Football season is in full swing! Little Tunny aka Bonita or 10-15 pound footballs are thick in lower Tampa Bay. Its no secret local reefs, wrecks and inshore shipping channels are holding big numbers of these amazing speedsters.
Saturdays trip was an all artificial day, its never hurts Captain Steven’s feelings not having to gather bait. Saturday at sunrise I started the search for the tell all signs of birds diving on water churned white by the Bonita blitz. Watch carefully you can see the fish jump and determine Bonita from Mackerel schools.
I employed two tactics run and gun and drifting. Both worked equally as I was off the water by noon with worn out arms! Today we cast Clark silver spoons into the blitz and hang on. The hit is hard and the run is a drag screaming blast. I love watching my anglers dance around my Pathfinder, over, under around and through. The dance continued all morning.
One Bonita went nuts as a big shark inhaled it! I’m amazed the rod did not break as it was bent in two. We also had a tail hooked Bonita which was like being hooked to a Ferrari. I observed several fly anglers having a blast on light tackle. The Bonita are gorging on glass minnows so remember to match the hatch. The Bonita are large 10 - 15 pounds but prefer the smaller lures.
If you have never caught a Bonita you are in for a real treat. Remember to keep your luring moving forward rapidly. Don’t stop, just reel reel reel. When you thing you are reeling to fast reel faster! Did I mention the amazing weather, lows around 70 with the high around 81. Perfect weather with great fishing.
