Bonefish
Albula vulpes
FR Banane · ES Macabí · PT Ubarana (Ubarana-branca)
Also known as: BananaLadyfishBananePesce SignoraMacabíBananeUbarana (Ubarana-branca)
Surf/EstuaryShoreBoat
Gamefish
Score
—
Prime time
Rising tide, good light for sight-fishing
Depth
0–100m
Platform
Shore & boat
Season
JanMarJunSepDec
Peak Feb–DecGood Jan–May
Depth range
0–100mDeep
Best fishing techniques
Float fishing60%
Preferred seabed
SandMud
Findr bio
Daylight flats ghost on rising tide. Flies, jigs, or live shrimp — stealth is key...
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
EstuaryShallow water
Recommended baits
FlySoft plasticsPrawns
Diet
CrabShrimpBivalvesPolychaete wormsSmall fish
Effective techniques
Saltwater FlySpinning
Gear
Best times
DawnDayDuskMid flood
They call me the Grey Ghost — invisible on skinny flats until my tail gives me away in the sun.
Field notes
Where to find them
Shallow tropical flats, Caribbean/Florida/Bahamas/Indo-Pacific
Where they hang out
Ultra-shallow flats, under 1 m to a few metres
Prime time
Rising tide, good light for sight-fishing
Tide game
High; fish push onto flats as tide floods
What they're into
Small flies, shrimp imitations; eats shrimp, crabs, worms
Temperature vibe
Warm-water species, 24–30°C, avoids cold fronts
Fave weather
Calm, bright conditions essential for spotting fish
Fun fact about me
Toothless but tough — I crush crabs and shrimp with grinding plates instead of a bite.
Dinner material?
2/10Best left in the water
Play by the rules
Widely catch-and-release; guided access common — check locallyState/national fisheries agency (e.g. FWC in Florida)
Looking after them
Near Threatened
Other regions where you can target Bonefish