I Stumbled Upon A WILD Bonito Blitz (Using The Slam Shady 2.0!!)
- By: Justin Ritchey
- on
I was out with an Insider Member last week looking for tarpon when we stumbled on a WILD bonito blitz!!
The bonito were blitzing on glass minnows right on the surface.
Technically they are referred to as false albacore or “albies” for short.
These fish are in the tuna family and drag was screaming!!
WILD Bonito Blitz [VIDEO]
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The Slam Shady 2.0 Paddletail was the ticket on this trip!
You can’t find a lure that looks more like an actual glass minnow.
Contrary to common practice, I had this lure rigged up on a much heavier jighead.
I was using the Z-Man Striper Eye Jighead weighing 1/2 oz.
Traditionally, for shallow water inshore saltwater fishing, you want to use a lighter hook with a shorter shank.
Surprisingly, the longer shank on the Striper Eye Jighead actually matches up well with the Slam Shady 2.0.
We decided to use heavier jigheads for TWO main reasons.
The first is casting distance.
After the bonito dart around and bust up on the surface, they’ll quickly pick up and move somewhere else.
Additional casting distance allows you to stay within range of the bonito.
Second, the heavier weight of the Striper Eye Jighead causes the lure to sink faster.
Even though the fish are crashing the surface, you may not get all the strikes there.
Conclusion
This was nothing but a BLAST!!!
If you ever come across fish busting on the surface and eating glass minnows, go ahead and tie on the Slam Shady 2.0 and crank it in!
You can’t beat that screamin’ drag!!
Get Z-Man Striper Eye Jigheads
Do you have any questions about this WILD bonito blitz?
Let me know if you have any other tuna, bonito, or false albacore questions down in the comments!!
And if you know someone who wants to learn more about this WILD bonito blitz, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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So many people refuse to eat them, because they are so bloody. If you know how to prepare them, Shishimi style, they’re actually very good. I did a side by side comparison with them, and both yellowfin and big eye, and I along with a couple others, actually preferred the FA over the other two. Just don’t try baking or broiling them, you’ll never get the smell out of your house. I also remember a day when no one around here would ever eat a puffer. Now everyone loves them. Go figure. Cheers!
Nice day on the water
Looked like a blast of fun! Definitely on my bucket list to catch!
Fun Video!
Bonito and False Albacore are 2 Different Fish……………….
Wow! Awesome! I know you can get Bonito off the pier on Juno beach but didn’t think by Cape Canaveral. The slam shady 2.0 proves once again it’s the top lure. Great video Ritchey
They were definitely a blast to catch.
Just had the same thing happen on the charter drifting fishing boat today out of boynton beach. Targeting snappers and other reef species but the bonito were everywhere. At one point our baits couldn’t even make to the bottom before getting hooked up with one. Not too many edible fish caught but most got at least one bonito and a good fight. Was a lot of fun. Got a few nice size ones myself. I’m beat
Football Season came early this year babbyyy!!!!
Justin… fantastic! Are bonito an east coast fish or can I find them on the west coast too?
They are abundant the west coast