Back Bay Bonefish on the Chew

Discussion in 'Bay Fishing' started by Risentidefishing, Nov 30, 2020.

  1. Risentidefishing

    Risentidefishing
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    We’ve gotten into some fun Bonefish bites for our clients over the last few weeks. As a whole the bay has been fishing pretty slow and the area we had been working dried up and sent us searching the back bay. Poked around a few muddy bottom spots and found some hungry Bonefish. We caught them on the the fly the first day. Full sinking line, small tan ghost shrimp fly, and short 3 inch strips produced 5 first time drag peelers in the 1-2lb range. The other days we caught them on a 3/8oz Carolina rig with 2ft 8lb Flouro leader and a small Zman grub or Crusteaz in Pink or White. Slow crawling along the bottom did the trick. A lot of people don’t realize but Winter can actually be one of the best time to target Bonefish in the Back Bay. We still have plenty of availability over the next few months of you’re interested in learning how to tap into this unique fishery!

    Rates and availability:

    https://www.risentidefishing.com/

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    #1 Risentidefishing, Nov 30, 2020
  2. myahk

    myahk Well-Known Member

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    nice, was thinking about targeting bonefish on the SUP my next time out. What's the ratio of spotties to bonefish when slow-rolling the grub on the bottom?
     
    #2 myahk, Nov 30, 2020
  3. NCTOADSLAYERZ

    NCTOADSLAYERZ
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    Muddy bottoms in the back bay have always produced for me
     
    #3 NCTOADSLAYERZ, Nov 30, 2020
  4. Risentidefishing

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    If you are fishing in the right areas and they are in a biting mood you will catch them about 2:1 on Spotted Bay Bass. They will usually come in short flurries and then move on once you’ve caught a handful. Knowing the areas they frequent is the key to success when blind casting for Bonefish. I look for muddy bottom that’s 2-5ft deeper then the surrounding eel grass beds. Where there’s one Bonefish there’s almost always more
     
    #4 Risentidefishing, Nov 30, 2020
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  5. Corvinafang414

    Corvinafang414 Well-Known Member

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    Nice! I still havent caught my first bonefish. Is there a good place to fish for them from shore? And will 10lb flouro leader be ok? I dont know if there line shy..
     
    #5 Corvinafang414, Nov 30, 2020
  6. Medicated fisherman

    Medicated fisherman
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    Will they eat the 10#? Probably but if your targeting them use a 6#-8# flourocarbon leader on a carolina rigged ghostshrimp. Try the shore access areas in the south bay. Good luck.
     
    #6 Medicated fisherman, Nov 30, 2020
  7. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach ..RIP my friends
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    Man.. that photo in your avatar there, Medicated fisherman ... Lol.. ghost shrimp on the split shot rig, bonefish aren't scared of the shallows...
     
    #7 Werfless, Nov 30, 2020
  8. socalteacher

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    I’ve caught them in the Liberty Station channel with ghost shrimp.
     
    #8 socalteacher, Nov 30, 2020
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  9. dmorgan3

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    Bottom feeding fish in muddy water are not normally line shy. But since they are not large fish, no need to go heavier than 6 lb. unless that is what you are already rigged for or you are fishing from the shore and need to pull the bait or fish out of grass.

    Think they would eat Gulp sandworms? That sounds like fish caviar (pun intended) from all the replies to that post. I know some people call it "perch crack".

    What size grub, 2" or 3" best?

    I am thinking that rubbing some scent on the soft plastic grub is a good idea. If ghost shrimp work better than soft plastics, could indicate that scent is important.

    Comments? Your wisdom is much appreciated.
     
    #9 dmorgan3, Nov 30, 2020
  10. Fat Spottie

    Fat Spottie Glorified Fuzzy Specialist
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    Like 2in grubs with a 1/16oz jig heads

    white and yellow
     
    #10 Fat Spottie, Nov 30, 2020
  11. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach ..RIP my friends
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    I have caught five at a time on a sabiki baited with shrimp in MB... Pretty sure I caught a three sabiki in SDB, with one big one...
     
    #11 Werfless, Nov 30, 2020
  12. Fat Spottie

    Fat Spottie Glorified Fuzzy Specialist
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    Oh I’m sure, I just want the challenge of of a grub.
     
    #12 Fat Spottie, Nov 30, 2020
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  13. Risentidefishing

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    Real ghost shrimp is king when targeting Bonefish but if you don’t want to spend the time pumping or if the tides aren’t right you can catch them on artificials just fine. I’d say a 3” grub in pink/white is plenty small enough for them and i’d imagine gulp sandworms will work. Look at the Zman Crusteaz, that’s one of their favorites. That’ being said if you are in a good area of them and they are hungry they will eat just about any small life presented properly. Small baitfish patterns will also work and I’ve even caught one throwing a shallow diving jerkbait in 12ft of water (go figure).
     
    #13 Risentidefishing, Dec 1, 2020
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  14. Stephan Deambrogio

    Stephan Deambrogio
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    Gotta love bonefish, they put up such a good fight for their size
     
    #14 Stephan Deambrogio, Dec 1, 2020
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  15. Kam_Walsh98

    Kam_Walsh98
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    I bet that sabiki was trashed afterwards
     
    #15 Kam_Walsh98, Dec 4, 2020
  16. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach ..RIP my friends
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    I used pretty hefty weight on my sabiki... It helps a lot
     
    #16 Werfless, Dec 4, 2020
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