Anglers never intentionally target bonito; instead, they frequently catch them as a bycatch when trolling, jigging, or fishing for other species. Fantastic fun fish, bonito will frequently accept lures from the coast, especially in the winter when they move in close. To do this, book a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Gran Canaria and go bonito fishing. This was the first time I had ever gone open water fishing. I heartily urge everyone to try something new and embark on such a journey. Anglers love these fish because they are frequently found in large schools and will explode at anything they mistake for food. Although it’s not as typical to target bonito specifically, these fish fight aggressively and provide an exciting trip.
What is a bonito?
A member of the same family as skipjack tuna and mackerel, bonito has the same aerodynamic body, silver belly, and black back features. The bonito has stripes along its back, unlike the other species. Typically, bonitos reach a maximum length of 30 inches and a maximum weight of 12 pounds in the Atlantic Ocean, or up to 40 inches and a maximum weight of 25 pounds in the Pacific. Despite their size, these fish are perfect for fishermen using lighter tackle because of their manageable size.
Is bonito good to eat?
Compared to other species, bonitos have darker, more oily meat that tastes more fishy. Because of these meat-related characteristics, bonito is considered an acquired taste and is not as popular as other table cuisines. However, devoted seafood enthusiasts could find bonito to be rather tasty. Having said that, bonitos are safe to eat; the only way to find out if they’re right for you is to try them.
Appearance
The bonito fish, which has a strong and streamlined body, has a narrow, torpedo-shaped body with a sharp snout. Its iridescent scales, which range in color from blue-gray to green, glisten in the water, producing an eye-catching show. The Bonito is easily recognized due to its silver-white belly and a pattern of dark stripes on its back. Its strong tail and fins let it swim with agility, allowing it to quickly maneuver through ocean currents. If you look closely, you can see the unique conical teeth and forked tail—adaptations that are necessary for snagging prey in wide waters. All things considered, the bonito’s physical characteristics match its skill as a swift and dangerous predator in the maritime environment.
Distribution, Population, and Habitat
The four distinct species are dispersed around the world. Although most of the Pacific bonitos are found in warmer regions close to southern California and Mexico, they can be found between Chile and the Gulf of Alaska. Between Norway and South Africa are the habitats of Atlantic bonito fish. Additionally, the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea are home to them. The temperate regions close to Australia and New Zealand are home to Australian bonitos. The range of the Indo-Pacific Bonito reaches Peru and the Gulf of California. Except for Clipper ton, they are likewise located close to the Oceanic Islands. These fish select distinct locations for their living spaces. While some are found in regions with a greater open ocean, others are more common in kelp forests that are nearer the coast. Younger fish are typically more frequently found nearer the coast. They might swim into harbors or bays as well. Bigger, more mature bonitos have been known to dive as far as 300 feet.
Atlantic bonito facts
- Because it is a ram ventilator, the Atlantic bonito is unable to bite. Their meal must be consumed entirely. For this reason, they primarily consume smaller fish, such as sand lance, menhaden, and mackerels. Larger fish like tuna, marlin, and wahoo are the main predators of Atlantic bonito.
- Once more, not much is known about the Atlantic bonito species. We do not know how they reproduce, but we do know that the Atlantic bonito spawns primarily around June.
- Being a pelagic species, Atlantic bonito inhabits open water in the middle of the ocean. Neither the ocean’s surface nor its depths contain them. They will occasionally approach the coast and enter estuaries.
- In the US, Atlantic bonitos are not a significant commercial species. But you may fish for them recreationally.
- NOAA Fisheries is in charge of managing Atlantic bonito. They adhere to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas’ rules and regulations. The Atlantic bonito is found from Nova Scotia to Argentina in the western Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea are largely quiet.
What do they eat?
Smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans make up the majority of the food of carnivorous bonito fish. They hunt by swimming quickly and nimbly, which makes it easy for them to pursue schools of smaller fish. Due to their ferocious appetite, bonitos have a varied diet depending on the availability of prey in their natural habitat. The species frequently feeds opportunistically, focusing on whatever aquatic life is abundant in its immediate environment. The bonito’s keen teeth are essential for effectively snaring and devouring their prey. In general, the diet of bonitos is indicative of their position as high-energy predators in the marine food chain.
