by John Kumiski
You want to catch a bonefish, or better yet several, on either live bait, artificial lures or fly tackle. You've heard bonefishing is difficult. You've heard you need an expensive guide. You despair of ever acheiving your dream.
You can catch bonefish. You can catch them on your own. You can crack the bonefish mystique, and this special report tells you one way to do it!
Lots of bonefishing is expensive. If you visit Pennekamp State Park on Key Largo bonefishing doesn't have to be. If you like to do things yourself, you don't need a guide. You can camp in the state park or stay in a nearby motel.
EQUIPMENT
One thing that anyone attempting to catch these fish absolutely must have in order to be successful is the right equipment and a plan for using it. Topping the list of necessities are a wide brimmed hat and good polarized sunglasses with brown or dark amber lenses. Under the best of conditions these fish are hard to see. Without these two items your chances are poor. Wading shoes to protect your feet from rocks and other bottom debris and sunscreen to protect your skin from an often blistering Keys sun are also important.
The best bait for bones anywhere in the Keys is a good sized live shrimp. A #1 eagle claw type hook will work well, either bronzed or nickel finish. Break off the tail and insert the hook point into the hole left when the tail was removed and out the bottom of the shrimp and it's ready to fish. If you can't get sufficient casting distance this way, put a small sliding bullet sinker like those used with plastic worms on the line above the hook. Spinning tackle throws these light baits the best. If you get the puny little summer shrimp, consider using two at a time. The best place to buy bait and conventional tackle on Key Largo is at Key Largo Bait and Tackle (the Yellow Bait Shop).
For using artificials you can choose either fly or spin tackle. Both types of tackle have certain distinct advantages. While sight fishing, a spin fisherman can have his bait or lure on its way to spotted fish within a second of seeing them, without the need to false cast. He can react faster. But a relatively heavy spinning lure hits the water with a noisy splash compared to a fly, and that splashdown can spook an entire school of wary bonefish.
Flies may take a couple seconds longer to get there, but the presentation is much quieter and so oftentimes it's more effective. Depending on wind conditions, fly fishermen could use any rod between a six- and nine-weight. A quality reel with at least 150 yards of 20 pound dacron backing is a must. The fish average a fairly large size (5-6 pounds) and once hooked they will scream line off in a hurry. Use a weight-forward floating line. Long leaders are preferred, between 9 and 12 feet or even longer depending on wind conditions, tapered down to a ten or eight pound tippet.
Fly selection need not be complicated. Carry weighted and unweighted flies in sizes 4, 2, and 1. Make sure some are light in color and others are dark. Personally, I only use four patterns in most bonefishing situations- the snapping shrimp, the bonefish special, Clouser minnows in chartreuse and white and brown and white, and some small crab patterns for tailing fish. Press the barbs down on the hooks to facilitate release of the fish, or maybe yourself!
Spin fishermen need a six to seven foot light action rod, a good quality reel packed with a minimum of 150 yards of eight pound test, and a similarly small lure selection. Bonefish jigs (or wiggle jigs as they are also called) in 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce sizes in pink, tan, and brown, and some DOA shrimp in the 3" size in both light and dark colors will cover most needs.
While some anglers will tie a Bimini twist in the end of their line and then will tie the lure to the doubled line, this really isn't needed for bonefish. Simply tie the fly or lure directly to the end of the line or leader.
Regardless of what type of tackle you use, bring a lot of lures. Bonefish flats often teem with small barracuda. They will appear out of nowhere to attack your bait and sever the line, thereby "liberating" your lure. Make sure to bring extras or you may find yourself out of the game rather quickly.
TECHNIQUES
Summertime bonefishing anywhere in the Keys is usually an early morning proposition, and Key Largo is no exception. The sun heats up the water and by mid-afternoon most bonefish flats are too hot for the fish. Activities of boaters and the despised jet-skiers, which usually start around 10:00 AM or so, chase any sun worshiping fish off anyway. So plan to fish as soon as it is light enough to see.
During the spring and fall the fish will feed on the flats any time of day. It gets windy this time of year and if the water gets muddy in most areas of the Keys the game is up. At Pennekamp you can always fish in Largo Sound, though, even with a stiff east wind. If the weather is good the fishing can be tremendous. Fall is off season in the Keys and you may have the entire flat to yourself, whether you're in the sound or out on the oceanside flats.
Perhaps it needs to be explained there are two areas to fish at Pennekamp. Largo Sound is a large lake-like body of water, entirely enclosed by land except for creeks which leave from both the north (North Sound Creek) and south (South Sound Creek) ends. It provides a place to fish in almost any weather. The other place requires a trip out to the oceanside flats. Fishing can be great here- you may see permit and tarpon in addition to bonefish. Fishing these oceanside flats with any kind of an east wind is almost impossible, though.
