Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies developed the Bonefish Bitters to mimic small crabs or urchins, particularly on turtle grass or atop coral. It was originally named the “Pop’s Bonefish Bitters,” after a legendary guide on Turneffe Atoll. If you’re traveling to Turneffe, you have to have some bitters in your box for both bonefish and permit, but it is effective everywhere!

One element of note is the fly’s epoxy head, a technique popularized in the 1970s and 80s to help flies sink quickly, seen in other patterns like the famous Mother of Epoxy. In modern fly tying, UV resin is often used as a quicker, ready-made substitute for traditional epoxy.

The bitters ranks on our list of Top Bonefish Flies for the World.