How do you catch bonefish....in san dieg ca?

[califishergurl]

Hello All,

I'm a fisherwoman in San Diego California. My husband and I have recently discovered that there are bone fish in Glorrieta bay in Coronado ca. we have seen them jumping out of the water like crazy anywhere from id say a pound to five pounds. my husband and i have both caught one by accident but we are having a really hard time catching them now. we have tried gulp Bait shrimp slow retrieve and fast retrieve along with swim baits. sometimes they will bite but usually we don't hook them. do you have any suggestions on how to catch them? one more question i have is why do they jump out of the water? is it a feeding or spawning thing? :confused:

Have a wonderful day,
Nicole Arata~
Ps below is a picture of one of the bonefish my husband has caught, just so you can see that there really are bonefish in san diego.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k218/nic_coley1985/bonefish.jpg

[avelezr]

Here in Bahia de Kino, (Hermosillo Son. Mexico) I fish a bonefih with spoon
Right now we have a lot of Bonefish because we have too a lot of little fish in the beach and bonefish take a buffet ............seeya en the sea!!:D

[George Woodward]

Typically Pacific bonefish are found in deep water. Bottom hugging jigs - Wiggle Jig or Backbone Jigs work the best. Small, very small spoons work too. They feed primarily on shrimp, clams, sea worms and anything on the bottom. Jumping out of the water? Never seen that.

[wtpdosa]

There is a place in south San Diego Bay inside of the Silver Strand near the White club house off of the point where it has been reported there are Bonies and BSP in the shallows.
I've never fished there, but from another website, it has been suggested as a good area to cast shrimp or crab flies for them.

Best of Luck!


Tom

[marlintuna]

***Edited, that is a Bonefish.

I tihnk that's a Mullet. Mullets are all over San Diego at the San Diego River flood channel at OB, Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. Growing up fishing the shores of San Diego my dad and I would be fihsing off the OB Jetty and the Mullet would jump all the time there and all over Mission Bay. I'm thinking it's the same fish or in the same family because the dorsal fins and mouth shape are very similar and similar behaivior jumping. We've seen them jump all around our lines but never hooked one. Mullet normally feed on algae it strains from sand and mud on the sea bottom and rarely will take a hook in salt water. They soemtimes take a hook baited with dough, bread or shrimp. You might try using a really small treble hook and pick up some dough bait or pinch some bread to the hook. As for crashing the surface, I think they are eating flies or gulping air. Good question, I'm going to ask around if it's a Bonefish cause I'm pretty sure it's a Mullet considering all that crazy jumping.

Happy fishing.

Rob Mailly
Sportfish San Diego
www.sportfishsandiego.com

[gord rados]

For sure it's a Bone!
I have read reports from Mexico and Cuba about seeing bonefish jump and also bonefish taking dry flies!!! (Mullet do not have the dark bars running down their backs)

[Makubwa]

Try getting a flyrod. Flyfishing for these can be a sport all on its won! If you are using spinning rods / baitcasters . Try using a light with transparent line - about 5lb. Could try fishing with Rapalas for improved hookups - if you intend to return your fish as I would advise - please take off the barbs. Shadraps has always been one of my favourites for these.

[wtpdosa]

For sure it's a Bone!
I have read reports from Mexico and Cuba about seeing bonefish jump and also bonefish taking dry flies!!! (Mullet do not have the dark bars running down their backs)

I also remember hearing that mullets are vegitarians. I don't know if this is true or not.
Anyone know?

The guys at Andy Montana's in Coronado have mentioned about Bones in the Bays.

[marlintuna]

My bad, those are Bonefish and apparently the same fish that boats drive miles for elsewhere. San Diego they literally nearly jump into your boat.

[PAL]

Congratulations on a fine San Diego Bay exotic. Bonefish haunt much of the south bay, extending all the way down to Chula Vista. That's where I've caught mine, all as incidentials while fishing small grubs and plastics for the dominant spotted bay bass.

Anglers who want to target the bones specifically pump or purchase live ghost shrimp and then fish them slowly on the drift. You might try it.

The wamr shallows of the south bay support a few other tropical oddities. One that comes immediately to mind is the needlefish.

On the other hand, I suspect the jumping fish you saw were mullet.

[Legend]

Jumping out of the water? Never seen that.

Only when chased by hungry 'cudas!

[charlie92117]

I've been catching them in mission bay in front of the visitor center late evenings, early mornings. Basic surf rig from shore. weight on bottom with two circle hooks above. Using frozen squid. They fight hard. I usually throw them back but tried one tonight. Fied with salt peper and soy sauce. tasted great. The visitor center is at the end of clairemont dr. I also catch them across from there off of fiesta island. I go for bat rays but catch tose all the time.

[Bob Day]

Nicole,
Yes there are bonefish in San Diego Bay. The fish you see jumping are mullette not bonefish. I usually fly fish in the bay and catch them on small clouser minnow flies in olive and white, tan and white. You can also use a ghost shrimp fly. If you are using conventional gear use 6# test line and I have had success with Gulp Shrimp, 2 or 3 inch. Go to my website, www.enlamosca.com to get more information.
bob

[ibhuff]

Congratulations on a fine San Diego Bay exotic. Bonefish haunt much of the south bay, extending all the way down to Chula Vista. That's where I've caught mine, all as incidentials while fishing small grubs and plastics for the dominant spotted bay bass.

Anglers who want to target the bones specifically pump or purchase live ghost shrimp and then fish them slowly on the drift. You might try it.

The wamr shallows of the south bay support a few other tropical oddities. One that comes immediately to mind is the needlefish.

On the other hand, I suspect the jumping fish you saw were mullet.

i was catching them all the way down to the salt flats while targeting sharks and rays on squid and shrimp, never caught a needlefish but have seen one, i didnt know what it was and it scared the hell out of me. :)

[ceejay77]

yes they are there although you do not hear of many been caught,hook and sinker the best with either squid or shrimp,never eaten one so not sure of the taste I fish for fun then throw them back still kicking.