Bonefish

Bonefish
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Albuliformes
Family:	Albulidae
Genus:	Albula
Species:	A. vulpes
Binomial name
Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[2][3]
Species Esox vulpes Linnaeus 1758 Vulpis vulpes (Linnaeus 1758)  ?Albula lacustris Walbaum 1792 Albula conoryncha Bloch & Schneider 1801 Clupea brasiliensis Bloch & Schneider 1801 non Steindachner 1879 Albula plumieri Bloch & Schneider 1801 Amia immaculata Bloch & Schneider 1801 Clupea macrocephala Lacépède 1803 Conorynchus macrocephalus (Lacépède 1803)  ?Butyrinus bananus Lacepède 1803 Glossodus forskalii Spix & Agassiz 1829 Engraulis bahiensis Spix 1829 Engraulis serica Spix 1829 Albula parrae Valenciennes 1847 Albula goreensis Valenciennes 1847 Esunculus costai Kaup 1856 Vulpis bahamensis Catesby 1771 Albulas gronovii Walbaum 1792 Albula rostrata Gronow 1854  ?Albula unbarana Marcgrave ex de Castelnau 1855

The bonefish (Albula vulpes) is the type species of the bonefish family (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes.

Bonefish were once believed to be a single species with a global distribution, however 9 different species have since been identified. There are three identified species in the Atlantic and six in the Pacific. Albula vulpes is the largest and most widespread of the Atlantic species.^[4]

This species inhabits warm subtropical and tropical waters of the western Atlantic, and is found off the coasts of southern Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the West Indies.^[1]

The bonefish weighs up to 14 lb (6.4 kg) and measures up to 79 cm (31 in) long. The color of bonefish can range from very silver sides and slight darker backs to olive green backs that blend to the silver side.^[4] Slight shading on the scales often leads to very soft subtle lines that run the flank of the fish from the gills to the tail. The bases of the pectoral fins are sometimes yellow.^{[citation needed]} Bonefish can live up to 20 years and reach sexual maturity at 2–3 years of age (when they're over 17 inches (43.18 cm) long). Larvae drift for an average of 53 days. Juveniles often live over open sandy bottoms.^[4]

An amphidromous species, it lives in inshore tropical waters and moves onto shallow mudflats or sand flats to feed with the incoming tide. Adults and juveniles may shoal together, and mature adults may be found singly or in pairs.^[4]

The bonefish feeds on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and mollusks.^[5] Ledges, drop-offs, and clean, healthy seagrass beds yield abundant small prey such as crabs and shrimp. It may follow stingrays to catch the small animals they root from the substrate.^{[citation needed]}

In the Los Roques archipelago bonefish primarily hunt glass minnows, however this behavior is atypical.^[6]

Bonefish are considered one of the premier fly and light tackle game fish.^[4] Fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, southern Florida, Cargados Carajos. Since bonefish live in shallow inshore water, fishing may be done by wading or from a shallow-draft boat. Bonefishing is mostly done for the sport, so the fish are released, but they may also be eaten in less developed areas. A typical Bahamian recipe is a split fish seasoned with pepper sauce and salt, then baked.^[7]

Bonefish are notoriously wary and great skill must be taken both in approach and presentation when fishing for them. English-speaking fishermen often refer to them as "grey ghosts."^[4]

• Atlantic tarpon
• Ladyfish
• Milkfish

• Adams, A., et al. 2012. Albula vulpes. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on 2 June 2013.
• Fly Fishing for Bonefish: Crazy Charlie Fly Pattern
• Chico Fernandez, Fly-fishing for Bonefish, 2004, ISBN 081170095X.
• Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research Archived 2018-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
• Hawaiian Bonefish Tagging Program
• Photos of Bonefish on Sealife Collection