BF10. The Tan Shrimp Saltwater Bonefish Fly

SHRIMPS
There are hundreds of different species of shrimps that exist in costal and inland waters all around the world but they all have the same basic features. They all have a thorax-head with eyes, antennae, mouthparts, pincers and several pairs of forward moving eyes underneath it. There are more swimming legs underneath the segmented body that is covered by a shell that goes the whole length of the body. The body finishes in a fan shaped tail. Some species have pincers or claws.

The grass shrimp that are found the length of the North American coast range in size from 1 to 2 inches. They can change color to match their environment but are mainly transparent. The range of different colors varies between a yellowish tint, light to deep tan or green. Green with brown spots coloration is the norm for some areas of the US West coast.

The Caridean Shrimp range in size from 1 to 2 1/2 inches. They also can change color to match their environment. They range between a yellowish tint, tan to sandy grey. Some do have small spots on the shell.

Mantis shrimp are common prey from Bonehead and Permit but are physically different to the other two shrimps. It has two large razor-sharp claws and a jointed head. There are over 60 different species found from the Caribbean to Florida. Some are as small as 4 inches long when fully grown where as others can be about a foot long. There are many variations in color of this bottom dwelling creature.

BONEFISH
Bonefish have a nickname of "ghosts of the flats". They spend much of their time in shallow water and are very well adapted to it. They are streamlined and very fast. There shape gives them the ability to sneak around with the minimum of surface disturbance and their speed lets them change locations very quickly if threatened. This speed and preferred habitat make them one of the worlds most sought after sporting fish. You have to work for your catch. Most Bonefish found in shallow water are 2 to 5 pounds but they can go as heavy as 15 pounds in deeper water. A thirty inch bonefish will be about twenty years old. A twenty five inch will be about 10 years old and a twenty inch will be about four years old.

Bonefish know that if they reach the crest of a flat on an incoming tide they will find the best food waiting for them. Look at your tide tables and find the crest. Sometimes schools of Bonefish will rush towards there as the tide turns and starts to flood. Getting a take is all about placement and delivery in front of your target.. Sometimes it does not matter if your fly is tan or orange. 

On my last trip my guide spotted a single Bonefish grubbing in the mud about 50 feet from the boat in perhaps 18 inches of water. I managed to get a perfect cast to it, started retrieving and felt the line tighten as the the fish took. The normal advice at this point is to keep retrieving, not strike, as the the fish will generally hook itself. it worked. For a couple of seconds the fish jut shook it's head, not knowing what had happened to it. then it took of in a flash. these fish are really fast. In seconds all the fly line and half the backing had gone from the reel. I eventually landed a nice 6lb bonefish.

With a slow moving fish I have been able to get a a bite by casting behind the tail (admittedly the first time I did this was by mistake and a short cast). I noticed the fish visible change directions as it heard the plop of the fly. It must have thought that some thing was alive behind it and trying to escape. It wheeled around and went to investigate. It saw the puffs of sand as I retrieved and it attacked. It does not always work but is a good last resort option that has claimed a number of bonefish.

One little tip is to keep your hands clean. Bonefish have a powerful sense of smell. They can smell crabs and shrimps they cannot see. They can also smell, insect repellant, beer, sunblock, gasoline and aftershave. I wasted a whole days fishing. I was using a lot of sunblock because I did not want to get sunburnt as I had very white English skin that had not seen the sun for five months. I was getting frustrated an being the only one not catching fish when my guide pointed out my error. After I thoroughly cleaned my flies my luck changed. Our tan Shrimp flies have heavy lead eyes. This makes them sink to the bottom quicker. These are ideal for fishing in deeper water.

Another tip is to be aware of your location in relation to any coral reefs. There is no excuse to step on live coral and kill thousands of of living organisms. It is too precious. It provides a hiding place and food source from many different fish. A healthy environment leads to good fishing grounds. Another reason for not treading on coral is that it can rip your footwear to pieces and an even better one is that coral cuts fishing line. When you finally hook a bonefish the last thing you want is for your leaded to be severed.

