Posted by Chris on December 18, 2001 at 11:26:30:
In Reply to: better way Re: bleeding bonito posted by el buzo viejo on December 17, 2001 at 14:26:05:
I fished from the Redondo Breakwater for many years (1967-???).
During that time I caught thousands of bonita.
We fished with barbless feathers, so they would come off with little damage.
I always kept some to eat, because they are so good fresh.
An old man, who had been fishing for years, taught me the following quick cleaning technique for bonita.
One this is mastered, you can completely clean and gut the bonita in about 15 seconds, and return to fishing.
1) place a cut in the bottom of the bonita, just ahead of the anus
2) cut through the backbone, just behind the head, but not all the way through.
3) cut the skin rest of the way around the head.
4) pick up the bonita by the tail and sling it while retaining a tight grip on the tail.
5) head and guts will fly into the water.
6) insert bonita in ice in waiting ice chest
7) take home and eat!
8) only take what you will eat that day, bonita turns to mush if you freeze it.