Bone Fishing – Its Not Difficult – Martin James

Just after dawn, you pull back the curtains of your beachside cabin at Small Hope Bay on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Looking across the glass like surface of the bay; the sky is the colour of liquid gold. As the sun climbs from the ocean the sky turns to various shades of gold’s, blue’s, pink and red, just feet from the oceans edge close to some mangroves are a bunch of tailing bonefish. You then realise you have come to one of the great places on the planet. In your hunt for the grey ghost of the flats, sometimes known as the silver bullet. Albula vulpes is the number one sporting fish in the Caribbean.

Andros is the fifth largest land mass in the Caribbean/tropical Atlantic--most of it unexplored--and home of the third longest reef system in the world, Andros offers a remarkable natural environment. Its complex ecology is relatively pristine even though it sits in the back yard of one of the most developed nations on earth. The variety of eco-systems is astonishing. To the north, soft tropical sands sweep back into surprising sweet smelling pine forests. In the centre of the island, thick low-lying bush opens to inland waterways and tidal flats. Along the eastern shore, coral rock splits open to underground rivers, while the western shoreline eases out into the Great Bahama Bank. Everywhere, mangrove marshlands feed a pristine reef.
Andros is very old--and not volcanic in origin, but built of coral limestone, layer upon layer. Most of the island lies underwater. Dive deep enough along Andros' walls and you will find ancient beaches, ghostly white remnants of the last ice age, or perhaps the one before that. Underwater caves are filled with stalactites and stalagmites, attesting to the time when water barely dripped from ceilings. Taino Indians (The Lukka-Kairi or Lucayans), who were here long before Columbus and then only for about 50 more years after that, buried their dead in some of these caves. If it’s diving, fishing, birding or just lazing around then Small Hope Bay is for you and your family. The good is excellent and plentiful, even your drinks come free.
A Variety of Fish
You can fly, spin or use bait for a variety of fish, note I didn’t mention trolling; I wouldn’t wish that on my worse enemy. Watching the grass grow would be more exciting. On the reefs you can catch a jacks, snappers, barracuda, schoolmasters, hogfish, Dorado etc. Offshore there are kingfish, yellow fin tuna, Wahoo, Dorado and barracuda. On the flats your number one fish is without doubt the bonefish, early summer you will get the chance of catching various shark species, snappers, tarpon, jacks, and the elusive permit, surely these fish are probably the toughest fish that swims the flats. Though it’s the bonefish that most anglers seek with a fly rod. A fish which is very important to the Bahamian economy.
The bonefish has a reputation for being difficult to catch, it’s not really true. Providing you don’t spook them, you have an excellent chance of getting it to eat. In fact bones can be very aggressive in their feeding especially when you have three or more fish pursuing your fly. Your two big problems are spotting your quarry, and the wind. Some days, it will be blowing 20 to 25 knots, and then it’s a nine weight rod, or a day of cabin fever. Though you can spend your time doing other things swimming, biking, snorkelling or lazing in a hammock or reading. Without doubt if it’s your first visit, book a guide, then listen and learn. You will find the guides at Small Hope Bay are helpful and friendly.
Read Kaufmanns Bone Fishing Book
. If you’re new to bonefishing then I recommend you read 'Bonefishing' by Randall Kaufmann. It's without doubt the definitive book on the subject. In my lifetime I have been privileged to read many fine books on travel, natural history and fishing being my favourites. In fact I have over 2000 angling titles from the 1700's to the present day covering all aspects of salt and freshwater angling. Some have become classics in their own right where they have stood the test of time. Since the days of sailing ships, British anglers have been great travellers. During the 1800's they were fishing all corners of the world. Then on their return home some of these adventurous anglers would put pen to paper writing about their travels, catches, and adventures. This in turn made others follow in their footsteps.

I suppose it was in the 1980’ when bonefish become a cult fish. Salmon anglers no longer wanted to spend a couple of thousands of pounds sterling on a fish-less river in Scotland with rain and mosquitoes as company. Why should they when for the same amount of cash they could travel to exotic locations such as the Florida Keys or the Bahamas to fish for bonefish, tarpon and permit. Perhaps achieve the grand slam? What wife or girl friend wouldn't swap rainy Britain for the sunny Bahamas? No longer did she look upon fishing as that old boring game. You, the angler were encouraged to go in search of the bonefish.

During the past thirty odd years several books were published about catching this great sporting fish of the flats - Hundreds of articles have been published. Two books changed the face of bonefishing, Del Browns 'Fly fishing for bonefishing' published by Lyons and Burford and 'Bonefishing With A Fly' by Randal Kaufmann published by Western Fisherman's Press. Before my first bonefishing trip, the latter book becomes my bedtime reading for several months. Even today, two or three weeks before a trip chasing bones Kaufmann's book once again becomes important reading.

I have been very fortunate in meeting some excellent bonefish anglers who have helped me in my quest for this glamour fish of the 21st century. To them all I will always be grateful. It really started back in 1991 on a visit to Oregon in my quest for the steelhead. I met up with those great anglers Gordon Nash, Randall Kaufmann and Jerry Swanson who worked in Kaufmann's Streamborn fly shop at Tigard near Portland Oregon. There I would sit for hours at a time, as they regaled me with tales of bonefish trips. The book you must read is Randall’s latest publication titled 'Bonefishing' this is not just any bonefishing book. This is truly the bible for all bone fishers. Don't go after those silver bullets of the flats before you have read Bonefishing by Randall Kaufmann published by Western Fisherman's Press. This volume has 414 pages measuring 9" by 11" and weighing in at around four pounds. That’s the size of bonefish which will pull your string and bend your stick like no salmon ever could.

