Bonefish are considered to be among the world’s premier fly game fish and are highly sought after by anglers. Bonefish are primarily caught for sport. They are not commonly eaten.
The bonefish (Albula vulpes) is the type species of the Albulidae family, or bonefishes in order Albuliformes. It is amphidromous, living in inshore tropical waters, moving onto shallow mudflats to feed with the incoming tide, and retreating to deeper water as the tide ebbs. Juvenile bonefish may be observed in large shoals of like-sized individuals with large mature fish swimming in smaller groups or in pairs.
Bonefish feed on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and mollusks. Ledge sporting currents; drop-offs along the edge and clean, healthy seagrass beds produce abundant small crabs and shrimp to nourish the bonefish. Bonefish may follow stingrays, looking for small prey items disturbed by the rooting rays.
