Elusive bonito make an appearance
Charles Walsh, Correspondent





Bonito sighted off the Norwalk Islands.

Six bonito caught on Six-Mile Reef off Stonington.

More familiarly known as "bones," or "greenies" (the latter because of the glorious shade of iridescent color that flashes on the sides of the powerful fish) bonito usually arrive in Long Island Sound in mid-to-late August. July sightings happen but are rare.

Nonetheless, the mere hint that someone spotted bonito zooming through the waves like giant bullets is enough to send certain anglers into a kind of wide-eyed transfixed state that can only be relieved by getting into a boat to chase the speedsters with fly rod or spinning outfit.

The huge influx of small bait into the Sound this year could bode well for a better-than-average bonito (and false albacore) season. It's what they eat.

As to the chances of actually hooking up with the elusive speedsters, one veteran guide advised anglers pursuing bonito to carry a supply of Valium in their tackle boxes.

The Atlantic bonito, or sarda sarda to use its Latin name, are often considered a member of the tuna family to which it bears a remarkable resemblance (and taste when grilled). In reality, however, like its cousin the false albacore, bonito are part of the mackerel family. Also, in contrast to the false albacore, bonito make fabulous eating. Anyone who has tasted a fine, fat filet of Atlantic bonito grilled to perfection over charcoal knows it is one of the finer eating experiences on Planet Earth.

First a confession: I have never even seen, much less caught, a bonito in Long Island Sound. Last October I landed my first bonito, a beautiful 12-pound specimen, while surf fishing on Nantucket. The fish was much more powerful than the false albacore we had been catching. It found a spot in the rip off the end of Great Point and simply refused to budge. Only the approach of a large seal forced the fish give up its position. After that it became a race between the seal and my ability to crank line. Fortunately, I won.

Bonito almost always show up in deep water before they come near shore (if they ever come near shore). In deep water they are less spooky than in shallower environs. Inshore anglers should look for bonito in areas with bottom structure and in fast-moving water. Since bonito are often chasing small bait, the lures best suited to catching them are also tiny. For fly rodders, epoxy anchovy patterns and Clousers minnows are the top choice. At least 300 yards of backing is required to accommodate the fish's blistering initial run.

Since there are usually only have a second or less to get off a cast at a cruising bonito, being ready is all-important. No time for dreaming. A moment's hesitation and they are gone. Fly-fishers should practice casting without false casting. Casts should be directed well ahead of where the bones are headed and allowed to sink a bit before retrieving. While barbless hooks may be great for catch-and-release striper fishing, with bonito they can lead to having no catch to release.

If there were one piece of advice to give to novice anglers after their first bonito, it would be to find an experienced guide or fishing partner and follow their advice to the letter. Do that and you might just end up with as much Valium in your bag as when you started fishing.

Let's hope this season brings a horde of bonito in Long Island Sound. Maybe I'll even get to see one.

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