Bonefish

Identification

• Bonefish are silvery with a bluish or greenish back, a slender, rounded body and a long snout that overhangs the lower jaw.[1]
  What the source says

  “Silvery color with a bluish or greenish back Slender, round body Snout long and overhanging lower jaw”

• Look for dark streaks on the upper half of the body, faint cross-bands down to the lateral line, and black-shaded tips on the dorsal and tail fins.[1]
  What the source says

  “Dark streaks on upper half of body and faint cross-bands extending down to lateral line Extremities of dorsal and caudal fins are shaded with black”

• Ladyfish look similar, but a ladyfish's mouth sits at the very front of the head.[1]
  What the source says

  “Similar Species: Ladyfish, E. saurus (mouth terminal, at the very front of head)”

Habitat and range

• An inshore fish of very shallow water, often less than a foot deep, usually over lush seagrass flats and sometimes over white sand.[1]
  What the source says

  “Inshore fish inhabiting shallow waters often less than one foot deep, usually over lush seagrass flats, but occasionally over white sand”

• South Florida is one of the few places in the US to fish for bonefish, and FWC calls the flats of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay a world-class destination for large bonefish.[2]
  What the source says

  “South Florida is one of the few places in the United States where anglers have the unique opportunity to fish for bonefish and the shallow saltwater flats of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay are considered a world-class destination for catching large, trophy-sized bonefish.”

Life history

• Bonefish mature at three to four years (17 to 18 inches), can live more than 23 years, and grow to about three feet and 15 pounds.[2]
  What the source says

  “Bonefish mature at three to four years of age (17-18 inches total length), may live longer than 23 years, and grow to be three feet long and 15 pounds.”

• Little is known about bonefish biology, but they spawn from November through May, probably in deep water or offshore.[2]
  What the source says

  “Not much is known about the biology of bonefish, but spawning occurs from November through May, probably in deep water or offshore.”

Status, protections and rules

Legal status and rules as the agency stated them on the date read. Rules change: check the current regulations for the water.

• Florida (FWC rule): bonefish are a catch-and-release only fishery. Commissioners approved the measure in June 2013 and it took effect on September 1, 2013.[2]
  What the source says

  “June 2013: FWC Commissioners approved measures to make bonefish a catch-and-release only fishery. This includes the elimination of a tournament exemption permit. This exemption allowed tournament anglers with the proper permit to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale. This change went into effect Sept. 1, 2013.”

• Belize: a catch-and-release fishing law covers bonefish, tarpon and permit, which have been protected there since 2008 (as stated by the Belize City Council).[3]
  What the source says

  “The Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute in partnership with the Belize City Council recently installed a sign at Conchshell Bay Fishmarket to remind fishermen of the catch and release fishing law which pertains to bonefish, tarpon and permit fish. These 3 species have been protected since 2008”

• Belize: in 2009 the government enacted two sport fishing regulations to protect sport fishing species. One is run by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, the other by the Fisheries Department.[4]
  What the source says

  “In 2009, the Government of Belize enacted two sport fishing regulation to protect sport fishing species. These are: (i) Coastal Zone Management Authority ( Sport Fishing) Regulations, implemented by CZMAI and (ii) Fisheries ( Species Designation Protection) Regulations, implemented by the Fisheries Department.”

Fishing for it: what the agencies say

What agencies and extension services say about catching it, with the source for each line.

• Bonefish can be caught year-round in the Keys, with the peak season generally March through October.[2]
  What the source says

  “Bonefish can be caught year-round in the Keys, but peak bonefish season is generally March through October.”

• Fly anglers pole slowly across shallow flats to stalk bonefish. They are seldom eaten and should be released carefully.[1]
  What the source says

  “Fly fishermen patiently pole through shallow flats stalking these elusive fish. Bonefish are very seldom eaten and should be carefully released.”

Where to fish for bonefish

Our 17 water pages whose agency species list names bonefish (each list links to the agency page it comes from). A species missing from a list does not mean it is absent: many agencies publish no list for a water.

Destination hubs

Hubs that list one of these waters, or that a water page is near: each has guides, shops, licences and trip planning for the area.

• Ascension Bay & Sian Ka'an, Quintana Roo3 bonefish waters
• Boca Grande & Charlotte Harbor, Florida2 bonefish waters
• Florida Keys, Florida2 bonefish waters
• Belize flats: Ambergris Caye, Turneffe & Placencia, Belize1 bonefish water

Keep exploring

• PermitSpecies
• TarponSpecies
• All speciesIndex

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

1. Bonefish | FWC (species profile) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
2. Bonefish | FWC (recreational regulations) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
3. Sign Installation For Catch and Release Fishing Law Belize City Council, read Oct 24, 2026.
4. Sport Fishing In Belize (brochure) Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (Belize), read Oct 24, 2026.