The bonefish is a spectacular game fish. For many reasons, bonefish are, perhaps, the ideal flats quarry. They like shallow water in gorgeous places, like Casa Blanca! They are not difficult to catch; even an absolute beginner has a chance of hooking up. Still, they provide sufficient challenge to keep, even seasoned anglers, coming back again and again. And, they fight like demons when hooked! Pound for pound, few fish can compare.

Bonefish like shallow water flats for two reasons. First, the flats hold a huge variety of crabs, shrimp and mollusks which make up the majority of a bonefish's diet. Second, sharks and barracuda both find bonefish particularly tasty, so the bonefish us the shallow water as a form of protection from these larger predators. This same shallow water is, for the angler, part of the allure of bonefishing. White sand flats, covered with calf deep, turquoise water are stunningly beautiful to look at, but even better, you get to wade through them, stalking your wily quarry, or, glide across them in your skiff, casting to schools as they come into range. Either way, it's great!

Because bonefish seem to be at the top of everybody's dinner list, they have evolved to blend into their environment better than most other fish on the flats. Their eyesight is also exceptionally good and the slightest hint of danger will send them flying in the other direction. These natural attributes are a part of what makes bonefishing such a great sport. For a more detailed analysis, we suggest you read some of the excellent books about the subject. Some of our favorites are listed at the end of this guide.

Trophy Bones

In the last several years, more and more larger bones have been caught and released by Casa Blanca guests. Fish as large as 33 inches! 33 inches translates to approximately 14 pounds. That is a whopper! If you're after a trophy, tell your guide. The big ones usually frequent different areas than the smaller fish, so they are harder to spot. They are also much more wary than school fish, which is probably the reason they have grown so large. If you are a beginner, don't waste your time exclusively after big ones. They are tough to catch. If you are an experienced bone fisherman, a day stalking bigger fish can be rewarding, but do not expect to catch as many fish as you would otherwise.