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Bonito Fishing Charters

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Recently Booked Bonito Fishing Charters

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Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale

Unforgettable Day Offshore

92% (12)
45 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
Fishing in Clearwater

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Clearwater

Crushing Clearwater Offshore

100% (4)
34 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
Fishing in Key West

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Legendary Fishing In Key West

100% (5)
55 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Destin

Offshore Discovery: Fishing Intro

100% (2)
40 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
Fishing in Orange Beach

Nearshore Fishing Charter in Orange Beach

Trolling And Chilling

100% (3)
38 ft 1 - 15 People $$$
Fishing in Wrightsville Beach

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Wrightsville Beach

Fishing Charter Special - 26’ C-Hawk

100% (2)
26 ft 1 - 4 People $$

Most Popular Types of Bonito Trips

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Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

More Bonito Fishing Charters

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Fishing in Pensacola
Fishing in Pensacola
Fishing in Pensacola
trip description for Pensacola Fishing Frenzy in Pensacola

Head out with Captain James and for a memorable day out on the Emerald Coast! Pensacola is the perfect spot to go after exciting inshore species in the bays and canals, or venture out into the Gulf for some big catches. On this 6 to 12 -hour trip, Captain James will cruise you through the beautiful Pensacola inshores or take you up to 9 miles offshore to go after some Black Grouper, Cobia, Gag Grouper, Jack Crevalle, Mangrove Snapper, Red Snapper, Redfish, and Sheepshead. You'll be targeting these fish using light tackle or doing some bottom fishing. Don't get discouraged if the fishing is slow; Captain James knows over 950 fishing hotspots in the area so he'll get you to another one in no time for a fresh start! You’ll be fishing aboard a 26’ Glacier Bay Canyon Runner center console that can hold up to 6 guests. All ages are welcome aboard, and this vessel will get you where you need to be on the Pensacola coast with ease! She comes complete with all the essential navigational and safety equipment. Captain James will provide all rods, reels, and tackle. All you need to bring is polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and any food or drinks you might want out on the water. Book your trip and come experience world-famous Florida fishing! Read More

Deep Sea, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Pensacola

Pensacola Fishing Frenzy

100% (3)
26 ft 1 - 6 People $$
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Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
trip description for Live Action Trolling Trip in Destin

Launch for an afternoon of fish slaying aboard a 26' Mako with Captain Zach! Capt. Zach has lived in Destin his whole life and has been fishing these waters year-round since he was a kid! Destin is known for its crazy close proximity to deep water, and where there deep water, there's giant fish! So for these afternoon trips, Capt. Zach likes rev his twin 150HP Yamaha's strapped to the back of the Malia Ann and quickly rip it out to the deep water. Once he's got you out there he likes to chill out, cruise around, and troll to attract the big fish Destin FL is known for. You never know what monsters will crawl up from the depths to whack your line at these depths, but don't be surprised if you hook into some Spanish or King Mackerel, Wahoo, Mahi, and/or much more! On the day of your trip, you will meet up with Capt. Zach at the East Pass Marina where the Malia Ann sleeps, but don't worry, this 26' beauty is always loaded with all the gear you could possibly need, ready and rearing to take you out on the water for an epic saltwater adventure! Thus, all you need to bring is your lunch, snacks, drinks, and sun protection, and Capt. Zach and his vessel will take care of the rest! Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Destin

Live Action Trolling Trip

100% (5)
26 ft 1 - 6 People $$
Fishing in Gulf Shores
Fishing in Gulf Shores
Fishing in Gulf Shores
trip description for Offshore Center Console in Gulf Shores

Minutes of Use is a 31 foot center console (cape horn) with twin 300 horse power Suzuki engines. The boat name is sometimes confusing since it also the name of the charter company. She is a no-frills fishing boat we used as a personal tournament fishing boat for years before we started the charter business. She is fast and economical with a large fishing deck. The down side is that she has limited shade and a portable head. We ride on bean bags, which are very comfortable, on the trip out and back in to the dock. This boat is what most of the fishing charters in the area use because they are fast and the most economical. They are perfect for 4-6 hour trips because of the speed and versatility, and the very large fishing area that allows people to spread out while they fish. With 6 fishermen it is not crowded and all 6 are able to fish at the same time and avoid tangled lines. For longer trips you need to be aware that shade is limited and prepare accordingly as well the head (potty) is a portable. More like tent camping than using a RV. 4 hour trips we generally go after whatever is biting and it is all about having fun catching fish not worrying about a specific species rather focusing on what is close and the bite is hot. With limited time we do not want to spend the time riding, we want to be fishing and catching fish. 6 hour trips (half day) during snapper season we go after limits of snapper then start working on other fish that have been biting. We generally get a limit with a few large snapper and some other fish species. We do not focus on all big fish as we are time limited and want to make sure we get you as many fish as possible up to the limit. 8 hour trips allow the captain time to be more picky about the fish we keep so the average size of what we keep is normally larger. It also allows time to target other fish and expand the adventure. Minutes of Use is a great family and starter boat because she is open air, fast, and most affordable. Captain Walt loves working with new fishermen and youngsters, getting them hooked on deep sea fishing forever. She is the perfect boat to take the family or group of up to 6 people, and have a private trip with a captain and deck hand focused on your success and enjoyment of the day. There are plenty of fish to catch, the secret is to have fun catching them!!!! We ask you to bring wipe on sunscreen rather than spray on if at all possible as the spray gets on the floor and makes it very slick. You also need only to bring drinks, snacks, and a camera for pictures. When the trip is over the crew will clean your fish and bag them for you. the deck hand is normally the hardest working guy on the boat helping you with bait, tips on catching, rigging the rods, and all around helping make the trip easier and fun. Tipping the deck hand in customary in the 10-20% range. Captain Walt will be contacting you before the trip so if you have any questions he will be happy to answer and make sure it is a great trip. Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Gulf Shores

