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Illustration of Pacific bonito
fishing forecast

pacific bonito

Sarda lineolata · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the pacific bonito

how to recognize it

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.

Also called: bonito-do-pacifico-leste, bonito del Pacífico oriental, pacific bonito

don't confuse with:

We don't have tips on season, bait or technique for this species yet.

Where to look: Coastal waters of the northeastern Pacific, in schools separated by size.

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.

rules for the pacific bonito

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.

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

estimated weight

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how we calculate

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%.

more about 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.

Family: Scombridae · predator

fun facts

  • Schools form by size, with fish of similar size swimming together.

in the kitchen

It is an important food fish.

similar species

sources and references (2)

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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Sarda lineolata (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sarda lineolataNames by country and language.