Fish Identification Photos: Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula: The Eastern Pacific Bonefish is a long slender cylindrical silvery fish with yellow pectoral and pelvic fins and a dark caudal fin. The pelvic fins of the Eastern Pacific Bonefish originate under the middle of the dorsal fin and the mouth ends before reaching the eye, both of which are key identification characteristic.

The Eastern Pacific Bonefish is not an easy species to identify because it is quite similar to the Lady Fish or Machete, Elops affinis (pelvic fins commence before the dorsal fin commences); the Milk Fish, Chanos chanos (large eyes, small mouth, strong lateral line, short pointed dorsal fin); and especially the Shafted Bonefish, Albula nemoptera (prolonged filamentous last dorsal fin ray and long last anal fin ray with dorsal being longer than anal).

The Eastern Pacific Bonefish reaches 28 inches in length and is normally found in the first 30 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms.

The Eastern Pacific Bonefish is a member of the Albulidae or Bonefish Family which has only one genus, Albula. It is a coastal pelagic species reported to be found in all Mexican waters with the exception of the oceanic islands.

Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula: Shows up when one purchases a scoop of bait. Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in April 2006, with the water temperature at 74 degrees, early morning, in 5 to 10-foot deep water, utilizing a cast net by panguero bait salesmen. Size approximately 14 inches. A very rare species. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow. Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula: One of 22 bonefish caught at La Ribera, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, September 2001, by Thomas Pak. Photo courtesy Baja On The Fly. Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula: At La Ribera, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, September 2001. Photo courtesy Baja On The Fly. Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula: Tentative identification. Photo From Pam Bolles (shown), Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico: "How about this oddball fish? Probably the first sight-cast and landed bonefish on the fly in Loreto! Caught summer 1998. Probably weighed about a pound and a half. Not exactly a whopper, but novel." Photo courtesy Pam Bolles.