During the winter water temperature is again critical. If the weather is cool, late afternoon is the best time of day to fish since the water will be warmest then. Bonefish need water of at least 70 degrees before they'll come up on winter flats, and the water should be warming. If the water temperature is 70 degrees and cooling, you will not see any bones.
Given the choice fish an incoming tide. Try to wade with the current flow. The fish always move into the current. By "going with the flow" while wading casts to fish will generally be head-on shots, the most effective kind. Expert bonefisherman Chico Fernandez describes bonefish feeding behavior this way- "When the tide is low and the fish first move onto the flats, they are hungry. After they've been feeding for a few hours they become much more selective." It makes sense. Bones usually feed better early in the tide.
This having been said, time of day is sometimes more critical than tide phase. Again, this is normally during summer, when morning fishing is best, and during winter, when evening fishing is best. Keep in mind you must actually be out fishing to catch any fish!
If you must fish during the day in the summer, an incoming tide is a necessity. Cooler ocean water coming onto the flat (oceanside) will allow the fish a degree of comfort they would not have otherwise. The situation is reversed during the winter. The sun warms up water that's been on the flat a while enough to allow the fish to use it. This happens during the later stages of the incoming tide and the early stages of the outgoing. Largo Sound warms faster than does the ocean.
Slowly wade with the current looking for anything which might be a bonefish. If there are no fish tailing or pushing wakes (and most of the time there won't be) look for "muds". Often when the fish feed on the bottom they throw up a small puff of mud. This is a clear indication that feeding bones are in the vicinity.
Cast to everything that looks like it might be a fish. Make your casts fall short a few feet, letting the lure sink to the bottom if necessary. If you're using shrimp the current will carry the smell to the fish. If it's a lure it will be between you and the fish, but they'll be moving toward you. As soon as you think they're close enough to see it, move it slowly while watching the fish.
If they see it there will be no doubts about it. They do one of three things- flee in abject terror, come check it out and refuse it, or come check it out and eat it.
If they flee, the lure was fouled with grass, or moved at them, or was too close to them before it moved. If they refuse it, check the lure. If it is not fouled with grass or algae, change to a different color. If they eat it, set the hook GENTLY. When the fish takes off, it will take care of hook setting, believe me.
If you see fish pushing up a wake, cast several feet ahead of it and move the lure SLOWLY. Sometimes when the fish are pushing a wake, they are swimming fast, with an obvious agenda, and aren't interested in eating. If they don't strike don't let this bother you.
Tailing fish are eating, though. With spin tackle a lure like the DOA Standard Shrimp that doesn't make a huge splash when it hits the water is a good choice. Fly tackle actually works better for tailing fish since the fly hits the water so delicately. Bait fishers will want just the hook with the shrimp- no sinker!
With spin tackle put the lure a foot or two ahead of the fish. You want the splash to be heard but not threatening. Hopefully the fish will come to investigate, see the shrimp (just barely TWITCH it) and eat it.
Flies can be put closer to the fish. A small crab fly made from wool is a good choice. These flies hit the water with a soft, seductive "splat", sink rapidly into the feeding zone, and perfectly imitate a favorite bonefish food. Crab flies don't even need to be moved. If the fish sees it and wasn't spooked by the presentation they'll usually eat it immediately.
If this is your first bonefish, at this point your life may change forever! Fly fishermen first must clear the line. If it fouls on anything the leader will instantly break, you'll have a super adrenaline rush, and will be out the fly. Once the fish is on the reel, and for spin fishermen also, extend the rod into the air. The fish run right along the bottom. You want to hold the line up so that it doesn't fray on coral, rocks, sea fans, or other things.
Let the fish run! If you try to stop it he'll break off. With either type of tackle, make sure the drag is set loosely.
After that first incredible run is over he will take a couple more shorter ones. Once you've beaten him, handle the fish gently. Leave him in the water if possible. If not, hold the fish parallel to the water's surface and belly up. They have no teeth or spines and are quite safe to handle. Remove the lure (barbless hooks are recommended), revive him until he can swim away, and release him to grow and thrill another fisherman. And congratulations to you!
All of the above supposes that you have good visibility. But if you're fishing early/late in the day, or if it is overcast, or if you are not used to looking for fish, seeing bonefish in the water can be very difficult. They can still be caught by blindcasting.
All other things being equal, the fish will be on their favorite flats feeding when weather conditions allow it. If you're there too you might just get a couple.
When you use this blind casting technique for bonefish lure choice is important. You want a lure you can cover a lot of water with reasonably quickly. With spinning tackle a wiggle jig is the lure of choice. With fly tackle the Clouser minnow works well.
