Fish Pic Friday - Bonito

Brooke with a good sized Bonito

Beautiful in Spanish and Portuguese:

Bonitos are a tribe of medium-sized, ray-finned predatory fish in the family Scombridae – a family it shares with the mackerel, tuna, and Spanish mackerel tribes, and also the butterfly kingfish. Also called the Sardini tribe, it consists of eight species across four genera; three of those four genera are monotypic, having a single species each.

Darcizzle with a Bonito

Bonito is an adjective that means "pretty" applied to males or masculine objects both in Portuguese and Spanish (Bonitais the feminine form), but it is unclear whether the name of the fish is related to this. However, it is said to be derived of the Italian "buono" and the Latin "bonus", meaning "good", probably referencing the great taste of the fish. 

Brooke with a Fat Albert

Confusing the issue further, the False Albacore, aka Fat Albert, aka Little Tunny, a similar shaped and size species, is often called a Bonito, too. Here's a guide on how to distinguish them.












The Bonita are widely thought to be excellent table fare while the False Albacore is not considered good eating by many fisherman on the East Coast. However see this rebuttal. I've heard their oil is indigestible and acts like Olestra. However, it is eaten by other cultures and thought to be good. Make your own best judgement.

A shark didn't mind the taste of Darcizzle's Little Tunny

A short quiz below. Bonito or Fat Albert?

Wombat-socho checks in a little late with "Early Morning Rule 5 Monday."