Barrilete or bonito?

This one is a barrilete, or Black Skipjack. There are fair numbers in the SOC near Loreto. Last summer we saw a modern seiner, using a helicopter spotter, net a school of these. Probably to be ground up. Their flesh is very dark, and while some Mexicans will eat them, often in salads, they are often released. Most gringos won't have anything to do with them. Great light tackle fighters that often go easily over 10 lbs. They will hit trolled jigs, cast lures of live bait. Many times I have seen them called "bonito." But the black spots on the belly indicate they are barrilete. Jose Torres calls them "cat paws" from the shape of the black marks.




Sometimes we'll catch one like this. But not nearly as often. I believe this is a bonito, perhaps an Eastern Pacific Bonito, although Kira's site states they are not found in the SOC north of La Paz. These are not nearly as common as the barrilete in the Loreto area, imo. I haven't killed one but I've been told by one captain that they are much, much better to eat than the barrilete, with a lighter colored meat. Often found in the same places as barrilete; twice this fall I've caught both in the same place, same day.

Cut the dark meat away from a fresh bonito fillet, fry it up with butter, onion, and garlic! Yummy. Catch one on a trout rod with 4lb line. Mini wahoo.

I used to catch many bonito in Southern California waters in the 60s. They were very abundant, far more than the bonito or barrilete available around here now. Always a favorite gamefish of mine, wonderful on light tackle and beautiful when they come to color. But my mother had little patience for them, and never seemed to want to eat them, preferring calicos, rockfish and halibut.

Me, I'm not a fish eater. I fished today, Paula's having some of the yellowtail snapper and I'm having a couple of pork chops.

The bottom one sure looks like a bonito. But different from the ones I remember catching off the Redondo barge. The one below is how they looked. The stripes on the back didn't go front to back. They went diagonally from the lateral line to the back. Is that how you remember them?

There may be considerable variability in this species and stock in the cortez may be genetically different than what we see in So Cal.

BTW you can see markings on the belly of this bonito as well.

Another skippy.

One thing that's really obvious between the two species is that boundary separating the head from stripes. It goes so much further back in the skipjacks. It's almost like 2 patches of skin coming together there.

Just my 2 cents.

one of the places we go the bonito are 5-1 while fishing for jurel. the strike gets the heart rate skipping a beat, but then there's no pay off.

although the panguero wants theM for his lobster/cabrilla traps....

we usually say, "P-nche MACKEREL GRANDE!!!!!"

[Edited on 12-9-2009 by woody in ob]

Bonita... you guys are spelling it wrong!

Here's a Skippy!

When I fished the Socal cattle boats, they went in your sack, in the sun, and you came home with cat food. I hated the taste until a good friend showed me exactly what you said. I wasted a lot of fish out of ignorance. Treat baracuda the same way, and deep fry battered, YUM!

Here's a slightly different looking bonita/bonito I caught from the beach at a secret location along the pacific side in 2006. There were lots of these little 6 pounders, tossed all but this one back. BBQed with fresh lime slices and rosemary sticks, Yummy!

actually, i believe bonita is incorrect and is akin to refering to the peninsula as "the Baja"

Are they fish, or pretty? Or pretty good fish?

Quote:

Originally posted by Cardon Man Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck Bonita... you guys are spelling it wrong! actually, i believe bonita is incorrect and is akin to refering to the peninsula as "the Baja"

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja Here's a slightly different looking bonita/bonito I caught from the beach at a secret location along the pacific side in 2006. There were lots of these little 6 pounders, tossed all but this one back. BBQed with fresh lime slices and rosemary sticks, Yummy!

Looks just like the ones out of La Mision or Newport. Pacific BonitO!

Oooh!

Now he gets it!!

I guess you scrawny BonitO just have a mackerel like shape.

Is that not a sierra Mike? Here we go again!!

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass Is that not a sierra Mike? Here we go again!!

I think it says Tico Times!



[Edited on 12-9-2009 by fishbuck]

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck I guess you scrawny BonitO just have a mackerel like shape.

Ya, Sierra are excellent. But if they are in the area make sure you use a wire leader. Razor sharp teeth. And you will lose your lures.

Ya ...er...ah... yeah! It was frivolous and non-offensive and mildly entertaining.
We could use more of that!

Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen

I LOVED listening to that as a kid on my dad's record player, I think it was the Vienna boys choir version...did not understand what they were saying, but it was beautiful music. Thanks for the flashback