20-pound Dacron is pretty much standard, but the new Hatch backing tests at 68-pounds and is smaller. Bonefish are strong and they’ve got hard mouths. Feeding There are so many of them that eating them is difficult, and this is why Bonefish hunting is a catch-and-release exercise rather than catching them for food. Your first hookup will show you why. You’ll find yourself presenting the fly on your backcast a lot. Our experience in the Bahamas is about 4 to 1 the other way – you cover so much more water and can see so much better from a skiff. Morning and afternoon, looking with the sun at your back is ideal (lunchtime most places, it’s pretty much overhead). It was a master’s-level education in bonefish and the flats. Ultra-spooky, 12-pound or lighter. Once spotted, quickly cast your fly. And that’s the key to catching them according to the two captains. The only thing better than catching a bonefish is catching a big one. A light drag is best. Watch the clouds for breaks and really scan hard when the sun comes out. Hope to be on a trip soon. Thanks. Rhode even created a special fly about which Lee Wulff would write, “The best fly I know for bonefish is the Homer Rhode Shrimp Fly.” It’s not known whether Rhode was sight-casting to bonefish or simply catching them by accident while he cast to other fish. Bonefishing takes a lot of careful calculation, especially if you’re hoping to haul in a record-breaker. THIS is a simple, fantastic bonefish write-up. 10 seconds should do it, 15 max. Five minutes a day practicing on your own will do far more. Double-haul for sure. Short-range accuracy and speedy reaction are much more important than range. We spent the last week fishing down in Belize with GofishBelize, and we had a bonefish on the line within 15 minutes of our first day.Belize is home to millions of bonefish and is a great place if you want to give this fish a shot. Look for fish close, mid-distance, and way out there. One of the members asked this question: “Lefty, you’ve fished the whole world, for just about every gamefish there is. Tradition maybe. The good ones are beauties to fish with. Plus, the flats are where their food is. If you’re wading at a half-mile an hour (typical), crude sweep-rate calculation tells you that a fish cruising at 5 mph is 10 times more likely to run into you than you are to bump into the fish. In the mangroves, go to 20-pound. There’s a ton of good writing and videos online too, on every aspect of bonefishing. Catching bonefish during a Belizean rainstorm (photo: Chad Shmukler). If you’ve ever needed a good reason for working out, chasing bonefish should do it. Size 4 and even 2 is right most of the time. In fact, it rained so hard from when we woke up until 9 AM that we didn’t leave for fishing until 10 AM. With the exception of the specific fly and gear recommendations, this is a good primer for anyone traveling to catch any species of fish. Check the leader often, replace if frayed. If there's water, there's probably a Bone Fish "living" in it. He lives in Cocoa Beach. It was obvious that he’d caught a few fish in his lifetime. Well done sir. If you could only fish for one species, what would it be?”, Lefty paused a few seconds and then gave his answer. It’s a cash economy nearly everywhere bonefish are caught. Lucky to Catch a Few Bonefish! Unless you’re certain you’ll never leave the boat and a boat bag is good enough, you need a wading pack of some kind. By the time you get them in, they’re really exhausted, and if they don’t die from that, a predator can snap them up easily. (I carry a 7-weight for calm conditions calling for the gentlest presentation. Not a perfect formula, but $100 a day ($50 bucks each for two of you in the boat) is a normal “tip” for the boat (it’s really not a tip, it’s most of the guide’s pay for the day). Taylor’s Delight. Catching a bonefish or a tarpon is reward enough in itself. This means you’ll need mostly beadchain eyes, some lead eyes for deep water and windy days, and a few lights for skinny water and spooky fish. The best bonefishing checklist for a beginner. 8 Tips for increasing your chances of catching Bonefish on the fly. Since bonefish live in shallow inshore water, fishing may be done by wading or from a shallow-draft boat. Your email address will not be published. Credit cards just don’t work. Lifetime of fly fishing and fly tying, couple decades in Florida saltwater, but new to bonefish. All fantastic rods. A three-pound fish will part a 15-pound leader effortlessly if you’ve wrapped the line around the rod butt. I like buggy, impressionistic flies, with legs, not much flash, longer tails/wings. Very good indeed, but hard to agree that you’ll catch more fish wading than from a boat. Ask the guide to give you advice, teach you, tell you when you could do better. Cast the fly and position it in the fish’ feeding lane. And as old submarine skippers teach new ones … if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. John