Key West; Key West Fishing - A Sportfishing Guide to Key West and The
Florida Keys - Key-West-Fishing.com
Bonefish
Family:
Bonefishes
Similar Fish:
Ladyfish
Habitat:
INSHORE - The bonefish inhabits
warm coastal waters of the Atlantic from Biscayne Bay, Florida, through the
Florida Keys as well as the Bahamas and Bermuda. It is most commonly found
in the flats of saltwater bays, inhabiting shallows often less than 1 foot
deep - usually over lush grass flats, occasionally over white sand bars.
Size:
Average 3 lb. - 10 lb. (Up to20
lb.)
Description:
Bonefish move onto the shallow
sand and mud flats to feed on animals that live on the bottom. They use
their conical snouts to root around the bottom to dislodge worms, mollusks,
shrimps, and crabs. At times the fish may be seen literally standing on
their heads with their tails sticking out of the water. This action is
called tailing. Travels in loose schools. Roots out Shrimp, Shellfish, Crabs
and fish from the bottom. Spawns offshore, eggs hatching into ribbon-like
larval that metamorphose into fish-like from at about 2 inches and move
inshore.