Closing the Bonefish Record History Book
Bonefish: Albula Vulpes Bonefish is now a Catch-And-Release fishery At the June 2013 FWC Commission meeting, FWC Commissioners approved measures to make bonefish a catch-and-release only fishery. This includes the elimination of a tournament exemption permit. This exemption allowed tournament anglers with the proper permit to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale. This change went into effect Sept. 1. The use of a multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait to harvest or attempt to harvest bonefish was also prohibited starting Sept. 1. [divider] It’s over, it can’t be done legally. No angler will EVER have an opportunity again to beat the standing USA IGFA bonefish records when fishing Florida state waters based on the new rules being enforced as of September 1st 2013. FishMonster fan and subscriber John Kaiser was one of the first possible bonefish record breaking anglers to find out about the new rule. Here’s the email that he sent to FishMonster Magazine: Dear FishMonster Magazine, Yesterday 5-18-14 fishing with Capt. Richard Black out of Lor-e-lei’s in Islamorada I caught a bonefish of possibly world record proportions. The fish measured 35” to the fork, 39”cm to the tip of the tail. Richard’s previous best bonefish was 33” cm to the fork and weighed 14 lbs. 3 ozs. The fish was two inches longer and had a much wider back and girth, he estimated it at 16 + pounds. The current world record is 16 # 3 oz. also caught in Islamorada. The big bone was caught on a fresh shrimp with 5# braid on the spinning reel. Because Florida law prevents any angler from possessing a bonefish and transporting it in a live well we were not able to certify it even though we were within a mile of Worldwide Sportsman, a certified IGFA registration station. We released the fish who was vigorous on it’s return to hopefully fulfill another angler’s dream. If you are interested in any more information on this fish and the battle that took place to land it, feel free to contact me! I love your magazine and you published a picture of a nice permit I caught in the April issue….Thank You! - John Kaiser Not only did John Kaisers bonefish smash the current 6 lb. line class record it may very well have been the biggest bonefish ever caught by hook and line in the USA. Included is an excerpt from the Florida Keys News Bureau showing Bob Schroeder with his 16 lb. 3 oz. Islamorada bonefish that was weighed, measured and then released alive. This fish never made it into the record books as seen above. Congratulations to John on his unbelievable bonefishing accomplishment guided by one of the up and coming quality Islamorada backcountry guides, Captain Richard Black. The rules and regulations are in a constant state of change. FishMonster Magazine keeps you up to date on an updated monthly basis so keep US with YOU whenever you are in the Florida Keys fishing, diving or boating.
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