pacific bonito
Sarda lineolata
Northeastern Pacific bonito, of coastal waters, in schools, reaching Mexico. It is important as a food fish and a sport fish.
Also called: bonito-do-pacifico-leste, bonito del Pacífico oriental, pacific bonito
- maximum
- 102 cm
- record/max.
- 11.3 kg
who is the pacific bonito
The eastern Pacific bonito is a fish of the family Scombridae, living in coastal waters of the northeastern Pacific, from the coast of Alaska to the tip of Baja California. It reaches 102 cm and 11.3 kg. It forms schools separated by size, and feeds on small schooling fish, squid and shrimp. It is a coastal species that approaches the shoreline. It is an important food fish and appears in both sport and commercial fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pacific bonito; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Schools form by size, with fish of similar size swimming together.
identification
Spindle-shaped bonito body, with a crescent-shaped tail, common among mackerels. Like other bonitos of the genus Sarda, it has oblique dark stripes on its back. It is related to the Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis) of Peru and Chile, but this species occurs in the northeastern Pacific, from Alaska to Mexico. On the same Mexican coast lives the Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra), a mackerel.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In the northeastern Pacific it occurs in Mexico, from Baja California to the Revillagigedo Islands, in coastal waters and in schools. Farther north, it reaches Alaska.
Habitat: Coastal waters of the northeastern Pacific, in schools separated by size.
rules for the pacific bonito
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Poses no danger to anglers. Handle with wet hands and carefully release the specimens you are not keeping.
in the kitchen
It is an important food fish.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00933, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Sarda lineolata (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sarda lineolataNames by country and language.
