THE YELLOW-FIN ALBACORE
(Germo microptera)
Another of the Scrombridæ family, and very closely allied to the albacore, is the yellow-fin albacore. This fish has erroneously been called "yellow-fin tuna." It does not belong to the genus Thunnus any more than does the albacore or the bonito. It is only a visitor to the California waters, and often does not make its appearance for one or two seasons at a time. They are common to the coasts of Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and are supposed to migrate with the Japanese current. This species fights altogether on the surface, but lacks the sterling gamy qualities of the tuna.
In shape it is built very much on the lines of the albacore, but with its pectoral fins only extending back to about half way between the anal and ventral, the other fins are placed the same as the albacore, and all except the pectoral strongly tinged with bright lemon; pectoral fin is more of a bright brown; eye, large and prominent.
A few have been taken weighing as much as 40 pounds and one even 65 pounds. The average, however, is about 30 pounds.
| BONITO (Sarda chilensis) |
THE BONITO, OR SKIPJACK
(Sarda chilensis)
To the angler who is not looking for the largest of game, the bonito—known as skipjack to the Catalina anglers—is possibly the most interesting of the ocean game fishes. Its beautiful metallic colors, its rapid movements, and pleasing habit of always fighting on the surface, and rarely, if ever sulking, makes it a most attractive game to the discriminating angler.