Bonefish time of day questions

I'm about to head south for a week of bonefishing.
This will be trip #7 for me.

Conventional wisdom has it that bonefish are on the move
(and easiest to catch) on a coming tide, and also (but less
so) on a falling tide. And also that they're hard to catch
at peak high tide because so many of them are deep into
the mangrove roots, where you can't get to them.

But I've also noticed they seem to be easiest to find and
catch about 10:00am to 1:00pm, regardless the tide.

So far so good. Set me straight if I've got it wrong.

================================================

But what about the evening?
I've never been out late--because it's treacherous to
run the boat back in the dark, in shallow water, and becuase
it's a little scary to wade the shallows when it's getting dark too.

But I'm curious anyway. Do they get active again in the
evening? Like, for instance, trout?

Or is a coming tide in mid to late morning the best time to
look for them?

(moon phases in another round of questions)

On 6 Apr 2004 12:06:49 -0700, (Salmo Bytes)
wrote:

I'm about to head south for a week of bonefishing.
This will be trip #7 for me.

Conventional wisdom has it that bonefish are on the move
(and easiest to catch) on a coming tide, and also (but less
so) on a falling tide. And also that they're hard to catch
at peak high tide because so many of them are deep into
the mangrove roots, where you can't get to them.

But I've also noticed they seem to be easiest to find and
catch about 10:00am to 1:00pm, regardless the tide.

So far so good. Set me straight if I've got it wrong.

=============================================== =

But what about the evening?
I've never been out late--because it's treacherous to
run the boat back in the dark, in shallow water, and becuase
it's a little scary to wade the shallows when it's getting dark too.

But I'm curious anyway. Do they get active again in the
evening? Like, for instance, trout?

Or is a coming tide in mid to late morning the best time to
look for them?

(moon phases in another round of questions)

The best bonefish "catching" time of day in my limited experiences has been in
the am on a falling tide.

I'd have to go back a few years to figure out what the moon phases were each
trip, but aside from its effects on the height of tides I'm not a subscriber
to any other moon effects ;-)

/daytripper

My experience fishing for bones in the keys is that bone fish eat all the
time. I have equal luck
on both incoming and outgoing tides, It does not seem to make a difference.
Only that the tide is moving. Slack water is when I see the least fish I
see the most
fish during the lowest part of the tide, because that is when the water is
skinny enough
to see them tailing. Perhaps the reason you see most of your fish between
10:00 am and
1:00 pm is two fold. Number one the after noon sea breeze has not kicked
in, and the water
is smoother, thus easier to look through. Number two, the sunlight is at
the highest, giving you
the best sun angle to see bone shadows.

I usually bonefish 2 times a week, and this has always been my experience.

The biggest challenge in bonefishing is seeing the fish when they are not
tailing.
And with practice, you get better at spotting them.

Hope you have a great #7

Cheers,
Dave

PS Since this is not a binary group, I posted a picture in
alt.binaries.pictures.fishing for you to have something to look at until you
can get on the flats.


"Salmo Bytes" wrote in message
om...
I'm about to head south for a week of bonefishing.
This will be trip #7 for me.

Conventional wisdom has it that bonefish are on the move
(and easiest to catch) on a coming tide, and also (but less
so) on a falling tide. And also that they're hard to catch
at peak high tide because so many of them are deep into
the mangrove roots, where you can't get to them.

But I've also noticed they seem to be easiest to find and
catch about 10:00am to 1:00pm, regardless the tide.

So far so good. Set me straight if I've got it wrong.

================================================

But what about the evening?
I've never been out late--because it's treacherous to
run the boat back in the dark, in shallow water, and becuase
it's a little scary to wade the shallows when it's getting dark too.

But I'm curious anyway. Do they get active again in the
evening? Like, for instance, trout?

Or is a coming tide in mid to late morning the best time to
look for them?

(moon phases in another round of questions)

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 23:50:38 GMT, "none" wrote:

My experience fishing for bones in the keys is that bone fish eat all the
time. I have equal luck
on both incoming and outgoing tides, It does not seem to make a difference.
Only that the tide is moving. Slack water is when I see the least fish I
see the most
fish during the lowest part of the tide, because that is when the water is
skinny enough
to see them tailing. Perhaps the reason you see most of your fish between
10:00 am and
1:00 pm is two fold. Number one the after noon sea breeze has not kicked
in, and the water
is smoother, thus easier to look through. Number two, the sunlight is at
the highest, giving you
the best sun angle to see bone shadows.

