Bonefish

Bonefish may be found in the shallows feeding on shrimp and small crustaceans or running in schools along the drop off of the flats. The average bonefish caught in the Keys is around eight pounds although I have released fish up to fifteen pounds. Fly fishing and light tackle live bait fishing are the preferred methods. The reaction is always the same, no matter what tackle is used. The fish will bee line for the nearest deep water and other times zig-zag and figure eight away from the hook up area not slowing down until it is over one hundred yards out. In my book every bonefish landed is a trophy catch (and release). I was around ten years old when I landed my first bonefish and I still feel my heart banging like a drum inside my chest every time I land one!

Line test for fly fishing is chosen between eight and ten pound and the same for spin fishing with live bait. Line spools or backing should have close to two hundred yards of fresh line.

Bonefish are year round residents of the Keys and so the only excuse not to fish for bonefish is very bad weather or on those rare days when the water temperature falls below sixty five degrees.

Tides have a strong influence on bonefish. Generally they stay in a particular area and move up on the flats to feed as the tide rises. The norm is not always the case and I fish some spots where they feed only on the last part of the rise and other flats where they are found feeding as the tide begins to fall. Some flats only have feeding bonefish at the beginning of the day when the tide is falling. The trick to having a good day bonefishing is to understand the local habits of the fish.

If you are ready for the fastest fish, pound for pound, in the shallows give me a call.