—with same advice. Often caught from piers on the Atlantic Coast and Panhandle, usually with tackle of surf dimensions.Trollers take them on everything from offshore lures and rigged Ballyhoo or Cigar Minnows to small feathers.
FISHING SYSTEMS
Drifting; Trolling.
OTHER NAMES
Blue Bonito False Albacore Little Tuna
RANGE
All Florida coasts, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT
A roamer, from close ashore to the deep sea.
AnnMarie's Bonito AnnMarie Antonevich caught this sweet bonito fishing off of Cocoa Beach on a spoon.
Bonito Game Crazy! Intern Blake Bramblett with a couple Bonito caught trolling near seagrass beds offshore of Stuart.
Port Everglades Bonito Just offshore near the port Everglades inlet. They were hitting on our way out of the port just past the second red channel marker buoy. Hit on a simple lure of basically just a pink skirt and hook. I think they were Bonita's but wasn't exactly sure. Caught 4 total. Fun day!!
Bonito Florida Sportsman forum member Morocco madness used a spoon to fool these bonito
Bridge Bonito This angler fished the Skyway Bridge to catch this bonito on a spoon.
Stuart Bonito Florida Sportsman forum member Eagle caught this bonito in 125' of water off the St. Lucie Inlet.
Light Tackle Bonito Florida Sportsman forum member Ripnlips fished out of Crystal River to catch this bonito on light tackle.
Captiva Island Bonito Florida Sportsman subscriber, Erika Almond, caught this bonito in Captiva Island.
Bonito Letdown Nick Bellomy caught this bonito with his dad, hoping that it was actually a dolphin.
Stuart Bonito Florida Sportsman member fishinbuddies posted this bonito, caught off Stuart.
Great Looking Bonito Not all tunas taste good. This bonito still put up a good fight.
Bonito Young man holds up a little tunny, which goes by the common name bonito in Florida waters.
