Damn Good Bonito Fishing Charters

Check real-time availability and compare rates on bonito fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

Choose a Date
4.84/5 Average Rating

Damn Good Guides

You will only find quality, vetted guides on Captain Experiences, and we know them all on a first-name basis

Experts Available 24/7

Our US-based team is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or concerns

100% Weather Guarantee

We want to keep everyone safe, so in the case of inclement weather we'll work with you to reschedule at no cost

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Bonito Fishing Charters

Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Daily Reef Fishing (Shared Trip)

99% (72) Guided by Andrew
85 ft 1 - 15 People From $75
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Ventura

Santa Cruz Island Run

100% (4) Guided by JT
22 ft 1 - 3 People From $975
Veteran Operated
This trip is managed by a veteran of the US armed forces.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Jolly Harbour

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

NEW Guided by Stephon
34 ft 1 - 5 People From $650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in San Diego

San Diego Inshore Fishing

NEW Guided by Dan
28 ft 1 - 4 People From $950
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Playa Flamingo

4/6/8 Hrs Inshore Private Charter

100% (1) Managed by Amber Lynn
26 ft 1 - 10 People From $625
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore Fishing in Panama City Beach

Half Day PCB Trip - 26’ Pathfinder

100% (39) Guided by Jon
26 ft 1 - 4 People From $700
See All Bonito Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a bonito fishing charter

What are the best bonito fishing charters?

The best bonito fishing charters are:

What is a Bonito?

The bonito (Sardini) is actually a tribe of fish that contains eight different species across four different genera. These species include the Australian, Eastern Pacific, Pacific, striped, Atlantic, leaping, and plain bonito, as well as the dogtooth tuna. All bonito are members of the Scombridae family, which is shared with the mackerel, tuna, and spanish mackerel tribes.

Their tops range from green, to blue, to violet with silver and whitish bellies. All species have some form of stripes on their back, varying in color, direction, and amount, as well as some have spots. They also have torpedo-shaped bodies and are very muscular, with two dorsal fins and a deeply forked tail fin. This makes them fast swimmers and ferocious fighters when caught.

How big do Bonito get?

The size of bonito depends greatly on the specific species. The smallest type of bonito is the leaping bonito, which will weigh about a pound. The largest is the dogtooth tuna, which will weigh around 40 pounds and grow to about 45 inches.

The most common bonito is the Atlantic bonito, which grows to around 12 pounds and 20 inches long.

What's the biggest Bonito ever caught?

The largest bonito ever caught was a dogtooth tuna. Caught off the coast of Tanzania in 2015, the behemoth weighed in at 236 pounds and 15 ounces.

There are several other world record bonito species recognized by the IGFA. These include an Atlantic bonito weighing in at 18 pounds, 4 ounces, caught on July 8th, 1953 near Falal Island, Azores, Portugal by D. Higgs. Also, the Australian bonito record, weighing in at 20 pounds, 11 ounces, caught on April 1st, 1978 out of Montague Island, Australia by Bruce Conley. The largest Pacific Bonito was 21 pounds, 5 ounces caught by Kim Larson on October 19th, 2003 out of California. The largest striped bonito was 23 pounds, 8 ounces caught by Anne Cochain on February 19th, 1975 out of Seychelles.

Finally, the cutest bonito of them all, the record leaping bonito weighs in at a whopping 2 pounds, 2 ounces caught by Wayne Colling on May 7th, 1995 in the Macleay River, Australia.

Where is the best place to catch Bonito?

The Australian, Eastern Pacific, Pacific, and Atlantic bonitos can be found in the tropical and temperate waters of the regions they’re named after. Striped bonitos can be found in the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. Leaping bonitos are found near Australia and New Guinea. Dogtooth tuna are found in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Within these oceans, gulfs, and seas, they can all be found in temperate to tropical waters.. They are all pelagic, meaning they tend to inhabit the upper layers of the open sea, not too close to the seafloor or the shore.

When should I catch Bonito?

Bonito can be fished for year round. Due to their semi migratory nature, and the different oceans that they reside, though, there are some seasons that are better than others. With all of the bonito species it seems that the consensus of the best time to fish are the summer months, though fishing begins to get good as early as May and stays good as long as September.

How do you catch Bonito?

Bonito are schooling fish who chase prey like menhaden, alewives, silversides, sand lances, squid, and sardines to the surface to feed. Look for surface activity or sea birds to find a school.

Then either use either natural bait that would be the same as their local prey choice, or soft plastic lures or metal jigs. Then start trolling, when they are on a feeding frenzy, it will be a quick bite, so be ready for the fight!

Are Bonito good to eat? What are the best Bonito recipes?

Bonito are oily fish that have a moderate fat content, and are eaten, but are considered of lesser quality than many other table fish such as tuna. Bonito is usually either canned, or eaten as steaks, which can either be grilled, or baked and served cold. They are most popular in areas like the Mediterranean and Spain.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Absolutely loved every minute with the family out there, and wouldn't have been possible without Jake and Tim. We can't wait to book again, thank you guys. Till next time!

    Josiah R. | May 5, 2026

    Trip: Fishing In Gulf Of America

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time with captains Hector, Andrea and Colton. We will definitely be back!

    Kyle D. | April 30, 2026

    Trip: Fort Lauderdale Fishing Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    Got to the dock and switched onto the private boat for 6. Had a great time with the mate and captain. Overall great experience.

    Abraham W. | April 27, 2026

    Trip: Daily Reef Fishing (Shared Trip)

  • ★★★★★
    Max was great we had a lot of fun catching fish.

    Darrel K. | April 13, 2026

    Trip: 4-Hour Offshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    My 15 yo son and I had a successful day with Capt TJ. Caught a lot of fish and learned alot on his boat. We are beginning ocean fisherman and he let us get into a groove where it more than met our expectations. Much fun and good memories.

    Edward S. | April 6, 2026

    Trip: Santa Cruz Island Run

States

Cities

Countries

Other Fishing Species

Hunting Species

Tour Species

Featured Cities

What's biting?

View Bonito Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

Enter to Win a

$500 DAMN GOOD GIFT CARD

Gift Card

Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.

By subscribing, you agree to receive marketing communications from Captain Experiences. To opt-out, click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

See All Bonito Trips