| Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding | | | | the tide drops gamefish will wait for crabs and baitfish |
| experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just | | | | to flee the flat. |
| beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, | | | | Flats are usually fished with fly gear or light spinning |
| shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are | | | | gear. Light tackle is the rule. Fly rods should be 8 or 9 |
| found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also | | | | weight. If you are using a spinning outfit, load it with no |
| found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines. | | | | stronger than 12 pound test. Live bait such as mullet, |
| The bottom of a flat may be made up of grass, sand, | | | | pigfish, pinfish and shrimp works well. If you are using |
| rock, mud, gravel, or a combination of these. Flats with | | | | artificial lures, any size with attractor colors may be |
| grass or other aquatic vegetation offer cover and | | | | used from May through June. If you are flats fishing |
| food for a variety of fish as well as shrimp and crabs. | | | | during July through August, natural colored lures work |
| The most sought after fish when flats fishing include | | | | best. |
| redfish, tarpon, seatrout, bonefish, permit and snook. | | | | Other equipment to include on your fishing trip is proper |
| Other popular catches are striped bass, bluefish, | | | | footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a raincoat and plenty |
| barracuda, shark, cobia and mutton snapper. | | | | of water to drink. Hydration is important since most |
| When choosing the best areas for flats fishing, look for | | | | flats fishing takes place in sunny climates such as the |
| flats that are 8 feet deep or less. More productive | | | | Florida Keys and the Caribbean, as well as lakes and |
| flats usually contain stumps, brush piles, grass beds or | | | | rivers across the United States and other countries. |
| other types of cover. Flats that contain shallow ditches | | | | The most important equipment required is usually a |
| or humps are especially attractive to bass. Also look | | | | small skiff with no more than two fishermen aboard. |
| for baitfish, crabs and other "fish foods". | | | | This lets the guide pole across shallow waters with |
| Observe tides carefully when locating good flats to | | | | ease, to reach the best flats. Also remember to wear |
| fish. Some will be totally dry during low tide. As the tide | | | | light colored clothing to reflect the sun's heat, and be |
| rises, game fish will move in to feed whereas when | | | | less visible to the fish. |