Bonito report 10/3/13:

[AndyS]

Jumped on a NS boat out of Point Pleasant with fellow NJF guys JCheng and Maddhatterr. Boat was packed when we left at 6am. Took the 2 hour ride to the North East and was greeted by pods of porpoise when we got to our destination. Water was very clear and flat calm. Didn't take long until people starting hooking up on Skipjacks, False Albacore and small Bonito. Just had to work your jig all day, fish were picky in the flat calm seas. I wanted to bait fish but with no wind and current the baits just went strait down. I think a pair in the stern corner combined for 13 Bonito, 2 False Albacore and 1 Skipjack. Freshwater Swedish Pimples worked well for some. I lost 2 and boated a good sized Skippy. At one point you could look down and see the fish swimming around the boat, but skittish to say the least. Lots of fish out there, even a very small mahi was boated. I give these fish 2 more weeks before they beat tail outta here, go now !

[Fin Reaper]

Ok, give me some help here...
A few years ago a good buddy of mine told me false albacore are great on the grill...yea, I was dragging my tongue on the lawn trying to get the taste out of my mouth. Sooooo, just for the record, Albacore, false Albacore, Skipjack and Bonito...which are good table fare and which aren't? Keep in mind if you ask Joe Murray anything is eatable but come at it from the stand point of some one who doesn't enjoy fish like Bluefish and Mackerel.

[jmurr711]

True Albacore=longfin tuna everyone loves
Bonita-mild & seemed to be enjoyed by most on the grill or as sushi
Skipjack-bled & iced & filetted properly are edible but much more fishy then bonita
False Albacore aka Phlly longfin- an acquired taste

[AndyS]

My buddy JCheng tried the False Albacore and he spit it out, he tried the Skip Jack and he spit that out too. Bonito are the ones you want.

[tropics]

Ok, give me some help here...
A few years ago a good buddy of mine told me false albacore are great on the grill...yea, I was dragging my tongue on the lawn trying to get the taste out of my mouth. Sooooo, just for the record, Albacore, false Albacore, Skipjack and Bonito...which are good table fare and which aren't? Keep in mind if you ask Joe Murray anything is eatable but come at it from the stand point of some one who doesn't enjoy fish like Bluefish and Mackerel.

Maybe you over cooked it:D I think you should give it another try. Maybe brined and smoked.:D

[Fin Reaper]

Maybe you over cooked it:D I think you should give it another try. Maybe brined and smoked.:D

Noooooooooooo! Not doin that again...Even the bears wouldn't eat it :eek:

[jmurr711]

did ya try boiling it & making salad?

[tombanjo]

Nice job Andy. Glad you got some. Not crazy about the endless ride on a packed boat but hey, this year you do what you gotta do, right? Swedish Pimples, eh? Those were the ticket years ago, forgot about them after the Tsunamis hit the scene.

[Fin Reaper]

did ya try boiling it & making salad?


Oh it got tossed alright :D

BTW, thanks for the tutorial, very helpful.

[makosnax]

False albacore are disgusting, throw em back.

[reonainoue]

You need to bleed and put it into ice immediately.

I make skippy or albie sashimi, and they are really good. I love "tataki" style.
Seach "skipjack tataki" and you'll find sone good recipes.

See this link http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/seared-skipjack-tuna-recipe-bd/

[Joey Dah Fish]

It's all dog food yuck!!!! Do the catch and release thing lots of fun

[Jachang]

With the skipjack, Andy bled it right away for me, wasnt on ice though...
I am a big fan of sashimi myself but I just couldnt do either one haha. I tried pan-seared both fishes... it tasted blehhh...
It was my first time trying false and skipjack. I suppose it might be an acquired taste (?) but it just wasnt for me. but hey... it was my first time fishing for those fishes... had hell of a time watching other people catch. (I didnt have the luck yesterday). will DEF try it again!

[Captain Rich]

False Albacore aka Phlly longfin- an acquired taste---Only if you are a Mako.

Bonita is the best, skipjack is also good but needs to be handled properly, ie bled as soon as it comes on board, and let it swim in iced salt water until it bleeds out. The fillets are a thing of beauty. Skipjack nuggets are great blackened. Bonita is probably one of my favorite fish blackened,parmagiana, cooked with fruit and salsa. you can't go wrong.

You guys need to come on a boat that is geared up for this kind of stuff and see the difference it makes. Not blowing my horn or throwing anybody else under the bus, but most boats are not geared up to handle these fish so the fillets come out primo. But please...forget about eating false albacore ! :D

[beerbelly]

were u fishing shark river reef?

[AndyS]

My guess is 15 miles East of the tip of Sandy Hook, I think it's called the Mud Hole.

Not ONE false albacore or skipjack was released the entire trip.

[mrfritz44]

BonitO are another name for False Albacore. BonitA are the ones you want.

Brains on the back, shark bait. Stripes on the belly, shark bait. Stripes on the back, good sushi.

[Reel Class]

Fritz - not looking to correct you, but bonito = the ones you want to eat and bonita = false albacore.

That's the way I've always known it as, maybe my names for these speedsters if off lol

Anyways - bonito - the ones with teeth that have the bars on the back are great to eat, bonita aka false albacore make GREAT strip bait for fluke!