Fly Fish Key West Bonefish

Over the years, the Lower Keys and Key West were never considered the place to go for those looking to bonefish. There have even been times historically where there really weren’t any bonefish around. Recent years has seen a boom in the bonefish population for a multitude of reasons and hopefully that trend will continue for years to come.

Bonefish can be found on and near the flats of the Lower Florida Keys that have good current and healthy bottom. They spend time feeding on crabs, shrimp, and baitfish in water just deep enough where they feel comfortable and predators (sharks, barracudas) do not. Their size and color allow them to hide in plain sight, and spotting bonefish can be difficult. Bonefish are almost always on the move in search of an easy meal and are known to jump on a well placed fly.

Bonefish can be targeted year-round in the Lower Keys when the weather is relatively stable and the water temperature is cool to warm. Bonefish can be caught with conventional tackle, but most would agree that catching one on the fly is a more rewarding experience.

Bonefishing in the Lower Keys and Key West has a unique appeal. Its not as sexy as bonefishing in the Bahamas, but the fish in the Lower Keys eat flies well and are a welcomed break from and great practice for permit fishing. Many of the same areas that permit are found, so are bonefish. Bonefish in the Lower Keys can be found pushing, tailing, and mudding, but most Key West bones are caught when they are actively swimming and feeding in knee deep water. Because they like to spend time in a foot or two of water, Lower Keys bones can be tricky to spot and shorter quicker casts get a lot of bites. A shot that lands softly a couple feet ahead of moving fish or school of fish and is stripped short and fast is usually good enough to get an eat, which is accommodating to new saltwater anglers.

Although they are a fish worth undivided attention, most Lower Keys bonefish are caught as by-catch while permit fishing with a 10 weight and a crab fly. Those targeting bonefish specifically may choose to do so with an 8 or 9 weight rod paired with a large arbor reel with a weight forward floating line and natural colored shrimp flies of varying weights.

Bonefish can be caught year-round in the Lower Keys when the weather is relatively stable and the water isn’t too hot or too cold. The months of March-October can have the most consistent bonefishing with April-June having good numbers of unpressured fish due to the fact that most anglers are focused on tarpon.