Offshore Center Console

100% (4)
31 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
Fishing in Clearwater
Fishing in Clearwater
Fishing in Clearwater
trip description for Clearwater Fishing Thriller! in Clearwater

Are you ready for the fishing adventure of a lifetime? Come join Captain Steve or Captain Tucker on board their beautiful 34' delta sportfishing vessel, and get out there on a thrilling charter fishing trip in the beautiful waters of Clearwater, FL! On this offshore trip, you'll be targeting a range of species across the whole water column. Up towards the surface, you'll troll and cast for Barracuda, Kingfish, Bonito,and Spanish Mackerel, while down on the bottom you'll drop lines for Grouper, Snapper, and Amberjack. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just looking to try your hand at fishing, our experienced captains and crew have got you covered. The 34' Delta sportfisher is a purpose-built fishing vessel equipped with top-of-the-line fishing gear, comfortable seating, restrooms, and all the amenities you need for a successful day on the water. Licensed to carry up to 6 passengers, this safe, clean, comfortable vessel carries state-of-the-art Furuno GPS bottom-sounder and radar and is equipped with Coast Guard approved safety equipment, EPIRB radio beacon, life preservers, flares, and throwable life ring. There is a bathroom, tuna tower, outriggers for offshore trolling, fish-fighting chairs, and plenty of seating on board. 4 hour, 5 hour, and 6 hour charters are offered in the morning and afternoon and are generally bottom fishing in winter and trolling in spring, summer, and fall. 8 hour, 10 hour, and 12 hour charters require a morning departure (7am at the latest) and are the perfect length for bottom fishing, trolling, and live baiting. Red snapper season begins June 1st through July and requires a 10 or 12 hour trip! Captain Steve and Captain Tucker have over 35 years of fishing experience out of Clearwater combined, so you'll be in great hands when you set out to bag some fish! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Clearwater

Clearwater Fishing Thriller!

100% (2)
34 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
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Fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale
trip description for Daily Drift Fishing Trips in Fort Lauderdale

On this shared trip you'll be join other guests on board for our daily reef fishing trip out of Fort Lauderdale. We fish this trip every day aboard our large 85ft party fishing boat on a 4 hour trip. We fish out in the ocean on the reefs offshore of Fort Lauderdale, bottom fishing for all the good eating reef fish such as snappers, groupers, porgies, grunts, jacks, triggerfish and more. Catch fish and have fun on an all-inclusive trip with captain and deckhands that will help you during the trip with the fishing. Trip includes all the gear, bait, tackle, licenses, rods/reels and coolers with ice. Deckhands are there with you to help you in using the equipment and catching the fish. They can teach you if you don't have experience. We're targeting numbers of fish over size of fish on this trip to maximize action for everyone and we usually do quite well. It's still fishing but even on slow days most people bring home a few. Whatever you catch is yours to keep and when we get back to the dock, our deckhands offer free fish cleaning and we have fish bags and ice for you to take your fish home. Our techniques are either drift fishing or anchor fishing, both are very similar forms of bottom fish fishing. We are using cut bait such as squid, ballyhoo and sardines and all this is provided. We're fishing about a mile offshore where it starts to get deep and we fish the reefs, wrecks, patch reefs, buoys and current edges where we know the fish are. We've been doing this for over 40 years in the same location and we fish every single day on the same schedule. Give us a try and we'd love to have you out with us. Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale

Daily Drift Fishing Trips

NEW
85 ft 1 - 15 People $
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in South Padre Island
Fishing in South Padre Island
Fishing in South Padre Island
trip description for South Padre Offshore Fishing in South Padre Island

Come have some serious fun and explore some of the most prolific waters in the area with Captain Henry! Captain Henry hotspots in SPI have been hitting, so make sure to listen closely to his tips and tricks. On these 6 or 8-hour state water offshore trips, you can expect to target Kings, Blackfin, Bonito and Red Snapper (when in season), and many more species! When Red Snapper is in season, Captain Henry has some special spots way up the coast that hold some big boy Red Snapper within the State Water line! You will be fishing aboard Captain Henry’s 30-foot center console powered by twin 300 HP Mercury Verado engines. It can accommodate up to 6 anglers, has a private toilet, spearfishing and snorkeling equipment, and a livewell. A first mate will also be on board to help you when you need it. Don’t forget to bring a valid Texas Fishing License (which you can purchase online), a hat, sunscreen, some food and drinks for the day, and an ice box to take home your day’s catch. Henry will provide all rods, reels, tackle, and lures. For an additional fee, he will clean and fillet your day’s catch. Get ready for an action-packed day on the water with Captain Henry! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

South Padre Offshore Fishing

75% (4)
30 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
See All Bonito Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a bonito fishing charter

What are the best bonito fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 210 bonito trips, and the most popular trips are Unforgettable Day Offshore guided by Mike, Crushing Clearwater Offshore guided by Heather, and Legendary Fishing in Key West guided by Chuck.

