FWC Home : Wildlife & Habitats : Species Information : Saltwater Fish Identification :  Bonefish

Bonefishes: Bonefish

Family Albulidae, BONEFISHES
Albula vulpes

Illustrations and Copyright by Diane Rome Peebles
Illustrations are for viewing purposes only.

Description: silvery color with bluish or greenish back; slender, round body; snout long, conical, aiming downward and overhanging lower jaw; dark streaks between scales on upper half of body and faint crossbands extending down to lateral line; extremities of dorsal and caudal fins shaded with black.

Similar Fish: ladyfish, Elops saurus

Where found: primarily INSHORE fish inhabiting shallows of the Florida Keys; found in shallows often less than 1 foot deep, usually over lush grass flats, occasionally over white sand.

Size: 3 to 5 pounds.

*Florida Record: 15 lbs., 6 ozs.

Remarks: travels in loose schools; roots out shrimp, shellfish, crabs, and fish from the bottom; spawns offshore, eggs hatching into ribbon-like larvae that metamorphose into fish-like form at about 2 inches and move inshore.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.