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Light Tackle + Little Tunny = Exciting drag screaming action!
Noticing a fluctuation in Gulf Stream currents had pushed the blue
water closer than usual to shore, we deployed our baits and anxiously
anticipated the action about to ensue. First, three flat lines were
set, then a downrigger for good measure.
After the spread was complete, we sent out a few scoops of live bait as chum. As we settled in for the first signs of life to appear, the water erupted. Within three seconds every rod along the gunwale strained under a frenzied attack. Racing to their respective battle stations, each of my four anglers watched in amazement as line peeled off their reels at alarming rates. In a state of pandemonium, there were anglers everywhere. Running, stumbling and tripping over each other, the four warriors engaged in battle with one of South Florida’s most exciting light-tackle adversaries… the often unappreciated bonito.
Although considered a nuisance by those seeking kingfish, sailfish and blackfin tuna, these tough little members of the tuna family are actually prized by light-tackle enthusiasts from around the State. Known and respected for their speed, strength and stamina, bonito will put virtually any type of tackle to the test. However, to truly be appreciated, bonito should be targeted with hand guns rather than bazookas.
Far from picky, bonito will usually devour anything and everything in their paths. Good news for light-tackle sport fishermen looking for a break from the demands of intense preparations involved with catching some of Florida’s more finicky fin bearers. Add to all of this that bonito will often school heavily during the summer months and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect diversion from your ordinary offshore outing.
Unlike other members of the tuna family that seem to have specific depth requirements, bonito can be found and caught in a wide range of environments. Found along both the east and west coasts of Florida and throughout the Florida Keys, bonito are also quite prevalent in the near shore waters of the Carolinas and New England, making them one of the most prolific of the pelagic species. And although each area of the seaboard seems to have a different term of endearment for bonito, these football-sized fish have earned the respect of everyone who has ever caught one.
In Florida, bonito, commonly referred to as little tunny, can be found anytime of year. During the winter and spring, aggressive individuals crash flat lined baits intended for sails, kings, dolphin, and blackfins. Most commonly encountered in 60 to 200 feet of water, these hard-fighting fish will often confuse even the most seasoned veteran when targeting larger game fish species. Early summer finds schools of these ferocious feeding machines marauding pods of bait fish on near shore reefs and wrecks. In fact it is not uncommon to catch bonito in as little as 15 feet of water during the months of May and June. By late summer, schools tend to thin out a bit. However, you’re never more than a fish or two away from doing battle with a bulky bonito in South Florida.
Perhaps the best thing about bonito is the variety of techniques with which they can be targeted. On days blessed with moderate winds and good current, drifting with live baits is an ideal way to locate groups or individuals prowling the feeding grounds in search of prey. On an easterly wind, start your drift in 300 feet. Set several flat lines and one downrigger or break away rig. Drift coastward until you reach 50 or 60 feet. If you were unsuccessful, move about a mile north or south and make another drift. If there is enough wind, add a kite to your spread on the next pass. Conversely, if westerly breezes prevail, start your drift closer to shore and work your way toward deeper water.
For those who prefer to fish at anchor, pick a depth in the 60 to 200 foot range. Set your flat lines, your kite and at least one downrigger or deep bait. Get a steady chum slick going and bring the fish to you. This is an excellent opportunity to downsize your tackle and cast to bonito feeding aggressively near the boat.
Be careful not to go too light though. A 15-pound tunny will spool a small spinning reel on its first run.
If you prefer to cast artificial lures, fishing at anchor is usually your best bet. Chumming these fish into casting range is the key to success when not chasing large actively feeding schools. As I mentioned before, bonito are not picky feeders. Bucktails, spoons, plugs, flies and a variety of soft-plastics will usually do the trick. White and/or chartreuse are generally most effective, but be as creative as you’d like. You may develop a new pattern or two.
Rigging to catch bonito is really quite simple. The most important thing to remember is to make sure your reels are loaded to capacity with line.
The basic bonito live bait rig is as follows:
Create a double line of 12 to 18-inches with either a Bimini Twist or Spider Hitch
Tie a 12-ft. length of 30 to 50lb. mono to the double line with an Albright Special or No Name knot.
Then tie a 4/0 to 7/0 Eagle Claw hook to the other end of the mono leader using an Improved Clinch or loop knot.
If you plan to target your little tunny with artificials, ½ to one-ounce jig heads coupled with bright-colored 5-inch jerkbaits, mullet bodies or boot-tail grubs make excellent combinations for the high-speed retrieves necessary to entice these fast moving feeders. When constructing a jig, be sure to align the tail properly as misaligned jigs will not track straight on the retrieve. To alleviate this problem, many manufacturers make pre-assembled or one-piece soft-plastic jigs that can be tied directly to your leader in one simple step. Bucktail jigs also work well and tend to be a bit more durable than soft-plastics. As mentioned before, white, chartreuse and black, or a combination thereof, work best.
To get the most enjoyment out of catching little tunny, you’ll want to use light tackle. Heavy boat rods, 6/0 reels and 60lb. main lines are not the way to go. By light tackle, I mean 6, 8, 10, 12, and at the high end, 20lb. test running lines are ideal. Remember, lighter lines leave less margin for error, but will add a new challenge, teach you patience, and improve your overall angling skills.
