Is Pacific Bonito a tuna?

Bonito are one of the smallest tunas — their size and striped surface distinguish them from their larger cousins. They avoid predators by gathering in large schools, usually close to the surface. Like other tunas, they can travel great distances.

Can bonito be eaten raw?

Bonito is best eaten raw , pan seared or flash grilled (keeping the center raw). This is my favorite tuna, bar none. It is considered an under-utilized species in this country where the unsustainable bluefin and bigeye tunas get mot of the culinary respect.

What are the predators of the Pacific Bonito?

Predators of bonito are larger fish such as tuna , bonito also prey on each other as well.

Is Pacific Bonito good to eat?

Are Bonito Good to Eat? Bonito have dark meat that is very oily and carries a more fishy flavor compared to other species. These meat qualities make bonito an acquired taste and less favorable as table fare to the general public. On the other hand, die-hard seafood lovers may find bonito to be delicious .

Is bonito as good as tuna?

Bonito has a smooth texture and flakes easily. It has a more delicate flavor, and it is a juicy and pleasant fish to eat . Yellowfin tuna has a more intense flavor, and its texture is not as fine. Yellowfin tuna has a higher fat content compared to bonito.

Is bonito a healthy fish?

Bonito fish strengthens the structure of teeth and bones when consumed regularly . It heals cells that may mutate in the digestive tract. Thus, it can prevent cancer diseases. The high vitamin A contained in acorn fish is very beneficial for eye health.

Is bonito fish high in mercury?

Five of the fish species had the highest mercury levels for individual fish ever recorded for the Gulf, based on available Gulf data. These included (in ppm): a cobia (3.24), an amberjack (1.57), a bonito (1.60), a yellowfin tuna (0.60), and a hardtail (0.83).

What's the best way to eat bonito?

Heat a little extra virgin olive oil in a pan until hot and almost smoking. Season the fillets with salt and pepper and place skin side down in the pan. Cook for about 4 minutes, turn and cook for a further minute on the other side. Serve the fish with salad and rice on the side .

What is the scariest predator in the ocean?

When you think of top ocean predators, you probably think of sharks. Great white sharks, to be exact. But the true ruler of the sea is the killer whale . Killer whales are apex predators, which means they have no natural predators.

How big do bonito fish get?

The Atlantic bonito can grow up to 12 pounds and 30 inches long . They are mainly silver with blue-green dorsal fins and black stripes along the body. The Atlantic bonito has the same body shape as the tuna species. The only difference is that Atlantic bonito are skinnier than tuna.

When can you catch bonito?

They can be caught year round though the largest quantities are found in late spring through summer.

Pacific Bonito (2024)

Sarda lineolata

Luke Armstrong/flickr

The Science
The Fishery
The Seafood

THE SCIENCE

Bonito populations fluctuate in accordance with the warm/cold water periods associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Taxonomic description

Head ispointed and conical with a large mouth.
Has a compressed body with slanted dark stripes on their backs and upper sides.
Lower jaw has 14-25 teeth, and is moderately large.
Reaches 79-102 cm (31-40 in) in length and can weigh up to 11 kg (24 pounds).^[4]
Characterized by a large spleen and lack of swim bladder.^[7]
Was formerly considered subspecies of Sarda chiliensis.^[18]

Distribution

Ranges from the Pacific Ocean from the coast of Alaska all the way down to the tip of Baja California, Mexico.^[9]

Life history

Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 and have a maximum lifespan of 6 years.^[2]
Spawning generally occurs from late January until May.^[11]

Habitat

Bonito is a pelagic fish that lives 80-200 meters (262-328 ft.) deep,migrating farther offshore as it grows older.
Eats fish (such as sardines and anchovies) as well as squid.^[3]
Predators of bonito are larger fish such as tuna, bonito also prey on each other as well.^[1]

THE FISHERY

Fishing for bonito occurs offshore in 300-600 feet of water.

Seasonal availability

Fishing is allowed year-round, but most catch is landed from June-November.^[3]

Regulatory and managing authority

As established by the Marine Life Management Act, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collects data on and manages this fishery.^[2,15]

Gear type

Mostly taken by purse seine, but are also caught by gill nets, trawl, and hook and line. ^[2,8]

Status of the fishery

Currently, bonito is placed in the category of least concern because the catch per year has decreased significantly since the 1990s due to increased regulationand decreased market demand.
Catch peaked in 1966 with 4.6 million fish declining with a loss of 659,000 in the 1990s.^[3]
In 2014, 70,982 pounds (32,196 kg.) of Pacific Bonito were caught in California.^[6]

Potential ecosystem impacts

Purse seines arenon-selective, which poses risks to non-target species. ^[12]

THE SEAFOOD

Bonito is sometimes dried,fermented, and smokedto make bonito flakes, or Katsuobushi, in Japanese cuisin

Edible portions

Can be eaten whole.^[4]

Description of meat

Meat is deep red to pink, soft with a fishy smell but a bold and flavorful taste.^[14]

Culinary uses

Available whole, as filets, or steaks.
Should be bled and put on ice immediately after catching, and bloodlines should be removed. ^[14]
Generally brined prior to cooking.^[5]
For a Japanese simmered bonito recipe, visit Recipe Tin Japan. ^[16]
For recipe for grilled bonito, visit Greedy Gourmet. ^[17]

Nutritional information

For fresh Bonito, there are 5 calories per 129 serving (100 g) and 28grams of protein.^[13]

Toxicity report

As with other top predators, may contain high mercury levels; follow consumer guidelines especially for pregnant women and children.^[10]