"The Grey Ghost"

Bonefish on "Bonefish Special"

-wood -acrylics

Not unlike the Redfish carving, this piece is another in a never ending series of saltwater gamefish carvings that I believe capture the essence of Florida fishing. In particular fly fishing the flats of Key West for Bonefish! The fly is based on the "Bonefish Special" fly and is carved from wood.

Bonefish are one of Florida's premier gamefish and are known as "grey ghosts of the flats" because they are stealthy, fast-swimming fish that are exciting and challenging to catch. South Florida is one of the few places in the United States where anglers have the unique opportunity to fish for bonefish and the shallow saltwater flats of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay are considered a world-class destination for catching large, trophy-sized bonefish.

A recent study by scientists at the University of Miami estimated the value of a single bonefish in the Florida Keys to be $3,500 each year. That's nearly $75,000 over the lifespan of the fish!

In June 2013 FWC Commissioners approved measures to make bonefish a catch-and-release only fishery.