Species profile
Atlantic Bonito
Sarda sarda
At a glance
Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 2 (Florida); the most generous is 5 (Massachusetts).
Confirmed by 86 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Lacks a swim bladder and must swim continuously or it will sink.
- Dark diagonal stripes on a metallic blue-green back distinguish it from similar tunas.
- Can reach up to 30 inches and about 12 pounds at maturity.
- Highly migratory, forming large schools that travel hundreds of miles seasonally.
- Firm, dark flesh with a pronounced flavor — excellent grilled or smoked.
Where Atlantic Bonito are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Bonito
Background
The Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) is a large mackerel-like fish of the family Scombridae. It is common in shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea, where it is an important commercial and game fish.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Bonito article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.