In this book Randall Kaufmann, Brian O'Keefe, and Mike Stidham have captured the magic and mystique of bonefishing. I can do no better than quote the following. 'You sense the freedom of the wind and feel the surf and tide tugging at your psych, You experience the adrenaline rush of speeding bonefish and saviour the tranquil ambience as the sun transforms into a fireball and sizzles into the ocean'.

Fly fishing for bonefish does not require mythical prowess or exceptional angling skills. It is much less complicated and technical than fly fishing for trout. Neophyte anglers often hook bonefish on their first adventure. This book Bonefishing tells you where, when, and how to do it. Bonefishing by Randall Kaufmann is the definitive work on the subject. If you are a bonefish aficionado, you must have this book. If you are not yet a bonefish angler, you soon will be. It's without doubt the best book on this great sport of angling it has been my pleasure to read. In fifty years time bonefish anglers will say 'Have your read that book Bonefishing by Randall Kaufmann?'
The Bahamas Have So Much to Offer
David Jones and I left Gatwick airport at 9-30 am on a Virgin flight for Nassau and the flight attendants were some of the nicest and most helpful I have met, even my diabetic meal was better than on many other airlines. We arrived in Nassau at 1-30pm, some fifteen minutes later we cleared immigration and customs. Having purchased our tickets for the twelve minute flight to Andros Town airport we went off and waited some twenty minutes before being called for our flight. Though I didn’t board the plane until I had seen our bags go on the flight. It certainly pays to tip the baggage handler, at the same time pointing out which are your bags.
David and I were going to spend a week on Andros Island fly fishing for the bones in Fresh Creek. I have fished most of the islands of the Bahamas, each island giving me some exceptional fly fishing for the bones in some of the most delightful environment one would wish to visit. I will never forget my visit to Cocoa Plumb Creek at Green Turtle Cay in the Abaco’s with Ronnie Sawyer. As Ronnie poled me across the flat he pointed out a big mutton snapper, it probably weighed five or six pounds.
As instructed I chucked a Crazy Charlie some fifty feet, it landed with a light plop. The snapper turned then followed for about twenty feet before turning away. I wasn’t bothered, I had come for bones. Not snappers. Little did I realise at that time, but mutton snappers are a super target for the fly fisher. During the day I had bones to nine pounds accurately weighed then returned. I wanted more of this exciting action so I have spent many days, no hundreds of days fishing for bones from guided boats and stalking the flats on my own. Without doubt every fish caught is well earned when you stalk the flats on your own or in company of a friend.
Choose the Best Equipment You Can Buy
I feel it’s most important that you have the best equipment you can buy, don’t skimp on rods, reels and lines, you will regret it. I know it’s possible to get a rod; reel and a line for about £150-00, my advice is don’t buy these cheap outfits. Without doubt the most important item of gear is the line. Never use the lines you use for trout fishing in the UK; they want work in the tropics. You need a line designed for use in the warmer climes; there are four line manufactures to choose from Corland, Scientific Anglers, Rio and Wulff Triangle Taper.
I suggest a weight forward floating line for an eight weight rod. At the present time I am using the Wulff two tone Bermuda triangle taper floating line with a thirty foot tropics blue head which is connected to a yellow running line. The tropic blue head certainly aids quick loading. Another line I like to have is an intermediate line for fishing in deeper water; I find these lines cast well in windy conditions. Depending on the prevailing conditions I use leaders of nine to twelve feet. Froghair deep blue with Froghair tippet material is my choice, I cannot fault Gamma products
The rods I use for all my fly fishing are the Thomas and Thomas models made in Greenfield Massachusetts. Their rods; are the best on the market, that’s why I use them. If a Thomas and Thomas rod is rated for an eight weight then that’s the line to use. Unlike some rods on the market where you often have to go one or two line weights heavier. I reckon some of the so called fly rods would be better for growing beans. For most of my bonefishing I use the T&T Helix model, but should the wind be aggressive I then switch to a Horizone11 model. When the wind is a hooligan then it’s a nine weight. Horizon model
Once hooked a bonefish immediately wants to get as much distance from you as possible, and at 35 mph it certainly does not pay to use a cheap reel. It will burn out very quickly. Hopefully there will be occasions when you hook a big bone which will take a hundred yards of line off the line. I have several reels. One is a handmade Richard Carter model made by Richard for my 60th birthday. It’s excellent. I also have some Tibor and Abel reels which all perform wonderfully well; I can do no better than recommend Tibor and Abel for your bonefishing. In fact for all your saltwater fly fishing.
Accessories I wouldn’t want to be without
There are a few items you certainly need when bonefishing, the most important one is Sun block I use Riemann P20 a once a day sun filter high protection SPF 20 which I have used for several years, both in the Caribbean and the Middle East I reckon it’s the best. To see the fish on the flats, you will need some Polarized glasses, with both amber and grey lenses. You will never see the bones without them. Also you will damage your eyes without having good Polaroid lenses. As I wear glasses, I have prescription Polaroid’s which are excellent. A good hat with a long peak which is dark underneath is what is needed, make sure it has a covering at the back to protect your neck. The Foreign Legion Kepi is perfect. Footwear is most important, don’t use those soft neoprene boots, they are useless on coral. I suggest you get a pair of Patagonia, Simms or Bite footwear. I have used all three with confidence.
Other items you need are fly boxes with a selection of flies; make sure you have some crab patterns. I purchase all my flies from Kaufmanns in Oregon, Jerry Swanson is your man e-mail [email protected] I always carry a spare floating fly line, other useful items are nippers, insect repellent, drinking water, spare hat, some leaders and spools of tippet and don’t forget a water proof jacket. I have only touched briefly on the subject of bone fishing. It’s a fascinating sport which is becoming more popular each year. If you have any questions or you would like to join me on a trip please e-mail [email protected]