[dropcap]M[/dropcap]iami Herald’s Sue Cocking wrote the following disturbing, but true piece about bonefish in the Keys and Biscayne Bay. Most of us that live here in South Florida and get to fish the Keys and Biscayne Bay a couple of times a year for a few days each time and have done so for 20 or more years, and that includes professional guides like Fly Life Magazine’s field editor Captain Andrew Derr (Andrew professionally fished out of Key Largo – late 90s to early 2000), have noticed a decline in bones. Places we knew we’d find bones a dozen years or more ago are now void of any Albula vulpes. Too, the economic impact is now noticeable in the Keys. I have several friends that now fly somewhat regularly to the Bahamas when the bonefish itch is on and rarely go to the Keys for bone fishing.
Tagging is only one part of research.
Changes in the bonefish population in Florida Bay have scientists looking for reasons.
Here’s Sue’s interview with guides (Capt. Craig Brewer, Capt. Dave Denkert, Capt. Rusty Albury), scientists from Audubon and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Aaron Adams and others. The research is focused on what’s causing the decline. Many questions need to be answered. Bonefish are extremely valuable to the economies of South Florida, as well as the Bahamas. [Read More]
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SUSAN COCKING
SCOCKING@MIAMIHERALD.COM
When the BFTT bonefish surveys started in South Florida I volunteered, I saw and reported a few fish, but didn’t catch any at all. This made me feel that I was getting out of touch with the locations and habits of the bonefish in the Bay. This news of the current situation vindicates me to myself. I have been fishing for bonefish in Biscayne Bay since 1954, in the mid 1960’s I did some guiding here with good success. But, as noted, in recent years I have had disappointing results fishing for bonefish on the Bay flats seeing less and less fish every year, maybe for good reason!