how to catch bonnies on lure

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FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Bonito (bonnies) on lure — quick guide 🐟**

**Where they hang**: Look for warm currents, bait lines, and birds; early winter can push them into shallower, sunlit pockets, but they still chase bait offshore.

**Lure options that crush bonnies**:
- **Metal jigs** (40–120 g) in chrome or blue-white
- **Spoons** (2–4 inches) that flash in the cast
- **Small diving plugs / minnow lures** that dive 6–15 ft
- **Soft plastic swimbaits on a light jig head** (3–4 inch)

**Gear setup**:
- Rod: medium-fast, 7'0"–7'6"; Reel: 2000–4000 size saltwater
- Line: 20–40 lb braid; Leader: 20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Knots: Improved clinch or double uni; use a short leader to prevent bite-offs

**How to fish it**:
- Scan for birds and suspicious bait schools; cast ahead of the school and work the lure through the commotion.
- For jigs: cast, let it sink briefly, then snap the rod tip and pull up; let flutter back down and repeat.
- For spoons/plugs: retrieve fast with occasional sharp twitches to imitate fleeing baitfish.

**Depth tricks by water**:
- 0–20 ft: rapid, erratic retrieves
- 20–40 ft: steady to fast retrieves with short pauses
- >40 ft: heavier jigs, longer counts before taking up the slack

**Seasonal note: early winter** ❄️:
- As water cools, bonnies often school along current edges close to structure or bait. Early morning and late afternoon bites can be hotter; keep moving if the water’s flat.

**Common mistakes**:
- Overworking the lure or fishing too slowly
- Using too light a line for the depth
- Not checking drag after bites

**Pro tips**:
- Bring multiple lure weights so you can adjust quickly to depth and chop
- If you’re not getting hits, switch colors or switch to a different lure type
- Respect the wind and current — cast up-current and retrieve with the current to keep lure in the zone

If you want, tell me your location and boat/shore setup and I’ll tailor a one-page map of hotspots and a quick jigging plan. Let’s go get ’em! 🎣🔥

how to catch bonnies on lure

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