If striped bass could be characterized as the bulldogs of the inshore
sea world and bluefish were the rotweilers, then clearly the bonito and
false albacore have to be considered the greyhounds. |
Although they are two distinct species, for many anglers "bonita" has
become the blanket moniker describing both fish. These speed demons
invade southern New England in late summer and fall and both put on
astounding first runs when matched against tackle in the 10 to 12 pound
class. Though rarely exceeding 10 pounds themselves, lines testing out
at that weight will snap like spaghetti on the strike if the drag isn't
adjusted properly. |
Their initial blast is a minimum of one hundred feet and and
routinely much longer. You'll wince at the line melting from your reel,
then suddenly they'll turn and streak straight at you. When you're
cranking the crank at the speed of sound and think you're gaining on
them, they'll bolt straight down, sometimes right under the boat. |
These tiny torpedoes, like their cousins in the tuna family, are
engineered for speed. Recessed fins and a tail pumping so fast it's
nearly invisible, propel them while keen eyes the size of quarters won't
allow them to be easily fooled. |
Once hooked, there's no surrender in these critters either. When
releasing it is important to revive them for awhile. Unless you horse
them on heavy tackle, by the time they come to the net, they are close
to belly-up. At this point, when you unhook them, they will tend to
sink like a stone. Simply hold them in the water for a few moments, and
they'll let you know when they are ready to go. |
Trolling is my favorite approach to either species, but casting at
them can also be a fun, albeit a frustrating endeavor. Hard baits like
small Rapalas, Bombers and Thunderstiks work well. Colors should
resemble the resident baits, which in our locale translates to mostly
sand eels and silversides. Soft baits are very effective on these
gamesters and though space dosen't allow me to cite all varieties, the
Slug-go and Fin-S-Fish body type or any others that duplicate
predominate live baits will work well. Small spoons are also an option,
especially when casting. |
Whatever you're using, the trick is to minimize hardware like snap
swivels. Tie directly to hard baits with long, light leaders. While
swivels are a necessary evil, put as much distance as you can between
them and your offering. Bury the hook with soft baits when trolling and
add no weight. The bait popping to the surface as it rides in and out
of the chop seems to ring the dinner bell. A tip when casting soft
baits is to insert a finish nail into the body as the additional weight
adds distance. Whatever bait you choose, keep it moving fast as these
guys have eyesight that would make an eagle jealous, and if they get a
good look, forget it. |
As mentioned before, there are distinct physical differences between
bonies and albies. True bonito have diagonal lines along the upper half
of their bodies where false albacore, also called tunny, have a pattern
akin to a mackerel design. Albies also display 2 or 3 dots on the lower
section of their body, just below the fin at the gill plate. I find
false albacore more aggressive and a bit more of a scrapper, while
bonito are more wary and challenging. |
The differences at the table are much more distinct. Where the taste
of bonito settles some where between swordfish and yellowfin tuna to my
palate, the albies' flavor won't even entice your house cat. Actually,
the truly adventurous fish lover could probably get it down with a
little doctoring. Cut it into bite-sized chunks and marinate it for a
good 24 hours in a highly seasoned oil and vinegar brine, then broil. |
Another great aspect in pursuing these battlers is you don't usually
have to travel far to find them. Departing from any of the coastal
breachways in Rhode Island, you could run into them from the surf line
to the deep water. Anywhere from the Watch Hill reefs to the Point
Judith Lighthouse is prime turf, with the breakwalls and other
structures holding the bait that draws the fish. From late August
through late October, these two battlers have become the primary target
for an ever increasing fraternity of light tackle enthusiasts. |
For anglers unacquainted with these drag smokers, they're an
opportunity to experience an emotional roller coaster ride radiating
flashes of frustration, anger, elation, panic, victory or defeat, all in
a span of about 60 seconds. |
