The fish inhabits the numerous saltwater flats along both the Atlantic and Caribbean sides of the island. Feeding on crabs, shrimps, urchins and small fishes, the bonefish has bright silver sides and a turquoise green back that make it almost invisible in the shallow water that it prefers to feed in. Colour varies slightly according to the environment - some Cuban bonefish exhibit prominent dark stripes.

A barbel-shaped fish, the bonefish has an under-slung mouth and a pointed snout that it uses to uncover and engulf prey that hiding in among the sand and coral. A superb game fish on fly tackle, Cuban bonefish, though generally between three and seven pounds, have been caught weighing up to fifteen pounds or more As the fishing in Cuba really gets underway, the tally of double-digit bones is increasing all the time. The fish fights by going on long, searing runs that literally melt line off the reel and because of this and the fabulous environment in which bonefish can be caught, bonefishing has achieved cult status.

See Bonefish Fishing Tactics