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Bonito is in fact a grouping of fish species that are quite close to each other in classification and very popular in big game fishing. They include tuna, king mackerel and mackerel.
The fish known as bonito can be distinguished from other fish by its more elongated shape, but also by a mouth with a larger opening close to the waist.
This type of fish can be found just about everywhere around the globe, with details that help to differentiate them. For example, the fish that colonise the waters of the Mediterranean have round stripes that those of the Atlantic do not have.
Much appreciated by fishermen, bonito generally reach weights of 3 kg to 4 kg and lengths approaching one metre. Fish weighing up to 10 kg have been recorded, giving rise to surprises and powerful fights when these predators are encountered.
Where to fish for bonito?
As we mentioned in the introduction, this fish is found just about everywhere around the globe. Bonito can be found in the Atlantic, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific.
The composition of its body and bones enables it to withstand water depths of up to 50m. This makes it easy for the angler to target the areas to be prospected. In fact, between 0 and 50 m depth, you'll be lucky to find bonito hunting sardines or other small fish, rather like bluefin tuna.
Strictly speaking, bonitos do not have a preferred swimming depth; they swim according to the shoals of fish. She will follow her feeder if the latter stays at the depths she prefers. She may even reach the surface.
However, shore anglers will find it difficult to touch this type of fish. They tend to stay away from the edges and concentrate on areas where they are more comfortable moving around and feeding.
How to fish for bonito?
This playful fish can be caught using quite a variety of fishing techniques. From the oldest to the most modern, they are all highly effective and may correspond to different ways of fishing from a boat in general.
The lure, a sure bet
This is the technique that will certainly give you the best chance of catching fish quickly. The bonito is a particularly active fish on this type of technique. You can use a number of different lures to make them react and use a braid line for maximum thrills.
In terms of equipment, you can use a simple spinning rod to achieve good casting distances. If you're fishing from a boat, you'll be able to make do with rather shorter lines. As for the reel, it should have a fairly powerful drag to cope with the fairly powerful fight of this family of fish.
When it comes to lures, you'll need to go for the classics if you want to fish successfully. Small jigs are still a safe bet. Weighing from 10 to 45g, you'll have a range of jigs for these fish in your tackle boxes, which can also be used for tuna and many other predators. You can either cast it back or let it sink in the water column.
You can also use hard bait. Generally without a lip, these pencil baits provide very effective animations and always offer the possibility of doing other things with them. Our advice is to go for the Duo pressbait.
Finally, jerkminnow and the famous Artist should not be overlooked when looking for bonito. Mediterranean anglers don't go far wrong, always having these lures to hand.
Trolling, a technique for everyone
This is regularly the technique chosen by people who want to make the most of their holidays. These anglers will essentially need the right lures and the right speed to have a chance of catching this type of fish.
Here are some of the lures we like for these bonitos:
Broume, or fishing with bait and fish carts
This is clearly not the most popular technique and is not particularly suited to anglers looking for fish on the hunt. On the other hand, it is perfectly suited to yachtsmen who like to be at anchor and take advantage of the roll of the boat to stay calm.
Regular baiting with sardines or other species to gradually bring up the fish will make the bonito very active, as they come to feed on these easy-to-catch pieces of fish.
Be careful, however, about the sector in which you fish, otherwise you could easily find yourself up against a tuna that is sure to take your whole rig with it if you don't have the right equipment. In fact, if you're really interested in tuna fishing, our article Where to fish for tuna? How to fish for tuna should tell you more and help you make the right choices when buying your tackle.
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