I usually bonefish 2 times a week, and this has always been my experience.

The biggest challenge in bonefishing is seeing the fish when they are not
tailing.
And with practice, you get better at spotting them.

Hope you have a great #7

Cheers,
Dave

PS Since this is not a binary group, I posted a picture in
alt.binaries.pictures.fishing for you to have something to look at until you
can get on the flats.

Decent fish. Do you really use a Boca on bones? I never felt the need to,
myself - I don't mind the slime ;-)

Ever do any bonefishing on Anegada Reef in the BVI?

/daytripper

The boga grip just keeps me honest ( It's IGFA certified )
That way an 8 lb bone doesn't turn into a 12 lb fish after a few drinks

Never fished the BVI. But wouldn't mind a post or two to learn more about
it.
Do tell !!!!




"daytripper" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 23:50:38 GMT, "none" wrote:

My experience fishing for bones in the keys is that bone fish eat all the
time. I have equal luck
on both incoming and outgoing tides, It does not seem to make a
difference.
Only that the tide is moving. Slack water is when I see the least fish
I
see the most
fish during the lowest part of the tide, because that is when the water
is
skinny enough
to see them tailing. Perhaps the reason you see most of your fish between
10:00 am and
1:00 pm is two fold. Number one the after noon sea breeze has not kicked
in, and the water
is smoother, thus easier to look through. Number two, the sunlight is at
the highest, giving you
the best sun angle to see bone shadows.

I usually bonefish 2 times a week, and this has always been my
experience.

The biggest challenge in bonefishing is seeing the fish when they are not
tailing.
And with practice, you get better at spotting them.

Hope you have a great #7

Cheers,
Dave

PS Since this is not a binary group, I posted a picture in
alt.binaries.pictures.fishing for you to have something to look at until
you
can get on the flats.

Decent fish. Do you really use a Boca on bones? I never felt the need to,
myself - I don't mind the slime ;-)

Ever do any bonefishing on Anegada Reef in the BVI?

/daytripper

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 01:58:32 GMT, "none" wrote:

The boga grip just keeps me honest ( It's IGFA certified )
That way an 8 lb bone doesn't turn into a 12 lb fish after a few drinks

Never fished the BVI. But wouldn't mind a post or two to learn more about
it.
Do tell !!!!

Oh man. I bet Anegada is still one of the best kept secrets in bonefishing.
Lots of bigger bones - I was lining 8 pounders to get to the 12 pounders ;-)

If you ever get the chance to go, do it, at least for a couple of days. There
ain't a whole lot there aside from bones and a spectacular surfing beach on
the north shore. But they make an outstanding rum punch at the beach bar, and
the hotel has their own lobster pound ("ummmm...lobster...") so they're still
wriggling when they hit the barbecue.

Dave Vanderpool is the guy to hook up with. A great guide and a riot at the
bar...

/daytripper (still getting over not making it down there this year)

Sounds fun, now I understand why this is trip #7

"daytripper" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 01:58:32 GMT, "none" wrote:

The boga grip just keeps me honest ( It's IGFA certified )
That way an 8 lb bone doesn't turn into a 12 lb fish after a few drinks


Never fished the BVI. But wouldn't mind a post or two to learn more
about
it.
Do tell !!!!

Oh man. I bet Anegada is still one of the best kept secrets in
bonefishing.
Lots of bigger bones - I was lining 8 pounders to get to the 12 pounders
;-)

If you ever get the chance to go, do it, at least for a couple of days.
There
ain't a whole lot there aside from bones and a spectacular surfing beach
on
the north shore. But they make an outstanding rum punch at the beach bar,
and
the hotel has their own lobster pound ("ummmm...lobster...") so they're
still
wriggling when they hit the barbecue.

Dave Vanderpool is the guy to hook up with. A great guide and a riot at
the
bar...

/daytripper (still getting over not making it down there this year)