The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Bonefish Albula vulpes
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.