Bonito

(Euthynnus alletteratus)

 

 

Maturity at: 42 cm in length

Max Published Size: 122 cm and 35 pounds

TnT Record: 18 pounds (unofficial)

TnT Season: Year round

IUCN status: Least concern

 

General Information: Found close inshore or near the continental shelf. This schooling species is an opportunistic predator which feeds on virtually everything within its range, such as crustaceans, fishes (mainly clupeoid), squids, heteropods and tunicates.  They spawn in the months of April through November in the Atlantic Ocean.  The females can release 1.75 million eggs, in multiple clutches over a mating season.  Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Diving bird flocks may indicate large schools. There is little regulation of the fishery, no size or bag limits, and no closed season. The flesh of the Little Tunny is coarse in texture, strong in flavor, and dark in color if compared to bluefin or yellowfin tuna. Utilized fresh, dried-salted, smoked, canned and frozen. A popular game fish.