Byron is a retired navy officer. If a shark or barracuda is chasing the fish. I have both (I know. If your line loads the rod well, it’s a tradeoff between casting ease and a potential for more splash. I try to be kind to myself, go slow, but move along. Gel-spun is tricky. Commanded one of them. For targeting giant bonefish and in the bonefish tournaments I fish three fly patterns: a brown Merkin, a brown Duane Crab (toad), and the Red-Headed Stepchild (reddish-brown-colored Gotcha that I use for catching smaller, “release” bones). Most presentations will be inside 60 or 70 feet (from the reel, leader included) and many much closer than that. But… Big but. All my flies are tied on size 1 or 2 Mustad 3407s. I fished with John out of Abaco Lodge last spring and he’ll join the gang at Bair’s Lodge for a couple trips coming up. The Taylor’s Delight is one of my all-time favorite saltwater flies. I like Simms flats sneakers. They were all smart, decent individuals. And the farther you wade, the farther it is back to the boat. Too early. If there’s medicine you need or you’ll be in trouble, carry extra pills in your pocket. Old ones OK. Having fished with a dozen guides. There are two times to set the hook. Turtles. Bonefish feed on the bottom, burying their snouts in the sand or silt. When the fish are close, the fly should remain still allowing the fish to discover the shrimp on its own. A trout-set will lose fish every time. Go to the experts. I’m a member and support them when I can. Going to Aleuthra in November and practicing as much as I can. All rights reserved. Long-billed ballcap (I know there are a gazillion kinds of fishing hats, have tried most of them; ballcap is best). The easy part of what we’re saying here is that most of the time in … I am going after bonefish for the first time. Phil. The perfect shot is a rare thing — treasure it when you get one. Too light a leader kills fish. The crystal clear water of the flats where bonefish are found makes for great sight-fishing. The fish will often be coming towards you. But relatively new to bonefish, an average caster, still learning the game. Inexpensive to join, a slick magazine, and they’ll send you a nice cap. Mudding But not as many as I want and not as big as some I’ve lost. Ditto deal with other physical issues you might have. Be alert!). Short strips pop-pop-pop, slow strips, a bit faster if the fish is chasing you fly. While feeding on very shallow flats... 2. Try to see what the guide sees when he calls a fish. Three: on a lawn or off your dock, practice five minutes a day. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Some premium credit cards pick up the bill. And if you squint hard enough, more different kinds of little critters than you ever knew existed. It’s you that will be holding back your fishing, not your gear. Led by Dr. Aaron Adams, a super bunch of young scientists are studying the fish and learning things about them never before understood. My tarpon guide calls them ‘fish deflectors.’ Maybe I’m over-thinking it, but the concern that mono weed guards and stalk eyes on shrimp patterns might prevent a hook-up seems legit to me. Anyone who gets burned is an idiot. What an outstanding and succinct introduction to the wonderful wacky world of bonefish. Bonefish will stick to the flats mostly to avoid predators that swim in deeper waters. Fishing Tips Because they inhabit very shallow water and are easily spooked, catching a bonefish takes skill and experience. This is an awesome checklist!! On his staff are genuine experts defining new knowledge of the fishery. Fly Fishing for Bonefish with a Taylor’s Delight The small rabbit fur wing (made from zonker cut from the hide) gives the fly ample movement, even when stationary. Traveling I had opportunity to spend three days with Justin Lewis down at Crooked Island earlier this year. Carry-on only — if you can help it, never check a bag on your way to the fishing. It’s considered poor form to stick your fly in the guide’s neck. You want expert advice? Not much fishing today. They do fine on the smooth sand flats too. The bottom of the flats they inhabit varies in composition from sand or grass to coral and rocky substrates. Once hooked, a bonefish will run across the flat leaving a rooster tail of water like a bass boat on competition day. Have the camera all ready, lift the fish with two hands, put it back in the water while it’s still dripping. How fancy they are is reflected in the price. Thanks for the conservation stick. They are named Bonefish because of the number of tiny little bones in their body. How to Catch a Bonefish 1. All the beginning bonefish anglers I know broke off their first fish, even the first few, and those are the one’s they actually hooked. Look for dark shapes, shadows, flashes, tails, nervous water, a push ahead of fish, a big troubled patch of water in the distance. With at least a hundred-fifty yards of backing. They push conservation