Albies & Bonito

[O.D. Mike]

Originally Posted by numbskull

If you are trolling, try well off the rip or zig zag over the rip to avoid bluefish. Troll small swimming plugs (rapala sliver, fast track rebels, yozuri crystal minnows or deep divers....or small jigs (the hairballs work). Jack your boat speed up a notch.

If casting, deadly #^&#^&#^&#^&s, maria jigs, yozuri L jacks, swedish pimple, small jigs (again the hairball works) all work. You can also throw crystal minnows or spofford needles.

Guys also like sluggo's (particularly for blitzing albies) but I have no experience doing that. You can also chum (sandeels or spearing) and drift baits on small hooks back into the slick...supposedly this is the surest way to get them.

Bonito love sandeels and spearing, they attack from behind like bluefish. Albies love peanuts and anchovies......they inhale their prey like bass, from any angle.

The most fun way to get them is fly fishing. Bonito like white skinny flies......the bonito bunny is a good place to start. Albies are harder and often very fussy (blueball city), but crease flies, sandeel flies, and short fat chartruse/white deceivers are what I've settled on as working for me. When casting into a blitz with a fly, get it moving fast for bonito, but slower for albies. Get ready to be humbled.

Thanks for sharing Numby!