Reproduction and Lifespan
Bonito fish reproduce by a procedure called spawning, in which males concurrently release sperm to fertilize the eggs externally and females release eggs into open water. Usually, this happens in warm marine waters. The fertilized eggs hatch into larvae, which go through a number of changes before becoming adult bonitos. The species typically lives between 4 and 6 years, depending on predation and environmental factors. This has a rather short lifespan.
Bonitos are renowned for growing quickly and maturing sexually at a young age. However, their prodigious reproductive ability makes up for their short lifespan. The frequency and efficacy of spawning events have an impact on the longevity of bonito populations in many different types of marine environments. In their dynamic aquatic surroundings, bonitos serve as both prey and predators, making them an essential component of the marine food chain and contributing to the preservation of ecological equilibrium.
Range
All of the world’s oceans include bonitos, but they are most common in tropical and subtropical regions, with some temperate waters as well. The eastern and Pacific bonitos are frequently regarded as subspecies of one another rather than separate species, despite the fact that all members of the genus Sarda are remarkably similar to one another. What sets them apart is mainly their range. In a similar vein, bonitos from Australia and the Atlantic are distributed across the Indian and Atlantic oceans, respectively; however, it is easier to distinguish them morphologically from their Pacific counterparts.
More widely distributed, populations of dogtooth tuna can be found in most tropical waters, including the Red Sea. The plain bonito is found in the Eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Senegal, as well as the Mediterranean and Black Seas, with a distribution pattern more akin to that of the Atlantic bonito.
Diet
Similar to their near cousins, tuna and bonito are powerful, well-built hunters. When it is possible, they will ambush lone individuals as well as schools or shoals of prey, mostly smaller fish. They will also consume a wide range of other species, including cephalopods like squid and pelagic crustaceans. All bonito species are therefore vulnerable to predation by other marine predators. Despite their speed, they are not always able to outswim toothed whales like dolphins and orcas, as well as larger tuna and billfish. Sharks that hunt bonito include the great white shark, mako shark, blue shark, and others.
Health concerns
The little members of the tuna family, bonito, typically weigh between five and twelve pounds. Additionally, they rarely survive beyond eight years. They still consume a lot of other fish, though, as they are piscivorous. Thus, heed the health warnings for related species. The OEHHA website has nothing about bonito, but I did see that mackerel and barracuda were recommended as fish to eat no more than twice or once a week, respectively. The intake guidelines may be similar since the food and life histories of certain species are similar.
Where to catch Bonita
You can find Little Tunny, also known as Bonita, off Miami in depths of up to 300 feet and as shallow as 15 feet. They are the most prevalent species of tuna in the Atlantic, with a range that includes southern Africa, the Mediterranean, Brazil, and New England. They live at different depths in the water column and feed both on the surface and close to the sea floor, just like other tuna. They are significantly less migratory than the other tuna species, despite being classified as a highly migratory species due to their large range.
Nutritional Value
Since bonitos are bluefish, they have a higher fat content than lean fish. For every 100 grams of edible portion, there are roughly 6 grams of fat. Its fat is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in increasing blood fluidity and reducing blood clotting and thrombi formation while also lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Compared to other fish, bonito possesses an exceptional amount of vitamin B3 and B12, with the latter being more abundant than in many other fish and meats. These B-group vitamins often permit the use of foods for energy.
It also contains liposoluble vitamins, such as A and D, which mostly build up in their muscles and viscera, particularly the liver. In terms of minerals, bonito contains intriguing levels of iodine, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron.
A Good fish to eat
Yes, it is! Season the bonito with salt, pepper, and any other spices you would like to use for the fish before cooking it. I would offer garlic, paprika, thyme, and lemon. Try a miso rub for Asian-inspired flavors. Drizzle the fish with a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, and finely chopped parsley after it has been grilled. Additionally, you can use more aromatic herbs like dill or tarragon. Check out these fantastic tarragon alternatives if you don’t have any.
Fishing and cooking
There is commercial and recreational fishing for these fish. Some individuals capture tiny bonitos in order to utilize them as bait for bigger fish, such as mackerel. Furthermore, it’s common knowledge that practicing tackle fishing by landing a bonito is beneficial. Although more of these fish are present in the spring or summer, they can be captured throughout the year. Although these fish are occasionally used in cooking, a lot of individuals find that their flavor is excessively strong and that their texture is unpleasantly oily. A bonito’s meat is a deep crimson color.