With light tackle, there are a two things that are a must about your reels. While I prefer Shakespeare/Pflueger, name brand is a personal choice, but smooth drags and spools with large line capacities are a must. Make sure your line is in good shape and free of frays and kinks, especially when using monofilament running lines.
When fishing with braided lines, 10, 15 and 20lb. test medium-sized spinners will definitely do the trick. While monofilament running lines require a bit more finesse, the strength of braided lines allow for faster catches and better releases.
Rod selection can range from backcountry tackle to light sailfish spinners, although I always lean toward the smaller stuff. As important as a quality reel is to your light-tackle tunny success, so too is your rod. Fast action 7-foot spinning rods in the 8-17lb. class are best suited for this application. These rods allow you to make long, accurate casts with a variety of natural baits and lures while still providing the backbone you’ll need to put the screws to a fish when you get it by the boat.
If you prefer live baits, you’ll want a healthy supply of them in your livewell when heading out to target these little speedsters. Pilchards and herring are ideal, both as chum and as live baits. The more bait you have, the more chumming you’ll be able to do. Thus, you will be able to attract and hold more fish near the boat once you’ve located them, or should I say when they locate you. There will be little doubt when bonito invade your slick. Heart-stopping surface explosions and slashing silver-sided blurs streaking through the water are dead giveaways that they’ve honed in on the source of the easy meals. With any luck, they’ll find the baits on your lines and the mayhem will ensue. Also, don’t be surprised if one of the fish you hook up turns out to be a prized blackfin tuna. The two often travel together. In fact, when bonito are in the area feeding near the surface, you are far more likely to catch a blackfin tuna, especially deeper in the water column.
To increase your chances of landing an unexpected blackfin, be sure the rod on the downrigger is a bit stouter. Seven-foot med-heavy rods with 20lb. running lines and 50lb. mono leader should do the trick.
For those who don’t want to bother with catching live baits, dead baits will usually get the results you’re looking for. Although blackfins are far pickier than their cousins when it comes to eating dead baits, a ballyhoo or sardine drifted into the slick will catch a mess of bonito anytime. Chunks of dead bait and glass minnows are also ideal additives to your chum slick when targeting bonito. Periodically toss them off the transom to sustain a bite or speed things up during a lull in the action.
Once you’ve raised the fish, casting your live baits will add an element of sport to the technique. While flat lines allow anglers to fish multiple lines simultaneously while leaving their hands free to do the work of maintaining the chum slick, anyone who has ever caught a bonito knows that there are few fish whose initial surge matches the raw power and speed of this muscle bound miniature tuna.
Having the rod in your hand when one of these speedsters first gets its mouth around your bait is truly exhilarating. Cast your bait to the frenzy, close the bail and hang on!
When throwing artificials into a pod of feeding bonito your retrieve should be as follows… Fast! Get the lure into the pod and reel like mad. Jigging motions are secondary. Whether fishing a bucktail, metal, or soft-plastic, keep the rod tip down and reel like it’s the end of your cast rather than the beginning. If you don’t get a strike immediately, give the tip of the rod a few fast, erratic twitches and continue reeling. You’re sure to hook up!
It’s easy to see that whether you use live or dead bait, artificial lures or flies, you can find all the action you want this summer with one of my favorite diversions, little tunny. So, leave the big stuff at the dock or stop at a reef or wreck on the way in at the end of the day. Either way, in my book finding a school of little tunny to tangle with is the perfect start, middle or ending to any fishing trip!
Bonito recap:
AKA:
Little Tunny
False Albacore
Little Tuna
Description:
Streamlined football shape with dark wavy lines on back and distinct black spots around pectoral fins. Bluish/silvery back with silvery belly.
Size:
Common from one to 15 pounds
Small bonito often referred to as bullets.
Florida State Record 27 pounds
World Record 35 pounds
Food Value:
Extremely poor table fare
An excellent baitfish
Tackle & Baits:
Schools can often be approached and cast to with live baits, jigs, spoons, and small plugs. Bonito can be selective so experiment with various offerings and retrieves. Also an excellent target for fly fishermen. Trollers often catch bonito on everything from rigged ballyhoo to small feathers and brightly colored jet heads.
Bio: Capt. Dave Kostyo specializes in live bait fishing for all of southeast Florida’s game fish species. He is recognized around the State as one of the leading sailfish and tarpon producers. Currently, Captain Kostyo runs the Knot Nancy, a custom outfitted 28’ Whitewater powered by a pair of dependable 200 horse Yamaha outboards. Capt Dave has over 25 years of experience fishing South Florida waters and has achieved a long list of tournament accomplishments.
On Knot Nancy, everyone is welcomed. Capt Dave prides himself on catering to anglers of all skill levels and all ages, male or female. With Capt Dave, charter times are also flexible. Just let him know your exact needs and he will do his best to accommodate them. For a highly recommended trip with a very friendly and knowledgeable captain, regardless if you’re after snapper or swordfish, Dave is your man and Knot Nancy is your boat!
Capt Dave Kostyo can be reached by calling 305-620-5896 or by visiting www.KnotNancy.com
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