Bonefish Flies

The short answer: for bonefish anywhere in the world — Bahamas, Belize, Florida Keys, Christmas Island, Seychelles — the box you want is small, sparse, and light. Size 4 to 8 covers 90% of shots. Weight and profile matter far more than color or exact pattern name.

What we mean by "small, sparse, and light"

• Small: size 4 is the default. Size 6 for spooky flats. Size 8 only for pressured Florida Keys fish or Christmas Island backreef.
• Sparse: less material than freshwater tyers usually think. A bonefish fly should look almost bare in your hand — bulk kills natural sink and spooks tailing fish.
• Light: bead-chain eyes for skinny water, extra-small dumbbells for anything over 18 inches. Never so heavy that it lands hard.

Patterns that work anywhere

Gotcha variants

The all-time #1 bonefish fly by count of fish caught worldwide. Pearl, tan, and pink Gotchas in size 4 and 6. Our Gotcha Light and Christmas Island Gotcha variants cover clean-water flats and pressured fish respectively.

Crazy Charlie

The original weighted bonefish fly. Tan, pink, and pearl in size 4 to 8. Land soft, let it settle, tiny strips with long pauses.

Bonefish Puff

Deer-hair head, sparse tail, perfect for cruising fish in soft-bottom conditions. Size 4 to 6.

Small crabs

Split Crab, Strong Arm Crab, and small merkins in size 4 to 6 for hard-bottom flats where crabs are the primary forage.

Mantis shrimp

Underrated. Bahamas fish and Belize backreef fish eat mantis all day. Size 2 to 4, tan or olive.

Small baitfish (Foxee Redd Minnow, small Clouser)

For deeper flats and creek mouths when bones chase glass minnows.

Weight by water depth

• 0–1 ft (tails out): bead-chain, unweighted, or plastic bead eyes.
• 1–3 ft (cruising): extra-small dumbbell.
• 3+ ft or current: small dumbbell.

Land the fly 6 to 10 feet ahead of the fish. Let it settle. Strip only when the fish closes.

Color

Three colors cover 95% of fishing: tan (default), pink (Bahamas / clean water), pearl (glass minnow-eaters). Add one dark pattern (brown or black) for cloudy days.

Starter bonefish box (travel-ready)

• 2 tan Gotchas, size 4
• 2 pink Gotchas, size 6
• 2 tan Crazy Charlies, size 6
• 2 tan Split Crabs, size 4
• 1 mantis shrimp, size 4
• 1 Bonefish Puff, size 4

That's 10 flies and covers every legit bonefish destination on earth. Every fly on this page is tied on saltwater-grade hooks by FINATICS or a small-batch American tyer we personally fish.