Getting ready to head back to south Florida soon for some fishing and started thinking about bonefish. Was wondering if there were bonefish in Texas and decided to google it. The story below was what came up...

https://www.texassaltwaterfishingma.../joe-doggett/the-baffin-bay-big-bonefish

I soon realized this was not Baffin Bay in Texas, but Baffin Bay in the Bahamas, caught by a Texan. Great story, now I'll tell you mine. My first experience with bonefish was on Anglin Pier, in Lauderdale by the Sea Florida. I was fishing for snook that night and was using a sabiki rig and baitcaster to catch live bait. Made my cast into the shallows where small waves were breaking, feel the tap tap of bait hittling sabiki, hoping I have pilchard (white bait) to reel in and was astounded to see my catch of 4 six inch bonefish. Yes, one cast, four bonefish. I laughed to myself as I remember as a kid watching Ted Williams fishing in the keys for bonefish on the American Sportsman tv show. Was amazed at their long runs with line knifing through the water... thought one day I would definitely give it a shot. No long runs that night, no screaming drag... just 4 bonefish. I used one for bait that night, let the others go... didn't catch squat with it. It would be over 10 years before I would ever target bonefish.

Any of you guys ever fish for them?

Yes, all over the World many times but never in Texas. LOL.

I used to fish with a guide that guided Ted on many of his Trips....the stories he told about Ted were priceless!

I had no idea if there were any here or not... knew that the snook are making a comeback along south Texas coast and always wondered if the bonefish had ever been down there as well.

For those that have never caught a good bonefish, its one of the most exciting fish you can catch.


This was the first one I caught after catching the 4 on one cast... 13 years earlier on sabiki rig. Caught it on a salt water assassin while fishing for trout in Biscayne Bay, Miami. That fish ripped off line from my baitcaster so fast, I thought reel would explode. Was holding it as far from my face as possible in fear pieces of reel were going to start flying. When I realized it was a bonefish, I knew I had to target this fish more often. I spent the rest of the year mainly targeting them. It was exactly like I'd imagined it would be as a kid, watching it on tv. I was hooked.


Good old video..

Here is a Bonefish trip i took to Belize a few years ago if you are intrested.

https://vimeo.com/280369037

Nice video! Went there on short notice with a buddy that invited me back in early 90's. He was hired in an emergency to captain a sailboat from Miami, headed there for family of 4 that thought they knew how to sail their Gulfstar 50. Long story but made it to Cozumel by sailboat, then bus from Cancun to Belize City.. then mail boat to San Pedro. Had to cut trip short when captain got sick... don't drink the water. Flew out of San Pedro back to main land... didn't get chance to bone fish.

I have fished the flats in the middle keys on three occasions. Not fly fishing. 2 trips were busts, one was a lot of fun,
sight fishing with live shrimp. Unfortunately the biggest fish of the day made a long run to the edge of the flat and was
eaten by a huge shark.

MO

Man, thats a shame uou didn't get to fish. I love San Pedro. If money was no object i believe i would move down there.