Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines.
Known as "silver ghost" or "phantoms" the Albula Vulpes is also known as bonefish. They get their name from the hundreds of tiny bones that are contained in their small bodies. Their color is silvery and they are perhaps one of the most popular sport fish found anywhere, but especially in the Florida Keys Flats .
Generally about 1 ½ feet long and weighing about 7 lbs these fish can be as large as 3 ½ feet and weight upwards of 22 pounds. They sport a cone shaped snout and tend to be very long and slender. Their silver scaled body sports a blue/green tinge along the top and they almost always have dark striped that run along the sides of the body.
The Bonefish prefer sub-tropical waters that are warm and can almost always be found near reefs and bays in the waters in the Western Atlantic. They can be found between North Carolina and the Florida Keys Flats but can be found as far away as Brazil. They are found in smaller quantities from California to Peru. These fish spawn in deeper water allowing for wider disbursement of their eggs. These fish spawn year round, though less in the summer.
Since Bonefish tend to feed on shrimp and krill they react better to lures that mimic the actions of these species. Using live crabs or shrimp can help though there are many flies and artificial lures that work equally as well. Bonefish tend to be most easily caught in waters that are shallow - six inches to ten feet. Flies, plugs, soft baits and other bait combined with flat tides make a fishing trip successful.
Because bonefish have a small air bladder which is similar in nature to a human lung, they are able to successfully adapt to water that has a low oxygen content. The bladder works by supplementing oxygen from the bladder with air when the fish inhales. Bonefish adapt well to a variety of habitats and fishing areas because of this air bladder. Most fish can't survive in some of the habitats that Bonefish find suitable.
Even though the Bonefish might not make the best meal, they are one of the best contenders for being the fish that's the most fun for anglers in and around the Florida Keys Flats. They move quickly and combine that with their relative invisibility under water and they're quite hard to spot. They are fun fish for anglers and whether they are busy revealing themselves on the water surface or hiding in the muddy depths, these fish are an important gaming fish.
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