Cooking Blackfin

[JerseyBrian]

Originally Posted by PurEvl

I am confused between what the difference a false albacore and bonito?

Different species. The False Albacore is still a member of the "Tuna" family whereas the Atlantic or Pacific Bonito is actually part of the "Mackerel" family even though it looks much more like a tuna than a mackerel.

You can also tell the differences between the species by their back patterns.

Bonito


False Albacore


And just for reference and another comparison, here is a Black Skipjack Tuna

[xs_tackle]

Originally Posted by PurEvl

I am confused between what the difference a false albacore and bonito?

It's fair to be confused--we should all be confused. www.fishbase.org lists 10 different species called by the vernacular names "atlantic bonito" or "bonito" in the USA; and, "false albacore" (also called "little tunny") is a vernacular name for one of those 10 species. The list even includes the fish I learned to call "skipjack tuna" (Katsuwonus pelamis).

[rtran]

Thanks for clearing that up Brian.

[hatidua]

If little tunny (what many refer to as 'bonito') is landed quickly, bled while still alive, and put on ice right away, it's almost impossible to tell from YFT if served raw. I personally don't think it cooks nearly as well as YFT, but I've received many compliments from diehard anglers who are fussy eaters on the YFT I served for sashimi appetizers when it was little tunny all along. Most would never have tried it had they been told ahead of time what it was. Most learn to bleed/prepare them after that