Damn Good Bonefish Fishing Charters

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Top Cities for Bonefish Fishing

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Bonefish Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Homestead

3/4 Day 6 Hours Trip

NEW Guided by Stephen
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $900
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Flats Fishing in Tavernier

Islamorada Inshore Fishing Fun!

100% (17) Guided by Gw
17 ft 1 - 2 People From $650
Bucket List
The Captain Experiences team chose this trip as one for the bucket list.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Jupiter

Jupiter Fly Fishing With Dingo

100% (2) Guided by Dingo
18 ft 1 - 2 People From $700
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Islamorada

Islamorada Inshore And Flats Fshing

100% (2) Guided by Andy
24 ft 1 - 8 People From $700
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Key West

Dusk Till Dawn - 18’ Xplor

100% (17) Guided by Chandler
18 ft 1 - 3 People From $1,500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Flats Fishing in Islamorada

Family Friendly Fishing Fun

100% (7) Guided by Billy
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $900
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Everything to Know About Booking a bonefish fishing charter

What are the best bonefish fishing charters?

The best bonefish fishing charters are:

What is a Bonefish?

Bonefish (Albula vulpes), sometimes called just “bones” or “gray ghosts,” are an elusive fish that are highly regarded by anglers in their difficulty to catch. They have silver sides with slightly darker to olive green backs, stripes down their side, and have a very streamlined body.

This body shape helps them to reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, helping them to evade predators and to run out your line in a matter of seconds. They also have lung-like air bladders, which help them to tolerate shallower water with less oxygen, and are very sensitive to noise.

How big do Bonefish get?

Bonefish vary in size depending on what area they are in. In Florida and the Bahamas, they will typically grow to four to six pounds. In the West Indies, they are known to get up to twice that size. There are rumors that waters near South Africa and Hawaii grow to over 20 pounds.

Regardless of where you find them, bonefish reach sexual maturity between three and four years, but can live up to 19 years.

What's the biggest Bonefish ever caught?

Despite the rumors of 20 pound gray ghosts being caught, the IGFA lists the all-tackle world record at 16 pounds. It was caught off a rod and reel by Jerry Lavenstein out of Bimini, Bahamas on February 25th, 1971.

There was a 16 pound, 3 ounce bonefish caught, weighed, and released by Bob Schroeder out of the Florida Keys on March 19th, 2007, however it was never certified by the IGFA, leaving Jerry Lavenstein’s monster in the lead.

Where is the best place to catch Bonefish?

Bonefish live in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Some of the best places to catch them are the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and near Belize, though they can be found up and down both coasts of the United States, as well as Mexico, Central and South America, South Africa, and Hawaii.

When it is low tide, bonefish will head to deeper waters, up to around 300 feet. When the tide comes back in, they will follow it to search shallow waters for food, swimming in mudflats as little as four inches deep.

When should I catch Bonefish?

Bonefish can be fished for all year, however larger fish typically move to deeper waters the during hotter months. This makes the peak season ranging from March to May, and then October when they return.

As mentioned before, they move inshore during high tide to hunt and feed. This is the perfect time to target them, so be sure to check out your local reports of high and low tide.

How do you catch Bonefish?

Bonefishing, or fishing for bonefish, can be done by fly fishing or with light tackle, by either drift or still fishing. No matter what method you use, be sure to be very wary of the fish, as they are easily startled, especially when schooling. Casting from six to ten feet away will lessen your chances of spooking them.

Chumming the water with shrimp, crab, or cut conch to distract them is also another great option. From there you can use natural bait such as live shrimp or small crabs, brought rapidly across the surface, or artificial baits such as flatheaded skimmer jigs, plugs, or flies, used to create sand puffs in the water.

Sight-casting for schools, or stalking individual bones cruising or tailing will lead you in the right direction. Tailing is a term used for the action of a bonefish digging in the ocean bottom of shallow water to look for food. They use their tails for leverage to dig, by slapping the water for balance.

Once they are found, and you have your prepared bait and possibly chum, you should aim that bait a few feet away from the fish, and give it a delicate and precise cast. The more confident you are in your aim, and your ability to lay it down gracefully, the closer you can aim to the fish.

Are Bonefish good to eat?

Bonefish, like their name suggests, are fully of many, many tiny and large bones making them nearly impossible to clean. Also, bonefish over six inches long are poisonous to humans when consumed, as they contain high levels of clupeotoxin. For both these reasons, bonefish are better off being caught and released.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Anthony was fantastic with our 13 year old son! We will definitely book with him again. We caught fish for two dinners:)

    William O. | November 25, 2025

    Trip: Beautiful Backcountry Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    What an awesome guy,the most knowledgeable professional,his perseverance paid off in the end thanks for a great trip

    Dino M. | November 18, 2025

    Trip: Islamorada Backcountry Or Nearshore

  • ★★★★★
    Andy was great! Got us on the fish and had a ton of laughs. Strongly recommended

    Kevin C. | November 15, 2025

    Trip: Islamorada Inshore And Flats Fshing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Jamie took us out in the early afternoon, and even though we knew the bite was a little slow at this time, we just wanted to get out and enjoy the water around beautiful Key West. He made the most of our four hours; we hit around four spots and even cruised over to the ocean side to try and find the bite that way. In this 4-hour trip, I got a crash course in fly fishing from one of the best. Jamie’s super laid-back, easy to talk to, and knows the area like the back of his hand. We wrapped up the trip with a gorgeous sunset; it was a 10/10 day all around. Even with the slow bite, it was one of the most scenic, educational, and unforgettable trips I’ve ever been on!

    Jonathan N. | November 6, 2025

    Trip: Key West On Light Tackle & Flies

  • ★★★★★
    Sean is the man!! We hopped out for an afternoon half day right on the tail end of some weird weather patterns and didn't have high hopes, but Sean relentlessly tried new techniques and locations to get us on some fish. I don't know that I've ever been out with a guide who has moved more or tried more techniques in a 4 hour fishing trip. He knew exactly when to say "this isn't working the fish aren't here, lets move on" which is an underrated skill in a guide. We found the flats empty of the usual suspects (tarpon permit bonefish), but we pivoted and hooked into cero mackerel, mutton snapper, and some barracuda. Sean has been fishing in Key West for 30+ years and won't steer you wrong!

    Jonathan N. | November 5, 2025

    Trip: Keys Flats And Back Country Trip

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