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Finding
Bonefish
The
most important ingredient when searching for bonefish
on the flats, whether you are wading or in a boat, is
polarized sunglasses. A good pair of polarized sunglasses
will pay for themselves ten times over. Without this
vital accessory, spotting bonefish that aren't tailing
is nearly impossible. The preferred shade is an yellowish
amber hue that works as well on sunny days as it does
on overcast ones. The amber hue builds contrast and
appears to sharpen your vision. Some people find the
amber hue uncomforting on sunny days so you should experiment
until you find the combination that works best for your
specific needs.
There
are three crucial ingredients to finding a productive
flat for bonefish.
The
first and most important is temperature. Nothing makes
a bonefish happier than warm water. When the temperature
of a flat drops below 70 degrees or exceeds 90, the
bonefish seem to disappear.
The
second vital factor of a productive flat is moving water.
A strong current helps the bonefish easily find his
food through sight and smell. Healthy flats that have
a strong water flow and deep channels nearby are the
most likely to hold bones. Deep channels assist the
flat in the flooding and draining of water while also
offering the fish a safe escape route from predators.
The
third element of a productive flat is life. Flats that
are teeming with all types of critters are nine times
out of ten holding bones. An effective technique to
optimize your search for a successful flat is to scan
the waters for rays, sharks, crabs and other signs of
life. If you are on a flat for half an hour and see
no movement or life, your best bet is to head to another
spot.
The
depth of the water is the determining factor for your
spotting technique for bonefish. When the water is less
than a foot deep you should scan the surface for tailers.
When the water is shallow the bonefish's tail can be
seen above the water line as he buries his head in the
sand looking for food. Another common sight when bonefish
are in shallow water is a visible wake or "v"
on the surface as they skim along the flats You can
also spot this wake when they are in deeper water as
a school moves along.
On
a flat that is deeper than a foot, you should be scanning
the bottom, not the surface. As their namesake suggests,
bonefish underwater resemble grey shadows or ghosts
that move erratically. They often appear as cigar-shaped
shadows or torpedoes that are just barely noticeable
from the surroundings.
Finding
bonefish in varying conditions is an artform that is
acquired through experience and time. The nuances that
reflect in the looking glass of the flats can take a
lifetime to learn so don't get discouraged. Even the
most veteran guides are humbled occasionally by an explosion
of unseen bones as they craftily remind you just who
owns the flats!
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