Atlantic Bonito: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia ocean coast.

Fishing region

Season in Delmarva

JFMAMJJASOND

DNREC: common in shallow Atlantic water, 3 to 8 lb; mid-October 2026 bonito at the Old Grounds on metal (boat). (Our inference)

Season by region

Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
North Shore MA	JFMAMJJASOND
Cape Cod	JFMAMJJASOND
Rhode Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Connecticut	JFMAMJJASOND
North Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
South Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
Delmarva	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Nearshore lumps such as the Old Grounds by boat; shiny spoons and feather jigs.

Schools that jump while chasing small bait, usually beyond casting range from New York beaches.

What to look for

Fish jumping and slashing through small bait; birds over rainbait.

What to throw

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Epoxy jig3/8 to 1 oz, Small, matched to silversides, bay anchovies and sand eels. Fast steady retrieve through the school.

Silver casting spoon (Clarkspoon or Drone style)1/2 to 1 oz, No. 0 to 1 / 2.5 to 3.5 in. Burn it. Fast, steady, just under the surface.

Swimming minnow plug (Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow style)3/4 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in. Steady medium retrieve with occasional twitches and pauses.

Leader

Common mistakes

Lures too large for the micro bait they are eating
Casting into the middle of a moving school instead of ahead of it

Landing

Net or lift by the tail; they fight hard to the end.

Handling

Sharp small teeth
Treble hooks on jigs while it thrashes

Use pliers to unhook.

Keep or release

Good eating fresh. Check state rules.

Recipes for atlantic bonito

Typical: 3 to 8 lb. Large: unknown.

Limits

FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.

Sources

DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Atlantic Bonito (Official source)
DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife weekly fishing report (Oct 15 2026) (Official source)
The Fisherman: Too Warm, Or Too Cold? Species' Preferred Temperature Ranges (Aguiar, 2023) (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: The Epic Bonito Run of 2024 (Fee, 2025) (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Long Island and New York Fishing Report, August 13, 2020 (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Delmarva

Atlantic Bonito