Bonito and albacore are most often stimulated to strike by a fast moving bait. The best way to simulate a desperately fleeing sand eel is with a "hand-over-hand" retrieve. When your fly hits the water, tuck the grip under the armpit of your casting arm and strip the fly line from the first guide down to your stripping basket with each hand in succession To vary your retrieve and keep your fly in the water for longer, try moving the fly ten feet or so, then pausing before stripping again. You will ofte n see when a fish hits your fly, but in my experience the best tactic is to strip until you feel resistance, then strike with the line by pulling hard against the weight of the fish. Getting the hook well is difficult when the rod is tucked under your ar mpit and bonito have very hard mouths.

If like me you like to release most of your fish, try to keep the fight short and "tail" or net you fish as soon as it begins to circle near the gunwale. Try not to twist or bend the tail because this may hurt the fish, and be sure to revive it carefully before releasing it. Bonito and albacore will exhaust themselves with long hard runs, and they go into shock easily. A carefully landed fish will live to eat another fly.

Late August through the end of September are the times when when bonito can be found around the harbors of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. False albacore are usually not far behind and will sometimes stay longer than bonito, but they are rarely present in the same concentrations. Be sure to check the weather conditions before your trip because cold snaps and wind shifts can sometimes turn the fishing off quickly. On Nantucket, Bill Pew, proprietor of Bill Fisher's Tackle, is always wired into the fish ing conditions. He and his guides are skilled fly fishermen and can give you detailed, up to date information which could make or break a trip. As always, keep in touch with Reel-Time for the latest FishWire reports and bulletin board banter about fishi ng for bonito and albacore.