Our guides are rated a 4.81 out of 5 based on 2568 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly bonito guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly bonito guides.

What types of bonito fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for bonito as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and jetty fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are trolling, bottom fishing, and heavy tackle fishing but live bait fishing and light tackle fishing are popular as well.

How much do bonito fishing charters cost?

for bonito prices can range anywhere from about $657 to $4,400, but the average price for a half day trip for bonito is $1,319. The average price for a full day trip for bonito is $2,552.

What month is best for bonito fishing?

The most popular season for bonito fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 15 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for bonito and what are the bag limits for bonito?

See here for more information on bonito fishing licenses, bonito bag limits, and fishing season regulations for bonito. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right bonito rules and regulations.

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 of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    John knows where the fish are and is very active in getting to the best spots! Definitely will go again on our next trip!

    Caleb M. with Terry M. of Panama City Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Enjoyed the trip! Booked last minute and Captain Henry was great! Fish we stubborn but he worked his magic and made the trip amazing!

    William S. with Henry R. of South Padre Island, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great day fishing with Mike and Marcus. They were very friendly and worked hard to make sure we had a great time! Highly recommend.

    Sarah S. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great Captain, great First Mate, caught a sailfish, multiple mahi mahi, Bonita, kingfish, and a giant Jack Cravel. Couldn’t have been better

    Christopher M. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Dave and Marcus weresome. We had a blast. Both of them were professional and fun to be with. Awesome time.

    William Y. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Brad did a great job! Was funny and knowledgeable. Had a wonderful time

    Melissa M. with Brad A. of Pompano Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time fishing with Kyle and Danny! Both were fabulous in making sure we caught plenty of fish and that the kids (and adults) had a lot of fun. Highly recommend.

    Adam T. with Kyle L. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    It was great day. Captain found us some fish. Would head back out with Seth anytime.

    Kyle E. with Seth W. of Orange Beach, Alabama

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Mike and 1st ante Owen were fantastic. We did the close to shire trip and they quickly put us on some large Black Drum and later we found where the Sheepshead were hiding bringing in enough keepers to make anyone proud! Would definitely recommend!

    Frank L. with Michael P. of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

  • ★★★★★
    Judah and his crew were amazing. We slaughtered 60 red snapper in 4 hours. We also reeled in 2 sandbar sharks. Judah was steering excellently and the crew worked their tails off to make sure we could immediately recast after reeling in a catch. The custom boat was also a great touch with a nice rearfacing bench for resting from catching so many fish. Definitely book these folks

    Samuel E. with Judah B. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Highly Recommend!! Great experience for us with Captain and Mate Danny. They got us on fish the whole trip and there was never a time when one of our group wasn’t yelling fish on and sometimes with multiple fish on. Mate Danny was a legit machine preparing the rugs, removing fish and baiting hooks. Our fishing group of 3 was able to have a great Fish Taco Tuesday with our house group of 16 with all the fillets that they prepared for us. A fantastic experience for my teenage boys and myself. This crew left an everlasting experience with our family. And the fish tacos I prepared were almost as close to legendary as the fishing trip. FISH ON!

    Greg M. with Kyle L. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful morning with Captain Todd. He is professional, knowledgeable and great with kids. We caught so many fish! Great experience, highly recommend!

    Kristine C. with Todd W. of Sarasota, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We didn’t actually catch anything during the trip, but it was great nonetheless.

    Breyhauna J. with Taylor S. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time

    Leo M. with Antonio E. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Chris and Daniel were awesome. Caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun. Provided rods and a variety of bait. Went on the 6 hour trip and it was plenty. If you want bigger fish then maybe go for the 8 hour

    Alex V. with Chris S. of Gulfport, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Tommy was a great guide and great company, and knew all the best spots. We caught a mahi, which Tommy filleted for us, and a barracuda! We saw sea turtles and dolphins as well - a really incredible trip overall!

    Ethan S. with Rick S. of Riviera Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    I have been on several guided trips in Mexico and Florida. I can say hands down this was the best. Yes, we caught a bunch of fish, more so, the guys worked their asses off and we’re fun to be around! Thanks Mike!

    Steve O. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time! Very nice guy, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Would definitely go out again.

    Jeff C. with Daniel P. of Key Largo, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    ***** - fishing was slow but Captain Jack did all he could to put us on fish

    David P. with Jack Y. of Cape Coral, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a fantastic time with captain Brad. We tried different techniques and despite being a rough choppy day we still have out with a lot of fish. We all enjoyed it and highly recommend him to anyone!

    Shai K. with Brad S. of Key West, Florida

What's biting?

View Bonito Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

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