Why are Islamorada bonefish so big?

The rich flats on both sides of the Upper Keys and a long-standing catch-and-release culture; the area has produced most of the world records for the species.

Can I wade for bonefish in Islamorada?

Some oceanside flats and Long Key State Park are wadeable with care (watch your footing and the tide); most anglers fish from a skiff with a guide.

Bonefish fishing in Islamorada: season, spots, bait & rules

Bonefish fishing in Islamorada

Also called gray ghost.

Islamorada's bonefish are the biggest in the world: the flats on both sides of the islands have produced most of the record-class fish ever caught, and a 10 lb Islamorada bonefish is the fish of a lifetime for a flats angler. They are spooky, fast and worth every blown shot.

Catch & releaseSkill: IntermediateCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

Where to find bonefish

The oceanside flats from Upper Matecumbe down to Long Key and the bayside flats around Lignumvitae and Shell Key, on the shallow edges and the sand pockets in the grass. They move onto the flats with the rising tide and tail in a few inches of water.

Lignumvitae Key flats · Flats
Upper Matecumbe oceanside flats · Flats
Indian Key Fill shoreline & kayak flats · Shore & parks
Sea Oats Beach wade flats · Shore & parks
Long Key State Park shoreline · Shore & parks

When to go

Spring and autumn are peak, when the water is in the high 70s; summer mornings and winter afternoons work when the temperature is right. The first two hours of the incoming tide on a sunny day with light wind is the classic window; cold fronts push them off the flats.

Best window on the day: The incoming tide on the oceanside in daylight. Today's window and score are on the conditions page.

March: Peak as the flats warm; tailing fish on the morning incoming tide.
October: Autumn peak: big schools on the oceanside flats.

How to catch them

Pole or wade the flats looking for tails, nervous water and muds; cast a live shrimp or a small jig well ahead of the fish on light spinning tackle, or a weighted shrimp fly on an 8 wt, and move it slowly when the fish is close. Stay low, stay quiet and let the fish come to the bait.

Bait & tackle

Bait: Live or fresh peeled shrimp, or small crabs, cast well ahead of tailing or mudding fish
Lures: 1/8–1/4 oz skimmer jigs; shrimp and crab flies in sizes 2–6
Tackle: 7–7.5 ft light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8–10 lb braid; or an 8 wt fly rod with a floating line
Rig: Spin: 3–4 ft of 12–15 lb fluorocarbon, 1/0 hook, a split shot only if needed. Fly: 9–10 ft leader to a 10–12 lb tippet

shrimp bonefish fly blue crab Tackle setup →

Tips for your level

Take a guide: finding and seeing bonefish is the hard part, and the guide does that from the poling platform.
Cast ahead of the fish, not at it, and leave the bait still until the fish is almost on it.
When a bonefish runs, let it: the first run can take 100 yards of line.

Release them well

Bonefish are catch-and-release only. Handle with wet hands, keep the fish in the water for the photo and release it facing into the current; watch for sharks on a flat with a tired fish.

Questions anglers ask

Why are Islamorada bonefish so big?: The rich flats on both sides of the Upper Keys and a long-standing catch-and-release culture; the area has produced most of the world records for the species.
Can I wade for bonefish in Islamorada?: Some oceanside flats and Long Key State Park are wadeable with care (watch your footing and the tide); most anglers fish from a skiff with a guide.