Bonefish: The Most Valuable Fish in the World

Here's a link from a recent meeting in Florida in which Jerry Ault, a marine researcher at the University of Miami, said that bonefish are, "the most valuable fish, per fish, in the world" due to its effect on the sportfishing and tourism economy.

The article, from KeysNet.com, is talking about the devastating effects that the cold spell has had on Tarpon and Bonefish in the keys.

According to Ault in the article, "The bonefish population was estimated at about 326,000 fish, basically concentrated in the Florida Keys, before the January chill."

"What does that mean in terms of what the population used to be? That's the million-dollar question," Ault said.

ESPN, Home of Pirates of the Flats, Donates to BTT

Since I've been posting about the great work that the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust has been doing, I thought I would share a news release they put out stating that ESPN, which has been airing Pirates of the Flats, has donated $5,000 to BTT research.

Here is the link: Tarpon & Bonefish Trust

Pirates of the Flats continues to be my favorite fishing show on Sunday morning.  Be sure to check it out if you haven't done so.

Bahamas Bonefishing with Brian O'Keefe

Brian O'Keefe is one of my favorite fly fishing personalities and is one of the most well known fly fishing photographers out there.  I'm posting a link to a podcast he did on Ask About Fly Fishing a few years ago about fly fishing for bonefish in the Bahamas.  He gives a great overview of the fishery and some of the things to expect on a trip there.

Here is a link to the podcast
 http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/speakers/brian/brian.cfm

There is also podcast on there about fly fishing in Campeche, Mexico, for baby tarpon and that is worth checking out, too.

Currents of Belize

The issue of growth and sustainability, it turns out, is a global one.  I highly encourage Bonefish Flat readers to check out a new film online sponsored by Costa Del Mar called Currents of Belize.

It can be found here www.currentsofbelize.com 


I had the chance to watch the film this snowy afternoon and it is top notch.  It gives a snapshot of what Belize is dealing with as it tries to provide jobs and improve its tourism industry while at the same time protecting its environment and its integrity.  


Plus, it has great footage of the flats including the big three.  


Anyone who is a fan of flats fishing won't want to miss this.  

Bonefish and Tarpon Trust

Yesterday I posted a how-to catch and release from the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.  I've added this group to my list of favorite sites and encourage readers to check out their site. 

If we want to catch these fish, they have to be there in the first place.

Bonefish Catch and Release

I've been reading on different message boards the best way to handle bonefish when practicing catch and release, which everyone should do.

I like to take a photo of fish, but also want to make sure that I'm being responsible. I thought the best way to look at this issue is to go to the Bonefish and Tarpon trust and get their recommendations.

I think this is an issue where common sense rules the day. If it is a small fish, let it go in the water. If it's photo worthy, keep it in the water, have your buddy get the camera ready, take the fish out and take a pic, and put it back in the water. Boom, this can be done in 5 seconds.

If you have been watching Pirates of the Flats, this is how Val Atkinson and Bill Klyn of BTT said to do it.

Another thing to do is use an underwater camera and work on getting the fish that way.

Here is the official page from BTT on how to practice good catch and release...of which I plan to do a lot of this year!

Bonefish Catch and Release

Although catch and release fishing is a valuable conservation tool that can lead to more and bigger fish in the fishery, just because a fish swims away doesn't mean that it lives to be caught another day. The tips below for increasing the chances that a released bonefish survives are based on scientific research focused on bonefish. Be a responsible angler - use Best Practices for Bonefish Catch and Release.

Hooks:

Hooking location and time needed to remove a hook affects survival rates

• Always use barbless hooks
• When fishing with bait, use circle hooks

Fight Time:

Shorter fight times increase survival because a fish fought to exhaustion is more vulnerable to predators. Conversely, a bonefish reeled in too quickly may thrash about, increasing its chances of injury.

• Tackle should match conditions and the size of the fish so that the fish can be landed quickly, but not until their head can be lifted slightly above the water surface and their movements controlled.
• Always land a bonefish before it is exhausted and loses equilibrium when released (cannot swim, nose dives, or rolls over).
• If a bonefish loses equilibrium after you land it, revive it until it can swim upright, then shorten the fight time on future fish.
• High water temperatures may negatively impact bonefish survival after relesae; in warmer water, reduce fight time and handling time.

Handling:

Minimize handling of all fish; slime and scales can be removed or damaged with excessive handling, thereby greatly increasing the risks of infection. In addition, recent research has shown that mechanical lip-gripping devices can cause damage to mouth tissue if the bonefish struggles against the device, so their use is best avoided.

• If you have to handle a bonefish, use clean, wet hands and gently support the bonefish from beneath the head and belly. Nets, mechanical lip-gripping devices, and wet cloths can cause injury to the bonefish.
• Use hemostats, pliers, or a hook-removal tool to quickly remove the hook while keeping the fish in the water, and have your pliers ready and available to facilitate a quick release.
• Avoid exposing bonefish to air, even when taking a photo. If you must remove the bonefish from the water, limit it to a maximum of 15 seconds.
• Touching the gills can cause damage and impair the ability of a bonefish to breathe.
• If a lip-gripping device is used, it's best to use them only to restrain a calm fish in the water while removing the hook. If a fish's weight is desired, attach a sling to the device, and cradle the bonefish in the sling rather than hanging the fish vertically by the jaw.

Predators:

The survival of released bonefish decreases severely when predators such as sharks and barracudas are abundant because these predators often attack a bonefish soon after it is released. In fact, fish that lose equilibrium are six times more likely to be attacked by predators.

• When predators become abundant and appear to be attracted to your fishing activity, consider moving to another fishing location.
• If you have caught a bonefish and potential predators are near, if you have a livewell consider using it to hold the fish for a short time and release it some distance away.

Download your own copy of the Best Practices for Bonefish Catch and Release brochure.

24 inches and double haul in the wind

Not the size of a bonefish, but how much snow we are supposed to get in DC. How can i practice casting in this weather?

When I do practice, I have 4 cones and I measure them out to 25, 40, 60 and 80 feet and try getting to each with one to two false casts.

One of the keys to true distance casting is measuring your casts. If you don't measure, chances are you'll cheat yourself.