Skip to main content

Bonito

Bonito

The Bonito

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.

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

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.

Recommended


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.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

How to Buy and Rig a River Fishing Kayak

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Power or Paddle? Bonafide PWR129

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

It's a Skiff, It's a Kayak: Bonafide SKF117

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Hobie Mirage Lynx to the Next Level

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Hobie Mirage iTrek 9 Ultralight Packed with Features

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Extend Your Range in the Salt Marsh

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Florida's Capital Fishing

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 FULLY RIGGED Fishing Machine

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Mounting Forward-Facing Sonar on A Kayak: Mounts, Scanning Applications and More!

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

On The Water with Old Town: Bass Fishing at PRIVATE GEORGIA LAKE

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

DECKED-OUT Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Complete WALK-THROUGH

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in b...
Videos

Dreambuild: Old Town ePDL Gets Rigged to the Hilt

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Florida Sportsman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use