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Fishing for Bonito and False
Albacore
Bill Cottle, July 2003
Bonito (Sarda sarda) and false albacore (Euthymus alletteratus),
or "funny fish" as Capt. Dave Peros calls them, are exciting
fish for the light tackle angler to target. My friend Bill
Pupecki says that catching these fish is "the most fun you can
have with your clothes on." These smaller members of the tuna
family show no mercy on the angler. Burnt-out drags, snapped
lines, bruised knuckles and swollen hands can result from combat
with these worthy opponents. These fish are accessible from boat
and occasionally the shore. The focus of what follows is mostly
on shore angling with a fly rod, although some mention of
angling from a boat is also discussed.
As members of the tuna family, both bonito and albies share
common characteristics. They lack swim bladders enabling, them
to run the full range of the water column. They are
super-streamlined with torpedo-shaped bodies and pectoral fins
that can recess into slots in their bodies. Their skin is smooth
to minimize drag. The small sickle-shaped tail can cycle thirty
times per second. Like a smaller propeller on a boat, this
design enhances speed. These fish are capable of maintaining a
body temperature higher than the water surrounding them. Since
warm muscles can contract faster than cold muscles this is an
advantage to these fish and, boy, do these guys have muscles!
About 75% of their body weight is muscle, as opposed to about
40% of body weight for muscle in other fishes. Tunas have the
highest gill surface area of the fishes. They swim with their
mouths open to keep water cycling over their gills. This enables
them to oxygenate their bodies very well. They are always moving
which acts like a supercharger to get oxygen into the body. All
this streamlining, advanced body design, and high horsepower
yields a fish machine capable of speeds to 40mph! Yes, that IS
faster than a bonefish.
Despite these commonalities, there are distinct differences
between bonito and false albacore. Bonito are generally
smaller than albies. Five to six pounds are typical weights for
these fish in this area. A 7-pound fish earns a Governor's Pin
in the state derby. The state record is a 12-pound, 7-ounce
fish. The world record is 17 pounds, 5 ounces caught on 30-pound
test line in the Azores. The largest bonito on a fly was 12
pounds, 5 ounces taken from the Vineyard. The 16-pound tippet
record is 7 pounds 4 ounces, taken on a 15-pound test tippet.
This fish was not submitted to IGFA for consideration because
the angler had no clue as to various IGFA records. Perhaps this
sad tale will encourage you to peruse the IGFA records for
species you target. It would be great to have some world record
fish landed by Salties. Bonito have a series of dark horizontal
lines on the upper part of their bodies. The back is
greenish-blue with a silver to white underside. Bonito are more
tolerant to cooler water temperatures than albies. Bonito
usually arrive in this area by mid-July and leave when the
albies arrive in early September. Another run with larger fish
may take place after the albies leave in early October. Bonito
have large pointed teeth, but they seldom bite off the fly.
Bonito make fine table fare if cared for when caught.
False albacore range from Florida to the South Cape. They are
generally larger than bonito. Seven to nine pounds are typical
of fish caught in this area. A ten-pound albie earns a
Governor's Pin. Larger fish are caught to the south. Most fly
rod record fish were caught in Florida. The largest fly rod
albie at nineteen pounds, five ounces was taken in North
Carolina.
Equipment for taking these fish needs to be decent. A
nine-weight fly rod suits me fine, although some would recommend
a ten weight, particularly if fishing from a boat. The reel
needs to have a good drag system and should hold at least 200
yards of backing. These fish can peel off 100 yards of backing
in under eight seconds! Get your hands away from the reel handle
fast or you risk bruised knuckles! An anti-reverse reel might
not be a bad idea. A large arbor reel could be helpful to reduce
slack when the fish turns toward the angler. Many anglers favor
a clear intermediate line with a nine foot or longer leader with
fluorocarbon tippet material. In deeper water, with a strong
current, a 350-grain shooting head has worked well. Small white
flies seem to work best for albies in the writer's experience.
Bonito may take a wider range of fly styles and sizes. Although
much is said about these fish being leader shy, I have caught
many bonito on 4- ounce jigs complete with pork rind and a 30
inch heavy wire leader. Albies are said to be partial to small
white or silver baits, yet a 15-pound albie was taken on a big
surface plug last August before my eyes.
Techniques may vary from the "run and gun" approach of many
boating anglers, to shore anglers staying in one spot and
casting only to sighted fish. From a boat, patience sometimes
pays off. Staying in one spot may get you another shot at some
fish as they recycle through an area. It is tempting to cast to
these speed demons as they are greyhounding through the water,
scattering baitfish before them. Nothing is wrong with doing
this. However, the writer has taken fully 90% of his fish by
blind casting. When sight-fishing, these fish are so fast that
often by the time your fly hits the water where you saw them,
they are gone! The minute you see these fish coming toward you,
cast! Don't wait for them to be in range. If you cast when you
can see them, by the time the fly hits the water and you begin
the retrieve, the fish will be there. Keep casting! Most of
these fish are underwater; after all, they are made to swim -
not to fly!
Once hooked, all you-know-what breaks loose. Get your reel hand
clear and get the line out of the basket. Avoid loose clothing
and dangling sleeves that may interfere with the line or the
reel. Let the fish run. When the fish slows, begin your
retrieve. If you lose contact with the fish, keep reeling; these
fish often charge toward the angler. Apply plenty of sideways
pressure to the fish. Expect repeated runs. Land the fish as
soon as possible because these fish will literally fight you to
the death. When the fish gets close to you, it will begin to
circle. Follow it and keep the rod pointed at the fish. In a
boat expect to move around the boat as the fish circles. From
shore, if there is water behind you, you may find yourself
getting dizzy as the fish circles you in tighter and tighter
circles as you gain line. If you can beach the fish, do so. If
you can't, the best way to remove the fish from the water is to
"tail" it by grabbing it on the hard narrow section of its body
just before the tail. If you are fishing with someone else, it
is helpful to have him/her "tail" the fish for you.
The proper way to release these fish is to plunge them headfirst
into the water as quickly as possible to get water flowing over
the gills. Trying to revive them in the usual fashion by moving
them back and forth in the water will kill them. Albies are
terrible table fare, so releasing them is the only way to go.
But you may want your bonito for the grill.
Where do you go to get a shot at these magnificent fish? Almost
any south-facing shore from Buzzard's Bay to Chatham may see
these fish. Some notable spots include the following: the stone
pier at Woods Hole, Nobska Light, South Cape Beach, Waquoit Bay,
Wianno, the West Bay Jetties, Harding Beach, and Stage Harbor
inlet are possibilities. Martha's Vineyard is Mecca for these
fish. Cape Pogue Gut, East Beach, the jetties at Tashmoo and
Menemsha as well as Lobsterville Beach are noted Vineyard hot
spots. Budget conscious anglers can take the ferry to Vineyard
Haven or Oak Bluffs and fish in the immediate area and have a
chance to hook up.
Information for this writing came from the writer's experience
and from False Albacore a Comprehensive Guide to Fly Fishing's
Hottest Fish by Tom Gilmore (The Countryman Press, Woodstock
Vermont, 2002, $35). The International Game Fish Association
Book 2003 World Record Game Fishes Freshwater, Saltwater, and
Flyfishing was another resource used. This book is part of
IGFA's membership materials. Membership for an individual is $35
per year. Information may be obtained from IGFA at 300 Gulf
Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 U.SA. and on the
internet. These sources provide a wealth of information to the
angler.
Bill Cottle July 2003 |
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