Mac Tuna & Bonitos

[Big Berg]

Go fellow raiders. I went for a quick fishing session yesterday at Hill 60 and managed to pull in 2 Bonitos and a Mac Tuna. I don't usually eat these fish so I was wondering whether I am better off using them as bait or eating them. My in-laws seem to love them but they are well stocked from my last fishing trip.

What do you guys recommend?

If I were to use them as bait what would be the target species. I don't have a boat so I'm restricted to land.

Ant suggestions?

[eholdn]

G'day mate,

Had a fishing trip down to bermagui not to long ago and to cut a long story short - speaking to the fishing club president down there said he never uses bonnies as bait anymore since he was told how to cook them. Here's the problem, after putting away 16 beers i kind of forget the most important bit "how to cook them". I know he mentioned something about the bbq and making sure you bleed them straight away if your going to eat them.

I'll try to find out from a member of the club and get back to re: how to cook, might take a couple of weeks but i'll def. find out.

Cheers

Pete.

[Robofish]

G'day Mate,

I use both species (and striped tuna for that matter) for bait and pretty much anything likes them. They are a very bloody, oily fish and I have done particularly well with them for flatties.

Dave

[Big Berg]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I might try eating a bonito and the Mac. I'll leave the other bonito for bait. I guess I'll be looking up some recipes

[huckfinn]

We got heaps of bonito on a charter, had some as sashimi with wasabi and soy sauce, delicious, and also seared and cooked through just in the pan,

Huck

[Basil D]

I dont mind eating these fish fresh, bled into ice slurry, they taste a treat cooked or sushimi.

[Big Berg]

Thanks guys. I tried the mac sashimi style and it was awesome. I bled it pretty well but still found some areas still a little bit bloody. Can anyone please give me some pointers on what the best way to bleed these fish are. I usually just cut through the gills and let them flap around in my keeper net until they are dead.

[Basil D]

I cut straight through the bottom of the fish right into the spine and then break the neck backwards, sounds harsh but its quick and they bleed faster and dont thrash around.

[ssymmetri]

Bonito is really quite nice if bled and iced. My palate is pretty sensitive to the bloody taste so I can't handle mac tuna, just use it as bait or chuck it back.

This might help Onboard Handling of Sashimi-grade Tuna

They seem to cut tuna behind the pectoral fin to help it bleed. Never tried it though, I just gave up on mac tuna instead =P