The Bonefish That Crossed The Gulf Stream

The flats fishing community in South Florida is abuzz with the possible recovery and discovery of a bonefish caught and tagged near Bear Cut, Biscayne Bay and recaught off Andros Island in the Bahamas. Although the consensus amongst the relevant researchers is that although this catch must be checked for validity, to attain reliability, trans-Atlantic bonefish crossings must be representative behavior. So, the current buzz is that at this time, no inferences can be drawn. Indeed, this is the case for scientists- yet, writers with a bit of pluck, imagination, and a window of free time ("honey, I took the garbage out... now I'll finish the dishes") can have a go at it.

Flats experts generally agree with marine biologists that bonefish have what the latter call "site fidelity", which in hip-hop means they like to "hang"- as in what club they"hang at"- in the same general place. Yet, to continue the use of that lofty term, is "site infidelity" attained when a fish straggles from its habitually- expectable habitat? What shall we think? Is a new trend established or is it a watchable-but- passing anomaly that flashes and then flickers out like a shooting star in the summer's night sky?

If everything tests out, is there sense to be made of this? And, moreso, why did the bonefish do it? The Gulf Stream is a big place, full of predators that love the Gray Ghost. Was the fish feeling at times like that poor chap in Homer's incredible painting? General flats wisdom only bestows transoceanic migration to tarpon and maybe a few bunches of Gulf bull redfish. The shallows of Biscayne Bay are relatively safe for bonefish as regards predation from larger fish, a status not necessarily afforded on Bahamian flats, which have many more sharks. Maybe the prospect of predating upon conch fritters and lots of cold Kalik exceeded the fear of being predated upon, so our little silver fishy had a go at it!

The truth is that very little is currently known about bonefish movements, but the speculation is that far flung migration is not a part of a bonefish's life.
Compare that to the electrified expectations of Homosassans for the giant tarpon that arrive every May.

So for the time being, brave bonefish, thanks for the Buzz!

Jan