When you think of saltwater fly fishing, chances are a bonefish cruising over a shallow, tropical sand flat might come to mind. I have always been in a unique position in the fly fishing world, growing up on Cape Cod. Almost all of my time is spent saltwater fly fishing, and until recently, I’ve never cast a fly with swaying palm trees in sight. For me, saltwater fly fishing looks like surf crashing over coastal boulders, vicious blitzes, and Stripers on sand flats. This last image in my head, the various Cape flats, has always left me curious about the other flats fishing the world of fly fishing has to offer. These past two springs, I have finally gotten my chance to travel south and see what bonefish are all about. Here’s what I learned from my first experience with DIY bonefishing.
Tips for DIY Bonefishing
If you’re new to bonefishing or saltwater fishing in general, any tips can help you find and land more fish. While by no means is this an all-encompassing guide, the following tips have played a pivotal role in DIY bonefishing over the past several years.
It’s All About the Presentation
Bonefish are spooky but not always picky. A whiffed cast that lands too close to a cruising fish or a fly that plops down just a little too hard will send these fish ripping away, but when it comes to fly selection, close enough is just fine. Keep it simple, if you see a lot of small crabs on the flats, tie on a small crab, and in just about any situation a small to medium-sized tan or brown shrimp will get the job done.
I would focus the vast majority of my efforts on presentation. Where will you place the fly, and how will you make the fly move in the water? When casting a cruising bonefish, it is crucial to lead the fish to the right amount. If you can drop your fly in a hula hoop about 2-3 feet in front of the cruising bone’s nose, then you will be in business! Too close and you will certainly spook the fish, and too far gives the fish too much time to change direction and not cross paths with your offering.
When it comes to presenting the fly in the water, the best advice I can give is to observe and cater to the fish’s reactions to your fly. I tell my clients on trips sight fishing for striped bass this same thing. I always give my fly a twitch to get a fish’s attention, and if they come to it aggressively, then I will move my fly accordingly. If they are cautious and warily come over to look, then I will let the fly sit and just make small twitches. Like anything, play around with different presentations until you find what works for you, but no matter what, keep tension on your line. You need to be tight to your fly to make sure you can feel the takes and maximize your chance of sticking the fish!
Know the Tides
This is the case in any saltwater fishery across the globe. Patterns in the ocean are run by tides. If you don’t know the tides, then you are taking a shot in the dark, especially when you aren’t familiar with the area. From what I could tell in my little experience with bonefishing, these fish are most active when water is moving.
When the tide is flooding (rising), bones push onto flats and then further into the backwaters, where they can feed under the protection of mangroves and lagoons. These fish like to get shallow and only need a few inches of water over the flat to push up and feed, avoiding bigger predators like barracudas and sharks. During the ebb (falling tide), these fish follow the water out of the mangroves to more open water flats. Now, these patterns will vary from place to place, but if you know what tides you are fishing, you can use your observations while out on the water to start to crack the code!
Lighter is Better
Bonefish certainly pull hard, but they are no big game target, so be careful not to be over-gunned. I’m sure some situations exist where the extra power of a 9wt is useful, but a properly set up 8wt is the perfect tool for the job. With the correct line for the rod, an 8wt has more than enough power to slice through stiff winds. An 8wt also gives you the perfect finesse to slip a shrimp in front of a spooky bonefish in skinny water with confidence. If you have perfect conditions and are up for the extra battle, a lighter setup like a 7wt is a lot of fun. Regardless of your rod choice, I would opt for your lightest tippet option. Bonefish are undeniably leader-shy, so 10 lb fluoro is the best bet. You can go lighter with 8 lb, but you need to be super cautious with any abrasion on your tippet because you will snap off in an instant. If you are having a tough time with keeping fish on, then size up your tippet to 12 lb fluoro.
If it Doesn’t Move, It’s Not a Fish
When you are on a beautiful flat, and the conditions are lining up right, everything looks like a fish. Bonefish are purposely inconspicuous; it is in their best interest not to be seen. They’re called the “Ghosts of the Flats” for a reason, and spotting them in time to make a shot is no easy feat. The best way to spot these gray ghosts is to look for shadows on the flats. Just remember that you’re looking for moving shadows; bonefish are always on the move. If your “fish” doesn’t move after a second or two, move on because chances are it is not a bone. Sure, they will pause to root around, but even then, they just can’t seem to keep still. Once you pick out one or two cruising bones, you shouldn’t have any problems spotting more throughout the day.
Bonus: Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Guide
I know this is an article about DIY fishing for Bonefish, but you really can’t match the level of expertise offered by a guide. Any professional, especially the local guys, knows these waters like the back of their hand and can teach you so much about the fishery in just a few hours. I prefer to fish DIY, but as someone who loves fishing, I can’t pass up on an opportunity to see a fishery through the eyes of someone who truly knows it intimately. In an ideal world, I would love to fish with a guide the first day I am in a new area to get the local tips and tricks before I go to tackle it solo. Just remember, if you plan to fish on your own after, be polite and ask the guide to show you some places where you can fish on your own so you don’t step on any toes!
Final Thoughts
This list should give you a good headstart out there when tackling the challenge of DIY bones. While it’s not exactly proven by science, I’m a strong believer that confidence, whether it’s on a spot, a special fly, or a tide, all directly correlates to shots at fish. Sometimes, even just a few tips can give you the confidence boost needed to find success on the water. Remember to research your specific area and try to get the local info; good luck out there!
For more bonefish tips, check out the articles below:
Mastering Bonefish Fly Fishing: Top 5 Tips for On-foot Anglers
