Overview
Ghost of tropical flats, coveted fly fishing quarry.
Identification
Fusiform bodyTerminal mouthTransparent finsSmall scalesMetallic reflectionsLight belly
- Body
- Streamlined, fusiform body suitable for fast swimming.
- Colouration
- Silver color with blue or green reflections on the back, lighter belly.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not very evident
- Growth
- Medium; grows rapidly in the first years of life.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Albulidae
- Order
- Albuliformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Albula glossodontaAlbula koreanaAlbula nemopteraAlbula oligolepisAlbula pacifica
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, reefs, estuarine, brackish
- Preferred bottom
- sand, seagrass
- Geographic distribution
- Distributed in the coastal tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
- Micro-habitat
- Often found in sandy bottoms of lagoons and tidal areas.
Prefers the clear, warm waters of coastal lagoons.
Presence by sea area
Af Mar Rosso SudPeak
Af Indiano EstPeak
Na Costa Est SudPeak
Na Golfo MessicoPeak
Na CaraibiPeak
Sa Brasile NordPeak
As Mar ArabicoPeak
Au Nw ShelfPeak
Au Nt TropicalePeak
Au Gbr NordPeak
Oc FijiPeak
Oc MicronesiaPeak
Oc PapuaPeak
Open Indiano TropPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, shrimp, squid
- Secondary prey
- annelids, small fish, mollusks
- Occasional prey
- algae, plankton
- Feeding behaviour
- Opportunistic predator that primarily feeds on crustaceans by digging in the sand to catch its prey.
- Natural predators
- sharks, barracuda, coastal carnivores
Predation facilitated by the ability to detect and uncover hidden prey.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- small_groups
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Undergoes local migrations between feeding and spawning areas.
- Seasonal behaviour
- In some areas, increased activity is observed during the rainy season.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles tend to stay in shallower, protected waters.
- Adults
- Adults may move to deeper waters to spawn.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- November, December
- Spawning depth
- between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, small and transparent.
- Larval stage
- Pelagic larvae, rapidly developing in open waters.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Bonefish
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, mattina, tramonto
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Actively hunts on flats.
Medium
Good activity in shallow areas.
High
Moves to deeper areas.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
sandy beacheslagoonsmangrovesriver mouths
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
fly fishingspinningtrollingbottom fishing
Other applicable
SpinningPesca A Mosca In MareStreamerSpinning LeggeroSpinning Ultraleggero
Recommended baits
artificial shrimpfake baitfishfeather fliesartificial worms
Baits by pressure
Low
Clouser minnowCrab flyGotchaJig head + softbaitShrimp artificiale (gomma)Shrimp flyBucktail jig
Medium
Gambero vivoGambero morto / GamberoStriscia di calamaro
High
Clouser minnowCrab flyGambero vivo
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Agile and fast fighter, tries to escape to open water.
- Handling
- Handle carefully to avoid injuring the delicate fins.
- Release
- Release quickly and gently into the water to ensure survival.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA world record for Bonefish is 7.7 kg caught in the Bahamas in 2007. Typical catches for this species are around 4-6 kg, making the record specimen particularly impressive.
- In the kitchen
- Not commonly eaten due to numerous bones, but sometimes used in local dishes.
- Cultural notes
- Often celebrated in sport fishing for its strength and speed in combat.
- Historical notes
- A favorite species in fly fishing, celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide.
