pounds and one even 65 pounds. The average, how- 

 ever, is about 30 pounds. 



THE BONITO, OR SKIPJACK 



(Sarda chilensis) 



To the angler who is not looking for the largest of 

 game, the bonito known as skipjack to the Catalina 

 anglers is possibly the most interesting of the ocean 

 game fishes. Its beautiful metallic colors, its rapid 

 movements, and pleasing habit of always fighting on 

 the surface, and rarely, if ever sulking, makes it a 

 most attractive game to the discriminating angler. 



The bonito also belongs to the Scrombidae family, and 

 ranges from Point Conception to Mexico and south 

 through the tropics. 



Body, rounded, tapering rapidly to the tail, which is 

 strongly forked, but not so much as the albacore; 

 pectoral fins, short and placed opposite the eye; dorsal 

 fin, double, with saw-like ridges from the second dorsal 

 and the anal fins to the tail, the same as in all of this 

 family. Color, dark blue on the back, with a metallic 

 luster; sides, silvery white, with dark longitudinal lines. 

 Weight, from six to twelve pounds. 



Tackle and Lure The light tackle specifications of 

 the Tuna Club, given for albacore cannot be improved 

 upon for these fish. 



SPANISH MACKEREL 

 (Scomberomorus concolor) 



This is another of the Scrombidae family. It ranges 

 north to Monterey Bay, where it makes its appearance 

 in September, remaining until November, when it goes 

 south to the Santa Barbara channel; remaining in these 

 waters and about Catalina Island during most of the 

 winter. This fish is called bonito by many of the 

 Catalina anglers, which is a misnomer, as it is a much 

 slimmer fish than the bonito. 



The pectoral fins are small and located a little above 

 the center of the body and close to the gill covers; 

 front dorsal starts just above the base of the pectorals 

 and extend along the back for a distance a little more 

 than the length of the head, and nearly meeting the 

 second dorsal, which is about the same width as its 

 heighth; ventral fins, a little in front of the pectorals 

 and rather small; front of the anal fin under the back 

 of the second dorsal. Back, steel blue; sides, silvery. 

 Oblique lines, of the darker color of the back, running 

 158 



