Bonito this year - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

teddysclaw · #1 09-06-2018, 11:07 AM

Man, the bonito run last year was SICK. Went out on trips and caught 4 per person easily. This year, the bonito run has been more like the prior years, slow and inconsistent.

Was wondering if anyone started seeing Bonito in good numbers yet? Trying to set up a trip, but was wondering if I should wait a few more weeks. I got spoiled from last year's amazing bonito fishing.

tombanjo · #2 09-06-2018, 03:10 PM

We waited to charter a 6 pack last year till we knew they were out there. They showed up for the bluefish boats on 8/31 and built from there into its epicness. We chartered a week out and went on 9/16 for the best trip ever. There doesn't seem to be anything on the reefs just yet, one PB was there the other day and he went north the next day. They're late if they're coming in force at all. No guarantee with these things, been many a dry year. Maybe this east blow will be good for that. Hopefully at least the jumbo blues will show there so at least we'll be in the game.

Reel Class · #3 09-06-2018, 04:07 PM

we've been catching them on the beach and in the inlets for close to a month

they are in the rainfish, and the rainfish have been literally right in the surf and in and out of the inlets, hence the presence of the bonito in the surf and in the inlets...

Last year's bonito run was only OK - we've had years in the past where it was like jigging mackerel for weeks on end on the local lumps out to the hole - last year was more of a pick with a few insane days... Some years it was non stop almost every time you targeted them...

Like any other specie that is a little more "pelagic" then others, bonito are quite cyclical and frequent our area when conditions are right for them, just like the mahi!

Pauls1976 · #4 09-06-2018, 08:25 PM

I haven’t targeted really yet but I have gotten Bonito while fluking the past two weekend on every trip. Spent an hour trolling Manasquan Ridge with make shift rigs on a Sunday. Got a nice Bonito, 1 for 2 on Chicken Mahi, a Bluefish and a Rudderfish.

tombanjo · #5 09-07-2018, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel Class

we've been catching them on the beach and in the inlets for close to a month

they are in the rainfish, and the rainfish have been literally right in the surf and in and out of the inlets, hence the presence of the bonito in the surf and in the inlets...

Last year's bonito run was only OK - we've had years in the past where it was like jigging mackerel for weeks on end on the local lumps out to the hole - last year was more of a pick with a few insane days... Some years it was non stop almost every time you targeted them...

Like any other specie that is a little more "pelagic" then others, bonito are quite cyclical and frequent our area when conditions are right for them, just like the mahi!

Just ok last year? Wow, some lofty standards there. Yeah. I remember the past....distant past...like 20 years ago off the ridge. After very little or no showing at all of bones year after year, last year's solid month of drop & reel fish, many of impressive size in the 5-8lb range, I'd call that a bonanza.

teddysclaw · #6 09-08-2018, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel Class

we've been catching them on the beach and in the inlets for close to a month

they are in the rainfish, and the rainfish have been literally right in the surf and in and out of the inlets, hence the presence of the bonito in the surf and in the inlets...

Last year's bonito run was only OK - we've had years in the past where it was like jigging mackerel for weeks on end on the local lumps out to the hole - last year was more of a pick with a few insane days... Some years it was non stop almost every time you targeted them...

Like any other specie that is a little more "pelagic" then others, bonito are quite cyclical and frequent our area when conditions are right for them, just like the mahi!

When you say that you've been catching them close to a month, have you guys been getting good numbers? All the reports I'm reading have maybe 3 or 4 per boat. And last year was the best bonito run I"ve personally seen in the past ten years. Maybe I'm hitting the wrong boats haha

captmark · #7 09-08-2018, 11:17 AM

Ted we had them pretty good on Thursday just on the East side of the Manasquan Ridge we trolled 1 or 2 up then jigged more while those were coming up and some pretty decent size to them, 5 lbs and up. everyone had 4 or 5 fish some 8 then we went to hook up some Mahi