Bonefish Flies – Who Uses Gotchas?

Who Uses Gotchas?

Selecting flies for a trip can be difficult and time consuming even though a labor of love. Picking bonefish flies is difficult due to the diverse habits and diet of this species, not to mention….There are thousands of them! If you recall the bonefish prey series from 2016, there was a significant focus on crab, shrimp and gobies but what ever happened to old reliable….the gotcha.  Many novice and expert fly anglers fish in the Bahamas for bonefish using only one fly pattern….the gotcha.

The Gotcha is one of the most well known and successful bonefish patterns of all time. It is a shrimp imitation that also looks a bit like a baitfish when tied with a long wing. It is very easy to tie this super productive bonefish fly and works just about everywhere in the world.  The gotcha has the right shape, proportion and sink rate and can be tied in a bunch of different colors to accommodate the the environments of bonefish.  Take for example the Christmas Island Bonefish Special, a shrimp imitation created for fishing bonefish in the South Pacific.  This is a variation of a Gotcha fly which is specifically tied for Christmas Island Bonefish.  The CI Bonefish Special is usually tied in Orange but can also be tied in pinks, yellows, gold and silvers.  It is bright and flashy and definitely gets noticed in crystal clear waters.  The sulfur shrimp is another gotcha variation which has a marabou & silicone leg tail with a barred wing….it’s still a gotcha.  How about the Beck’s sili leg?  It’s a gotcha with silicone legs and comes in dozen of varieties.  In fact if you take a look at the EP ghost shrimp, it’s really just a gotcha with eyes.  More variations of the original gotcha fly.

When fishing Northern Belize – Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) to Xcalak in Mexico we like patterns that are a little more lively.  The bonefishing in the southeastern Yucatan can be rough if you don’t have the right flies.  Bonefish here are typically smaller and forage for crabs and shrimp along the reef and in the eel grass.  Dark patterns that blend into the grass are absolutely necessary or you will not get an eat.  We learned this through trial and error and talking to the guides that know these waters.  One of the more traditional flies and local favorites is a pink scampi fly.  You guessed it, a variation of the gotcha with a layer of pink synthetic hairs over the wing.  Nothing fancy here, just a sound basic fly with a local twist.   A must if you are planning to fish Ambergris Caye or elsewhere in the southeastern Yucatan or northern Belize. You can wade for bonefish along the beaches in San Pedro but you better have some of these with you. The finicky bones in northern Belize demand a compact, dark,and sometimes flashy fly.

BAHAMAS BONEFISH GOTCHA

Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 #1-8
Thread:  Pink Flymaster plus (210 denier)
Eyes:  Large bead chain or silver dumbbell
Body:  Wrapped Mylar tubing (pearl)
Wing:  Tan Rabbit fur & Tan Craft fur
Flash:  Krystal flash (pearl or pink) optional