Bonefish
Albula vulpes
Also called Gray ghost.
How to tell it
Chrome flats torpedo with an underslung mouth beneath a conical snout; tail flashes like foil.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called bonefish, and what gives each one away.
- Ladyfish: Mouth at the tip, jumps when hooked. Tell them apart
- Permit: Deep-bodied with a black-edged sickle tail. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | Catch-and-release only | No harvest | Catch-and-release year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Florida (Gulf) | Catch-and-release only | No harvest | Catch-and-release year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16.19 lb | 2007 · Islamorada | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 0 lb 4 oz | 1999 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 3.75 lb | 1977 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Never kept — Florida is release-only.
In the app
Point the camera at a bonefish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about bonefish
Where is bonefish harvest prohibited?
Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf). Release it there.
How do you tell bonefish from ladyfish?
Bonefish: Chrome flats torpedo with an underslung mouth beneath a conical snout; tail flashes like foil. Ladyfish: mouth at the tip, jumps when hooked.
What is the record bonefish?
16.19 lb in Florida (2007), Islamorada. Other states’ records are in the table.