Atlantic Bonito

         Sarda sarda, commonly known as Atlantic Bonito, are closely related to the Tuna family. Bonito are a silver fish with a colorful steel blue black. The Skipjack Tuna looks almost identical to the Bonito, except for the black horizontal stripes on the Bonito (Atlantic Bonito-ESPN 1). Bonito average anywhere from 2 to 10 pounds in weight. The world record catch for Atlantic Bonito weighed 18 pounds and 4 ounces (Atlantic Bonito Fishing | Go FISHn Para. 3). 
     There are three methods used to catch Bonito. The first method, trolling, is used when you have not located the Bonito. The second and third methods, deep jigging, and top water casting, are used when you know where the Bonito are. When trolling for Bonito the best bait to use is large Clark Spoons. When deep water jigging move your boat over the area where the Bonito are located. Drop your line with lure into the water and wait 20 seconds. After you have waited 20 seconds, reel in the line as fast as you can. Top water casting is the same as deep jigging except you wait five seconds before you reel instead of twenty (How to Catch 1).
     Bonito are mainly found one or more miles out in the ocean. The distance you need to travel will depend on the water temperature. Bonito are known to like water that is 60 - 65 degrees in temperature. When fishing for Bonito, a key to locating them is birds. If there are many birds in the area, there is most likely Bonito as well (How to Catch 1). 
     Bonito are not long fish, but they are fat, meaning that there is plenty of meat on their bones. Here is a recipe courtesy of "LandBigFish.com":


Ingredients

• 1 large bonito fish
• 5-6 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• a pinch of pepper
• a pinch of oregano
• juice of one lemon

Directions

Clean the fish well and allow to drain. Using a small, sharp knife make a number of incisions (the size of button holes) along the back and the sides. Into each of these openings insert half a clove of garlic cut length ways, some oregano, very little pepper and a drop of olive oil.Once this has been done, score the sides of the fish, brush lightly with oil and lemon, sprinkle with more oregano, either plain or mixed with a little flour, and grill.

     

Works Cited

"Atlantic Bonito - ESPN." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=f_enc_AtlanticBonito>.

"Atlantic Bonito Fish Identification." LandBigFish - Fishing Tackle Martketplace. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=83>.

"Atlantic Bonito Fishing | GoFISHn." Fishing Reports, Fishing Maps, Pictures, Fishing Tips, and More on GoFISHn. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.gofishn.com/content/atlantic-bonito>.

Brand, By. "Grilled Bonito Recipe." LandBigFish - Fishing Tackle Martketplace. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.landbigfish.com/recipes/showcase.cfm?recipe=226>.

Brand. "Grilled Bonito Recipe." LandBigFish - Fishing Tackle Martketplace. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.landbigfish.com/recipes/showcase.cfm?recipe=226>.

"How to Catch." Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center: Ocean Isle Beach Charter Fishing in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.oifc.com/near_shore/near_shore.cfm#A45>.