and fund a ton of new science, to significant good effect. “And on marl bottoms, worms too.” After listening to Aaron at a club meeting last week, I’ve tied both Borski-worm and San-Juan-worm patterns for my next trip. You’ll prefer sun to cloud shadows. You won’t need armored flats boots usually, but when you’re wading in rubble, you’ll be really glad you have them. Besides personal skill, two factors will affect your casting. Learn the ways of the gray ghost of the flats. Plans to spend his kids’ inheritance chasing bonefish and tarpon. Maybe a spot of pink or orange or red somewhere on the fly. And too late. Weighted for water depth, current, wind, etc. There may be a downside to using 15-pound tippet, but I don’t know what it is. And enough in your carryon to see you through if the trip gets extended by weather or airplane troubles. If the fish winds its way through mangroves (and then walk slowly along your line to untangle it — amazingly, the fish may just sit there and wait for you). It’s a lot like the one hand clapping thing. I’m a gear junky.). Give the rig a freshwater washdown every day when you come in. The big multi-rod rod cases are super. Casting school? I always carry some classics: charlies, gotchas, mini-puffs, etc. I like tying them … This is great for all those who fish for bonefish not just beginners. Mono or fluorocarbon? … Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 12 comments / Posted on August 20, 2018 / by Louis Cahill. While bonefish can be found in the coastal waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico, they are most common in the Keys, where, starting May and June, as the waters warm, they begin to flock to the flats to forage for shrimp and other small species of bait. Strip Set – These are strong fish with hard mouths. Not much is known about the biology of bonefish, but spawning occurs from November through May, probably in deep water or offshore. The whole relationship between line weight and rod size is an anachronistic leftover from the 1960s. Worth reading twice! But rods do break. Most captains I spoke with agreed that the simplest lure to tempt a bonefish … Quick-dry trousers or shorts … but please read the next entry. Bonefish — Getting into the game | Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog, Concentration, Relaxation and Communication Equal Better Bonefishing, 5 Tips For Better Dry Fly Fishing From Ronnie Hall. You’ll do both. Bonefishing is not about numbers; it’s not even about size — it’s about catching a spooky fish when he is at his most vulnerable and the odds are stacked against you. I was taken by the submarine references and realized I recognized the name. He’s written A Beginner’s Guide to Catching Bonefish to capture his experience and help out fellow neophytes considering their first bonefish trip. If the fish are coming at you on a steady track, you may want to get the fly in the water ahead of them and let them run up to it before you start stripping. Many times, those who are beginners at bonefishing find that the best option is to hire an experienced guide. Remember the submariner’s mantra for going on liberty: A full-cover tropical shirt or pullover or hoody. Catch Bonefish in the Florida Keys Often referred to as “The Ghost” for its ability to blend with its surroundings and vanish before your eyes, bonefish represent one of the great flats challenges. Then practice into the wind. The flats give you time to think. Match the color of the bottom. Because bonefishing is predominantly a catch-and-release fishery, neither the number of bonefish caught each year nor their associated economic value is known. Average bonefish aren’t leader-shy and with a good presentation they should get to the fly before they see the leader. Should you move or let the fish come to you? Best speed I’ve had was on an island with 200 population — the world is wired. Try a quiet place with relatively still waters. Your learning efforts should go to getting more shots and blowing less of them. Nine or ten feet, longer if the fish are spooky (tie on more tippet). Train yourself to strip-set the hook. The critters you’re trying to emulate do. I give them the money when I get in the boat in the morning. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. There’ll be a lodge tip at the end of the visit also. Tip No. The best spinning setup for bonefish is a light spinning rod paired with an ultra-light saltwater spinning reel and 6 to 8 lb monofilament line. And yes, you will see barracudas and sharks. Practice practice practice. The Best Bonefish Jig. And get in shape. I also carry a 9-weight for ugly winds and a 7-weight, which I hope to use someday. Having carried an excellent hip pack for a year, I decided I liked a sling better. Have a copy of your main passport page in your wallet and in every piece of luggage. Really drive the line speed. Man with hands on his hips Some with vertically stripes or mottled hue. What about weed guards? (But not always! The bonefish won’t do much harm, but the coral and mangroves and the baby barracudas and needlefish will. It has strong leadership and deep pockets, with supporters and board members like Tom Brokaw, Paul Volker, Yvon Chouinard, Stu Apte, and Christopher Buckley, Jr. Does away with any suspicion that it might be results-based. There is no way to keep sand out of your flats shoes … but socks and gaiters help. 4: If you only have a long weekend, and your desire to catch a bonefish outweighs your need … Armor up. And you’re tips will sure come in handy! Spent most of his time in submarines. Great article. Copyright © 2021 Salt Water Sportsman. Bonefishing is a type of sport fishing where anglers seek to catch one certain type of fish, called a bonefish. Have never had trouble bringing both the carry-on and the rod pack aboard as cabin luggage. They usually see the fish first. Think about it: if they were going away, you’d never see ‘em. Chase it, even. Good summary of the basics and for me, an intermediate flats flyfisher a good reminder of what’s important. We like to use either a small white bucktail jig with a piece of raw shrimp on it or a sinking saltwater fly. BTT is a fantastic nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and advancing the sport and the fishery for our three slam-species, tarpon, bonefish, and now permit too. So far, I’ve never used it — I’ve never been out there when it was calm.). These bonefish guys will usually eat whatever you put in front of them … if you do that right. Ties some neat flies. Sun gloves and dry hands wipe protective slime off the fish. Required fields are marked *. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I’ve seen schools at a quarter mile … and missed fish ten feet away. Bonefish in Hawaii | You cant catch a Bonefish until you catch a Bonefish . One of the coolest parts about bonefishing, according to anglers who frequently target the species, is how visual of an experience it is. You betcha. We faced what we’ve had every day since Sunday – heavy wind and rain. Learn to clear the line when you hook one. You may be flying on some rickety old airplanes. Rays. Wet your bare hands first. Tropical of course. Been chasing bonefish for just 3 years. Less than ankle deep, one on one with a big skinny water Bonefish Or … splash too much wading, line the fish, false cast once too often, hit the fish on the head with your fly, and the fish won’t wait around to see if you’re a barracuda or an osprey … it’s gone. It’s not as bad as tarpon, but you will lose fish regularly. This article will be reviewed repeatedly as I get closer and closer to my trip. Ghost of the flats? Boga-grips and other lip-holds are verboten. Mine are two Scott Meridians (8 ,9), a Sage Motive (8), and an Orvis Helios 3D (7). Ask the lodge manager what’s normal. (6.3 cm); then during a period of metamorphosis the eel … I have Nautilus, Waterworks-Lamson, Galvan, and the new Orvis Hydros SL (which may be the best reel bargain ever). If the fish are coming at you on a steady track, you may want to get the fly in the water ahead of them and let them run up to it before you start stripping. Can’t hurt, I guess, but it’s not necessary at all. Fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in the Bahamas , Puerto Rico and southern Florida . Phenomenal. He leads BTT’s Bahamas initiative. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Aaron himself is a fine fisherman and an innovative fly tier. Global Entry (US Customs and Border Protection) is a great program to make travel easier, $100 for five years, includes you TSA-Pre as part of the package. WIFI, cell-phone coverage, connectivity: check it out in advance, but usually just fine. Bonefishing Facts Why is it called the Bonefish? Basic Navigation Rules and Boating Skills, Essential Tips and Techniques for Fishing and Boating, How to Avoid Fouling Flies and Snagging Bottom. Fight to see which fish gets the fly. Raising your rod to set the hook doesn’t usually work – Strip, every time. The flats will find muscles you’ve forgotten you had. The bonefish is known for its sporting qualities and challenge in finding, hooking and landing it. During the warmer months very large schools of bonefish will often back off the shoreline into about 5 to 10... 3. Bonefish flats teem with life. Get the right fly in front of them the right way and bonefish will hoover it up with no hesitation. The fish don’t care where you can see them best and where you can best cast to them. Large arbors are best. Flylines: weight-forward lines with fat, short bellies are good for a beginner, Rio Quickshooter etc. Opinion, yes, but he’ll tell you there’s some scar tissue attached. Your article is the most comprehensive I have seen, Pingback: Bonefish — Getting into the game | Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog, I just tripped over your article beginner’s guide to catching bonefish, what a great read. This is for beginners, from one of them. You can get by with just one decent outfit to start with. The fly should sink to the bottom in about three seconds. 