Bonefish very rarely take with a 'bang'. They catch up with the fly and suck it in. All you normally feel is a change in tension on the line as you strip. That is the only indication you get that the bonefish has taken your fly. Beginners tend to strike with the rod, lifting it as you might lift into a trout taking a dry fly. What you should do is the moment you feel the fly being sucked in by the fish, you keep stripping hard. You will find that the line will tighten, at which point strip/strike the line with the rod tip still pointing at the fish, only lifting the rod when your sure the hook is home. That is when the Bonefish will take off. You better be ready for the fight and hold on tight to your rod. These fish pack a punch.. On my first Bonefish trip I made the mistake of using a fly rod that reflected the sun. It spooked the fish again and again. I now use a dark matt carbon rod with no shiny parts. Fish that are very prone to aerial predator attack get very spooky.

Recent studies have found that although bonefish and permit come to the flats to feed and appear to swim to deeper water when spooked by anglers the main reason they prefer the flats is safety. Barracudas and sharks are their main predators. The water over the flats is just too shallow for these larger hungry water dwellers. Bonefish and permit can therefore feed in relative safety on shrimp and crabs

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT – Casting on the flats
"Bonefish 40 feet 3 o'clock moving left". If you have been saltwater flats bonefish and permit fishing and have had problems getting the fly in front of a moving fish that has been pointed out by your guide, read on. The guide has done his job by finding you the elusive fish from his elevated position and punted you within casting distance. Now all you have to do is land your fly in front of its face quickly without spooking these very jumpy fish. You have to get your casting skill to a level where you can deliver the fly using two false casts or better still a single. Find an old plank and put it on top of a small log. Balance on the plank to mimic casting on a boat. Get a friend to roll a trash can lid, large plastic plate, or hoop in front of you and try to hit it. If you do this in your front yard or local park you may get some funny looks but your skill level will increase so you do not waste the time you spend on the water. Last time I did this in a park I had people come up to me and ask if they could have a go as it looked like a lot of fun.

CUSTOMERS COMMENT – Looking for bonefish
The Crazy Charlie’s worked great. I just want to pass on a tip my guide gave me that worked. When looking for target fish on the flats DON’T look for fish, look for changes in the color of the water. Look for flashes, shadows or movement. Do not look at the water surface look into the water. Try to stand with your back to the wind and sun. The colour of the sea bottom affects the colour of the fish. Their silver sides act like mirrors therefore if it is yellow sand they will appear yellow rather than silver.

PERMIT
If you are out fishing for bonefish and see a Permit do not panic if you forgot to pack some crab flies. Permit will feed on shrimp if they are easy to catch. They have to be fished right on the bottom but mid depth can bring results. One good head shot is worth twenty side casts when fishing shrimp flies to permit.

WHERE TO FIND PERMIT
I have found the best location for catching permit is in the Ascension Bay area of the Yucatan Peninsula. There are some large ones but most are smaller. If it is your first time trying to catch permit this would be the place I would recommend. For good chances at large permit around the 20 pound mark then try Belize. For a chance of big permit of 25 pounds and over then go to the Florida Keys from the southern end of Biscayne bay all the way down to Key West

STING RAY TIP
When ever you see a ray swimming near by it is always worth casting just behind it. Even if you cannot see any following bonefish they will follow in its wake. The movement of the Rays wings as they glide over the surface disturb the sea bed and dislodges shrimps and crabs. The bonefish love an easy meal.

BONEFISH MUD
When out fishing for bonefish look for 'Bonefish Mud'. What am I talking about? Sand and silt is kicked up into suspension when a group of bonefish root along the bottom searching out food. They 'color' the water along the area of the beach. The water looks all cloudy. 'Bonefish mud' is a great indicator of activity and an easy way of locating Bonefish. Cast your fly into this location.