Pacific Bonito

About Pacific Bonito in Mexico

How to recognize it

A Pacific bonito looks like a small tuna wearing pinstripes. Dark lines run diagonally forward and upward along the upper back, while the belly is plain silver. It has a mouthful of small, sharp teeth, unlike true tunas, and the body is more torpedo-shaped than a skipjack's, which has stripes on the belly instead of the back. Most are a few pounds, with larger fish showing up some years.

Where and when in Mexico

The official Mexican name is bonito del Pacífico oriental, and northern Baja is where it matters most. Mexico Fish Reports' counts show more than seven thousand from Ensenada boats, making it a mainstay of half-day and full-day trips around Todos Santos Bay, the islands and the coastal kelp. Bonito can bite in any season off Ensenada, with the warmer months usually busier. A small number also appear in our Cabo San Lucas counts, and a few came from Puerto Vallarta boats in 2012.

How it's fished

Bonito hit almost anything that moves fast. Ensenada skippers often troll feathers or small lures to find a school, then stop and chum with live sardines while anglers fly-line baits or cast small jigs, spoons and swimbaits. Light spinning tackle makes them fun, and they often feed alongside barracuda and calico bass.

Good to know

The flesh is dark and rich. It is good grilled, smoked or as ceviche if bled and iced promptly, and many crews also use bonito strips as bait.

Fishing rules in Mexico

• General limit: 10 fish per angler per day, max 5 of one species

Source: NOM-017-PESC-1994 §4.9.1 (2013 mod.). Rules change; confirm current limits, seasons and permits with CONAPESCA before you fish.

Where Pacific Bonito are caught in Mexico

• Ensenada 7,320 counted · last Oct 2026
• Cabo San Lucas 39 counted · last Jan 2025
• Puerto Vallarta 17 counted · last Mar 2012

Fish counts by year

From fish counts posted by the Mexican landings on Mexico Fish Reports. Years with no posted counts are not shown.

Boats catching Pacific Bonito (2025–2026)

• Sammy Ensenada 286 counted on 16 trips
• El Cazador Ensenada 259 counted on 15 trips
• No Limitz Ensenada 167 counted on 16 trips
• Last Cast Ensenada 47 counted on 3 trips
• Don Jesus I Ensenada 15 counted on 4 trips
• Azteca (MX) Ensenada 12 counted on 1 trip
• El Budster Cabo San Lucas 12 counted on 3 trips
• Ultimate (MX) Ensenada 11 counted on 3 trips

More Tuna & Bonito

Pacific Bluefin Tuna Atún cimarrón Yellowfin Tuna Atún aleta amarilla Albacore Albacora Bigeye Tuna Patudo Black Skipjack Barrilete negro Blackfin Tuna Atún aleta negra