Damn Good Bonefish Fishing Charters

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Bonefish Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Nearshore, Flats Fishing in Tulum

Tulum & Boca Paila Fly / Spinning

100% (3) Managed by Fidel
22 ft 1 - 4 People From $750
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Miami Beach

Sportfishing Miami Beach

100% (8) Guided by Ariel
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $750
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Cancún

Cancun Smash

100% (4) Guided by Rene
27 ft 1 - 4 People From $225
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Ramrod Key

FL Keys Inshore/Backcountry Fishing

NEW Guided by Jim
22 ft 1 - 2 People From $500
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% (15) Guided by Gw
17 ft 1 - 2 People From $650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats in Key West

Key West Silver Kings And More

100% (17) Guided by Spencer
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $600
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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

  • ★★★★★
    Very personable guide with extensive knowledge of the Miami fishing scene.

    Hollis B. | June 9, 2025

    Trip: Half Day Inshore - 22' Epic

  • ★★★★★
    Dude was an absolutely fantastic guide. He was super easy to talk to and put us on some amazing fishing. I hundred percent would recommend.

    Teagan M. | June 6, 2025

    Trip: Back Country Bonanza

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing day catching fish with Captain Jon-Paul! My wife and I poured over reviews in search of the best fit for us during our long planned vacation to the Keys, and we are so happy we found Jon-Paul. He was extremely knowledgeable about this fishery and overly willing to make sure we had a great time. We caught over 10 different species with the highlights being two Permit, Mangrove Snapper, and Speckled Trout.

    Jason B. | May 31, 2025

    Trip: Bank and Bight Backcountry

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing fishing trip with Rene and caught 13 yellow tails. He is very accommodating and we will really recommend him.

    Ivar F. | May 28, 2025

    Trip: Cancun Smash

  • ★★★★★
    Anthony was fantastic. Extremely nice and friendly, funny, great with the kids, and clearly loved both fishing and teaching. A true professional, and absolute pleasure to spend 4 hours with. I look forward to taking another trip with him soon and will recommend him to everyone.

    Carl L. | May 18, 2025

    Trip: Miami Day Trip

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