Fish Identification Photos: Mexican Bonito, Striped Bonito, Sarda orientalis: The Bonito is one of the most common members of the Scombridae or Tuna, Bonito, and Mackerel Family found in Mexican waters.

The Mexican Bonito is characterized by its “tuna-like” appearance, dark blue back, silver sides and belly, and a series of 8 to 11 broken horizontal stripes along its upper sides. It does not have spots between the pelvic and pectoral fins.

The Mexican Bonito might be confused with the Black Skipjack, Eurhynnus lineatus (which has 5 to 6 horizontal stripes along its upper sides and distinguishing spots between the pelvic and pectoral fins); the Skipjack Tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (4 to 6 horizontal dark stripes on its sides with no spots); and most certainly with the Eastern Pacific Bonito, Sarda chilensis (5 to 6 oblique dark stripes on its upper back with no spots).

The Mexican Bonito is a coastal pelagic schooling species that is found near off shore reefs. It is only found between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz on the Baja California peninsula, south of Acapulco on mainland Mexico, and around all oceanic islands. The Mexican Bonito is normally found in the first 100 feet of the water column.

The “all tackle world record,” caught in Mexican waters as of 2004 stands at 27.0 pounds, with a length of 46.1 inches. The Mexican Bonito is normally an incidental catch on almost any kind of lure or bait. For its size it puts up a horrific fight. It is viewed by locals as a bait fish with the smaller examples pinned to a 7/0 hook with 6-ounce sinker and returned immediately to the deep, or cut into chucks and flylinned or sent to the bottom.

Mexican Bonito, Striped Bonito, Sarda orientalis: Caught with Captain Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, midmorning in May 2003, in 77-degree, 100 to 150-foot deep water, utilizing a chrome yo-yo iron tied direct to 30-pound test, 25 miles north of La Playita. Size approximately 16 inches and 6 pounds, and required significant force to boat, relative to its size. Viewed by locals as an insignificant catch and a species that can be caught more or less at will. Makes excellent cut bait or chum and the smaller ones are immediately returned to the ocean as live bait. Description and photo courtesy John Snow.