Search the water you can see into for fish. If you see any, cast to them! There's no sense in turning down any good opportunuties.
Keep your lure in the water where you cannot see. Generally this will be in the deeper water, but fish are in there. Keep casting into this water and retrieving your lure. Fish every cast as if you expect to hook a fish. Sooner or later you will!
Make long casts. You'll cover more water this way, giving more fish the chance to see your offering. Also, oftentimes the fish will follow your lure or fly for quite a distance before finally making up their mind. Long retrieves give them the opportunity to do this. Of course once you hook up, play the fish as explained above.
WHERE to GO
Without a boat at Pennekamp you have no access to fish. Fortunately, a consession at the park rents canoes and small motor boats. Alternatively you could bring your own boat. There's a nice ramp in the park on Largo Sound.
A canoe will work quite well in Largo Sound. The fish are found on the flats on the east side of the sound. My best success has been from the north end down about 2/3rds of the way to the state park. Standing and using a pushpole for locomotion is the best way to hunt for the bones here, although a long paddle which allows you to stand will also work. If you sit and paddle it is very hard to see fish- you're simply too low to the water.
If you find some fish you can try for them in a number of ways. You could cast to them from the boat. A large live shrimp (available at the Yellow Bait Shop on Key Largo) is the best possible bait. Flies and lures also work but are of course more challenging. Alternatively, you could try chumming them in with pieces of shrimp thrown into the water. I'm not sure how well this would work in Largo Sound. There's not really enough current there. Finally, you could get out and wade after them. This is an effective method if you KNOW there are fish around, especially if they're tailing. The bottom in the sound is kind of soft, though- expect some trouble walking.
Another possibility is to go out on the oceanside flats which run the length of Key Largo. You must have a powerboat for this because of the distance involved. Some of the better areas on the oceanside to fish include Garden Cove, oceanside of Rattlesnake Key, Whitmore Bight, and the point south of the mouth of South Sound Creek. Again, you can pole along the shoreline, or find a sandy spot and chum with pieces of shrimp, or get out and wade. The oceanside flats all through the Keys are generally firm and excellent for wading.
MEALS AND ACCOMODATIONS
Campers will undoubtedly want to camp at the state park. The state park takes reservations for sites up to 60 days prior to the dates you want to camp. They reserve half of the sites, and the remainder are available on a first-come, first served basis. Keep in mind that this park is especially popular with divers and during the winter holidays, Spring Break, and Thanksgiving the chance of getting a site is not good. The adress is Pennekamp State Park, PO Box 487, Key Largo, FL 33037. The phone number at the park is (305)451-1202. Keep in mind that the sites here are as hard as any you will ever find. Bring some serious sleeping mattresses or cots!
You'll find loads of motels on Key Largo. There are a lot of restaurants too, from national fast food chains to charming and elegant (and expensive) establishments serving the finest in Keys cuisine. The best suggestion I can give you is to call or write the Florida Keys and Key West Visitors Bureau at PO Box 866, Key West, FL 33041, 1-800- FLA-KEYS, or the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at 105950 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037, 1-800-822-1088 and ask them for suggestions.
RESOURCES
You can buy the necessary lures through the mail (or over the telephone) before you leave for the Keys. Spin fishermen can obtain the wiggle jigs and the DOA Standard Shrimp from Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply, 100 NE 11th St., Miami FL 33132-1726, (305)374-4661, Fax (305)374-3713, Orders Only 1-800-327-4086. Fly fishers can get their flies at the Fly Fisherman, 1400 S. Washington St., Titusville, FL 32780, (321)267-0348.
The Yellow Bait Shop, about a mile north of the park entrance on US 1 on Key Largo, has everything that non-fly fishers would need. Additionally, they have some of the most reasonable prices in the Keys, AND are a very knowledgeable bunch of folks. Their phone number is (305)451-0921.
CONCLUSION
So you could go to the Keys and spend hundreds of dollars on a guide to catch a bonefish. Or you could go down and flounder around on your own for a month and never see one. Or you can take the recommendations supplied in this Special Report and catch those bones on your own. Let me know how you do (reach me at 284 Clearview Road, Chuluota, FL 32766 (407) 977-5207, spottedtail@spottedtail.com; www.spottedtail.com. Good luck!!!
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This article was written by John Kumiski of John Kumiski Outdoors and Travel. Contact him at his website www.johnkumiski.com or via email at john@spottedtail.com. Copyright John Kumiski.
John Kumiski 's most recent fishing guidebooks are How and Where to Catch Redfish in the Indian River Lagoon System (Argonaut Publishing Company), and Fishing Florida's Space Coast (Argonaut Publishing Company).
John Kumiski's newest book is Redfish on the Fly- A Comprehensive Guide.
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