How to catch Pacific bonito

Pacific bonito feed in 60–74°F water and bite best at 64–70°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 2 waters.

20 pts · trophy at 26"Feeds 60–74°FBest 64–70°FIn season nowArtificial reefFishing pierMarker / buoyBeach / surfChannel edge

About

A small, striped tuna-cousin that boils on the bait off the Southern California harbors and breakwaters all summer — great fun on light gear and good bait.

How to fish it

Throw small iron into the boils off the harbor mouths and breakwaters; troll a feather on the way to the kelp.

What it eats

small chrome jigssabikis and featherslive anchovy

Live bait for it

Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.

Sardines (Pacific)Collar- or nose-hooked on a 1/0 to 3/0 hook and fly-lined for yellowtail, white seabass and calico bass; a sinker a few feet up to get it under the bait ball.

What to fish it with

the sizes that fish it

Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon

Hook#1–4/0

Jig head1/8–1/2 oz

Braid10–30 lb

The rule

not confirmed here

Rules differ by state — check CDFW before you keep one.

The current rule →

Where it is, month by month

PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving

Pacific

Southern California Bight

Central Coast & San Francisco Bay

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