Bonefish
name: Bonefish
other names: Bone, Macabi, Silver Ghost, White Fox
Bonefish live on the shallow sand and mud flats, where they feed. When not feed these fish move into slightly deeper water for safety.
At times the fish may be seen literally standing on their heads with their tails sticking out of the water. This action is called tailing. Bonefish move onto the shallow sand and mud flats to feed on animals that live on the bottom. They use their conical snouts to root around the bottom to dislodge worms, mollusks, shrimps, and crabs. The sight of these fish tailing as you approach is just transfixing.
The bone fish life history is poorly understood. It is believed that spawning occurs at sea during the late winter and early spring. The species may attain a length of 30 inches and a weight of nearly 20 pounds.
Bonefish are one of most fly fishing peoples target species and as such people travel all over the world to come and fish for these silver bullets. The most common method is to fish out of a shallow-draft flats boats that are poled across the sand and grass floats. Blind casting can be effective, but sight fishing is by far the preferred method. Best sight fishing is on sunny days with very little wind. Because the water is shallow and clear, care must be taken not to startle the fish. When sight fishing, it is imperative to keep quiet and still. Bones are extremely difficult to see in their habitat and very skittish.
