Tackle requirements for bonefish are pretty straight-forward. I used a 9-foot, 8-weight rod with floating line, and a 9-foot, 12-pound tapered leader fit the bill nicely. As with any species, there are dozens of flies recommended. I fished a few, but on the recommendation of our guides fished a fly called a "gotcha," in sizes #6 or #8, 90 per cent of the time. As Glaister described it, the gotcha is the SUV of bonefishing flies; it’s not perfect for every situation, but it produces in most situations, most of the time. Never did I have a bonefish refuse it when I put it in the right place and stripped it slowly back.
9-foot, 8-weight rods with a 9-foot, 12-pound leaders are about right for bonefish.
Other equipment that’s vital includes polarized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat; the sun beating down and then reflecting back off the water can be brutal. Some folks prefer to wade in long pants, but Jane and I wore shorts every day without problem. You do need a good pair of wading boots or "flats shoes," however, to protect you from the at times sharp bottom rocks, coral and the occasional stingray.
