The first time I fished the Florida Keys, in 2014, I swore I spotted 3 bonefish in the first hour. They were mullet. In 2015, I fished the Bahamas for the first time. I spotted, fed and hooked a bonefish all on my own the day we arrived. My first ever. That fish promptly broke my tippet on a casting knot on the first run. Luckily for all of us, fly fishing is a game of incremental improvement. And there’s no better game than the highs and lows of chasing bonefish on-foot with a fly rod.
Get the Proper Footwear
If you are going to fish on foot all day you need to have the right footwear. My favorites are Backwater Wetshoe by NRS Fishing. Regular wading boots are overkill for typical bonefish flats and kill any sort of stealth approach. They are also heavy, killing the joy of all day wading. Chacos/sandals are great to have, but at the end of the day, they do not exit soft sand easily and can get uncomfortable wading in.
The sneakiest way to get around is absolutely barefoot, but it might not be the most sustainable. Particularly, if you’re not used to running around barefoot. Even if you are, and manage to avoid the various cutting objects (shells, crabs, volcanic rocks, glass in more populated areas) you’ll get more contact on your arch than you would in any other terrain. Soft sand is going to rub against your entire foot every time you step. Therefore, you can get blisters on your arch, which usually doesn’t happen in other walking situations.
Flats booties protect the bottom of your foot while being tight around the foot and ankle which allows you to Heron-walk like you are barefoot and not lose a shoe to soft sand mounds. I wear cotton tube socks to reduce friction, no gravel guards needed.
Fishing specific brands make similar booties but I think they are overly stiff or not durable enough. When I GT fish/fish where rocks are prevalent, I wear my Patagonia River Salt Boots with Gravel Guards.
Spook Some Fish
Spooking a bonefish is a huge win when you’re fishing on foot because it lets you know you’re in the right area. I would much rather move quickly to find fish than worry about spooking some fish I’m not sure exist yet. Critically, make sure you watch where the bonefish go after you spook them.
If the fish head towards the mangroves or shallower water, perfect. The tide is pushing in. More fish will be swimming that way. Cut the new ones off by staying in place and look to likely travel areas opposite of where the spooked fish headed. Then, follow the route of the spooked ones to find other fish in skinny water.
If the spooked fish heads toward the channel, time is likely ticking. Do your best to cut fish off as they leave the mangroves and skinny water. The same truth holds for a caught fish. Watch where the fish swims after you release it!
Respect the Tides
Tides are all powerful in saltwater fishing. Tides drive water movement and depth, and Bonefish are suckers for both of these things. Understand that water level is super important.
First and foremost, you should check online tide charts before wade fishing in saltwater. Safety should be your priority, and in the saltwater, water levels change by the minute. There are a lot of great resources for checking tides and marking spots on where to fish given certain water levels, considering bonefish are constantly on the move, whether that’s into mangroves or other habitat during high tide periods to get away from bigger predators.
Get A Good Fly Line
Leave your bass and trout lines at home. And textured lines while you’re at it. Textured lines are great in heavy wind but much too noisy in my opinion for calm conditions. Just get better at casting and you will be fine in the wind. If you’re looking to get a solid setup for bonefish, do yourself a favor and visit your local fly shop. Fly lines can get confusing, leave it to the professionals to help guide you into the best setup for your pursuit.
But what about over-line the rod?
Again, get better at casting and you will be fine. Modern fly rods are magical, find a slightly slower action rod, throw this line on it and marvel at the stealthy presentations you can deliver.
When fishing on-foot, I like to have the line trailing out behind me so I can cast quickly unless I’m walking through really gnarly mangroves or on rocks. When I’m out in the water on the flats I want the line out, trailing behind me ready to cast. I keep the leader and 10-15 feet of fly line outside the rod tip to load the rod quickly. I hold the tippet just above the fly. I start my cast with a back cast aimed 180 degrees from the target.
The remaining lines floats behind me. To do this, the fly line needs to be able to float all day. If the fly line starts sinking because it’s cheap or it’s not made for the tropics, it’s not going to be a fun day.
Stay On The Flat
You won’t catch a bonefish from the parking lot. Do your darn best to stay where the bonefish might be. The tropics take a toll. Come prepared. Hydration, snacks, sunscreen, vibes. Whatever it takes.
I have learned if I stop having fun in fun situations, it’s likely some combination of hunger and dehydration. Grab a seat in the mangroves, beach, or kayak. Eat snacks and drink water & electrolytes until you feel joy returning. Take a nap. Play on your phone, tell bad jokes, jam out. Whatever it takes. Stay on the flat!
Bonus Tip: Get Your Passport In Order
An up to date passport really opens up your chances of great bonefishing. Don’t be the angler stuck at home because there is less than 6 months left on your passport. If you are thinking about getting into saltwater fly fishing, do yourself a favor and get your passport ready first and foremost.
Article written by Austin Kane, be sure to follow Austin (@austinvkane) and look into his hosted travel opportunities at @kaniakexpeditions.
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