Eastern Little Tuna
Eastern little tuna — called bonito by most South African anglers — are a genuine target species along the country's warm Indian Ocean coastline, not just accidental bycatch.
Recreational fishers actively pursue them for sport, and their inshore habits make them accessible from small boats. Fast, compact, and built for speed, they're a solid introduction to tuna-style fishing without requiring a long offshore run.
Scientific Name: Euthynnus affinis
Also known as Bonito, Kawakawa, Mackerel tuna, Oostelike kleintuna
- Streamlined tuna body with a deeply forked tail; dark blue back with 12 oblique, wavy stripes — more orderly than the little tunny's markings.
- Two or more distinct dark spots between the pelvic and pectoral fins — a reliable field mark that separates this species from similar small tunas.
- Scaleless except for the corselet (a band of scales behind the head) and the lateral line.
- Typically caught at 1–5 kg in South African recreational fishing; maximum size around 15 kg and 1.1 m, though fish that large are uncommon inshore.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Indo-Pacific; in South Africa they occur primarily along the warmer Indian Ocean coastline, where subtropical surface waters support their preferred temperature range.
- An inshore and nearshore species — found closer to the coast than most other tunas, which puts them within reach of small-boat anglers.
- Associated with warm surface waters; their presence along the South African coast is linked to the warm Agulhas Current system running down the east coast.
- Less common in the colder Atlantic waters west of Cape Point, where the related little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) is more likely to appear.
Key Locations
- KwaZulu-Natal coast — the warm Agulhas Current keeps water temperatures suitable for eastern little tuna along this stretch for much of the year.
- Eastern Cape inshore waters — fish move into this zone as warm water pushes south during warmer months.
Specific Spots
- Surface temperature breaks and current edges — where warm Agulhas water meets cooler inshore water — concentrate baitfish and draw feeding eastern little tuna.
- Look for working birds and surface commotion; these fish herd baitfish to the surface and feed visibly, making them locatable by eye.
- Reef edges and drop-offs close to shore hold bait and give the fish a structural reference point; troll or cast along these transitions.
- Floating debris and weedlines offshore can aggregate both bait and small tunas — worth investigating when running to deeper water.
Eastern Little Tuna FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Eastern Little Tuna?
Small metal jigs (20–60 g) and casting spoons are the go-to, chrome, blue/white, and pink/white finishes that mimic small baitfish work consistently when retrieved fast.
What flies work for Eastern Little Tuna?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate small baitfish) in white, chartreuse, or blue/white, sizes 1/0 to 3/0, are a reliable starting point; keep them sparse and slim to match the local anchovy profile.
When is the best time to fish for Eastern Little Tuna?
Summer and autumn (November through April), warm Agulhas Current water is closest inshore and surface temperatures peak, bringing the best concentrations of fish to accessible depths.
How do you catch Eastern Little Tuna?
Most South African anglers target eastern little tuna from small boats working the nearshore zone, either trolling lures along current edges and reef drop-offs or casting into visible surface feeds. Locating feeding fish by watching for birds and surface activity is the primary search method.
What do Eastern Little Tuna eat?
Feeds primarily on small baitfish, anchovies, sardines, and similar schooling species, as well as squid and crustaceans near the surface. Match the size and profile of the local bait with slender, fast-moving lures or flies.
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