The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Bonefish Albula vulpes
Bonefish Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 20–28 in, 3–8 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 31 in and 14 lb |
| Lifespan | up to about 20 years |
| Range | Shallow tropical Atlantic — best in the Florida Keys, Biscayne Bay and the Bahamas, straying north to the Carolinas. |
| Habitat | Skinny sand and turtle-grass flats and mangrove edges, sliding to channel edges as the tide drops. |
| Diet | Shrimp, small crabs, clams, snails and worms rooted out of the sand. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Bonefish
- Slender, torpedo-shaped silver body, greenish back
- Conical snout overhanging an inferior (underslung) mouth
- Faint dusky bars or sheen on the upper sides
- Single short dorsal, deeply forked tail
- Large scales; no spots, no barbels
Tell it apart: The blunt overhanging snout with the mouth set well underneath, on a bright-silver streamlined body, separates it from any small jack or ladyfish.
How to Catch Bonefish
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- Year-round but peaks in spring and early fall; wade or pole the flats and sight-cast small shrimp flies or lightly weighted jigs.GearShrimp-pattern flies1/8 oz bonefish jigs12 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Best February-April on the flats; sight-cast light spinning gear with small jigs or shrimp-imitation flies to cruising fish on a pushing tide.GearBonefish jigsFluorocarbon leaderLight spinning combo
When & Where Bonefish Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida & the Keys Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Hawaiian Islands Inshore |
Bonefish Regulations
FloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)South Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCGulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMCHawaiiHawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office (in coordination with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council)WPFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.