The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Bonito Sarda lineolata
Bonito Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 16–26 in, 2–8 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 40 in and 24 lb |
| Lifespan | up to about 6 years |
| Range | Eastern Pacific from Baja north along California, with strays as far as Alaska; thickest off Southern California from early summer into fall. |
| Habitat | Open nearshore water over kelp lines, banks and hard bottom, and around surface bait balls. |
| Diet | Anchovies, sardines, small mackerel and squid run down in fast schools. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Bonito
- Steel-blue back marked with dark oblique stripes that slant up onto the BACK
- Silvery sides and belly without stripes
- Row of small separate finlets behind both the dorsal and anal fins
- Slender torpedo body, deeply forked tail with keels at the base
- Mouth with small but distinct conical teeth
Tell it apart: Bonito's slanting dark stripes run along the BACK (not the belly) and it has finlets, separating it from the stripeless, finlet-less Yellowtail.
Easily confused with: Yellowtail
Side by side: Bonito vs Yellowtail
How to Catch Bonito
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- A warm-water visitor peaking May through August — burn small chrome jigs and feathers fast, or fly-line anchovies behind a chum line.GearChrome casting jigsFeather jig fliesLight wire leader
When & Where Bonito Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Nearshore |
Bonito Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.