Schools of bonefish are frequently followed by sharks and barracuda. This is bonefish reality, even when an angler doesn't see them. In South Andros, down at Jackfish Channel and Water Cay, when some of the guides take bone fishermen wading, they take the push pole along with them, to fend off the sharks.
This doesn't mean that every bonefish that gets caught and released, is eaten by a shark or a barracuda. A scientist at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, said a study of the stomach contents of Lemon Sharks, taken from the flats, showed that only 6% had bonefish in them. I have observed schools of bonefish being stocked by sharks and barracuda and it doesn't seem to rattle them much.
A healthy and aware bonefish will out-swim his predators on a good day. On a bad day, like when he has just been caught and released, he may not fare so well. i have lost a bonefish to a barracuda and didn't care for the feeling that came with that. Although there is nothing that can be done once a bonefish is released, there are methods for catch and release that help to increase their chances of survival.
Always use barbless hooks. Some fish will be lost, but the ones that are caught will not have their mouths torn up when removing the hook. Reduce fight time. I use twenty pound test tippet and horse them in, after they are done running, then get them released as quickly as possible. They will take a fly on twenty pound tippet. Horsing them in, requires some judgement. If they are too green, they can beat themselves up as you are trying to remove the hook. If you can live without a photograph, just get a hold of the shank on your fly and slip the hook out, without handling the fish. Try not to use hook removing devices.
If you must have a photograph, it would be a good practice to keep the bonefish in the water. hold him under his head and belly and do the shot as quickly as possible. Try not to touch the gills. They are fragile and if damaged, will impair breathing ability. If you do take a bonefish out of the water, get the shot in less than fifteen seconds. Research indicates that prolonged exposure to air does heart damage.
Please be aware that good catch and release methods are the responsibility of individual anglers. Although most of the Bahamas bonefishing guides will encourage the use of barbless hooks and careful handling, their reputations with the lodges and other guides depend on the amount and size of the bonefish their clients catch.