19 November, 2020 Categories: bonefish. Of course, try to make as little noise as possible yourself to avoid scaring off your catch. I prefer FC … but your mileage may vary. Is there a chance we were shipmates on the 611 in the early 70’s. Carry flies, leaders and tippet, a snip, a hemostat (I like Rising’s), sunscreen, gooky for your lips, pills if you need them (me, Tylenol always — man, sometimes you get sore out there). Both are amongst the … Fortunately, with the right flies, fly placement, stripping techniques and focus, you too can find and land a huge bonefish. If you’ve got a trick knee (me: football, hockey, and handball), bring your knee brace. Thanks to some patient guides, I’ve caught a fair number. New flats boats and motors are a plus. The Orvis Andros flats boots are equally protective but a bit more clunky. Three steps: Two: read a good casting book (George Roberts’. Presented by Ross Reels.. Make sure you are fishing bonefish waters. Ran the navy operation at Cape Canaveral. Angler's Tome Description: They all died years ago, they just haven't figured it out yet. As a buddy says, “when you’re fishing, you’re learning.” These are some of the things I think I’ve learned. Remember that the first person to the scene of an air crash is always the pilot — he’s motivated to fly safely and almost certainly well skilled and experienced on the route he’s flying. How to cast in the wind? Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. I put a heavy mono 2.5-foot pigtail at the end of my flyline and loop the leader to it — doesn’t affect the cast/rollover and does add a couple feet to leader length. Mono is unacceptable. Known worldwide as a premiere fly and light tackle target, bonefish are predominately a coastal species, commonly found in intertidal flats, mangrove areas and deeper adjacent waters. Reels: any decent saltwater reel sized to the rod is fine. You usually don’t have to cast far to catch a bonefish. Some border on opulent … but they still chase the same schools of fish. But wading slowly across the flat or in a poled boat takes you to channels and feeding places you might not ever encounter if you just stayed in one spot. I look forward to a follow up including info and reminders for those who love the chase. Fishpond, Orvis, etc. Respectfully John D. IC3 SS, Your email address will not be published. Strip Strip Strip... With your skiff in position, cast your fly in front of and slightly beyond the bonefish. What’s Correct, Left or Right Hand Retreive? Most bonefish are caught in depths from 6 inches to 10 ft. (15 cm to 3 m).The species begins life looking more like an eel than a fish and undergoes a leptocephalus larval stage during which it grows to a length of about 2 1/2 in. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Do Not Get Sunburned! A Bonnier Corporation Company. If you want to catch a bonefish the size of a mullet, go ahead and book a trip to Mexico or Belize. You want the fish to think ‘I don’t know what that is, but it sure looks scrumptious.’. Goes with the game. Over-lining one weight can be useful, especially for wind. You’ll see me on the flats. That would put Rhode’s first fly-caught bonefish at about 1935. Cheers Sir! Bonefish can be caught year-round in the Keys, but peak bonefish season is generally March through October. Again, watch the videos. Don’t touch the fish if you can get the hook loose without — barbless makes that easy. Think about having a backup just in case. And the guide will yell and everyone else will laugh at you. Practice that too. At times, getting your fly into a 10′ circle will work, if you take the ‘quickly’ part seriously. Thanks, John! Become a member. Casting downwind is sure easier than upwind. Get the fly in the ballpark, quickly. UV penetrates clouds. Picture? Fast action best … but don’t worry about the precise make and model until your casting gets better than your rod can handle. Having it listed as bullet points made it easier to mentally digest. Both fish are elusive. “Bonefish!”. This isn’t something that happens by chance. Quoting Homer Simpson: Duh. You’ll want a few 6s or 8s for really spooky fish. Relax. Half-dozen trips. A year and a half ago I was in the room with the late great Lefty Kreh as he held forth in a day-long session at our fly-fishing club. Best for seeing life through a bonefish’s eyes: Aaron Adams. A guide told me I should go to a casting school only if I wanted to sit around at night drinking with a bunch of fat rich guys. Every day. How long? Worry about it. They can be deadly. Dunno why. Bonefish are considered one of the premier fly and light tackle game fish. And that’s it, what a beginner thinks beginners might want to know before they become ‘destination fishermen’ chasing the world’s finest gamefish. How to improve your casting?