When seeking to catch redfish,
bonefish, or snook, flats fishing is the way
to go. Fishing on the shallow flats
of Florida provides the perfect chance
to reel in some of these unique species. Ideally,
flats provide the best areas for fly fishing.
During an outing on one of the many flats in
Florida, anglers will come across an array of
fish found only in these waters. Flats are found
in bays and marshes and are stretches of flat
sandy areas next to the deeper waters of the
Atlantic. Many times, these flats are made of
grass, rock, and gravel. Some flats, especially
those within marshes, are composed of grass
and vegetation. It is here that anglers have
a great opportunity to find shrimp and crabs.
The most commonly sought after fish for anglers
fishing on the flats are seatrout, tarpon, permit,
bluefish, striped bass, and shark.
When searching for the perfect
flat to fish off, try to locate the ones that
are less than eight feet deep. These shallow
waters attract various fish. Flats that consist
of stumps and grass beds are promising. When
looking to fish for bass, it is best to locate
flats that have shallow sand ditches. Watching
the tide will be helpful in locating prime
fishing flats. When the tide comes in, many
game fish will come along to feed. Low tide
may be one of the better times to catch crabs.
The key here is to not wait until the tide
is completely out. Many of these flats in
the Florida Keys will go dry during low tide.
Fly fishing in the Florida Keys
is a year round experience for all anglers
from beginner to advanced. The most commonly
sought after fish in the flats of Florida
is tarpon. The months of May and June bring
high numbers of anglers in search of this
species. Tarpon is most popular during the
warm weather fronts. When a cold front moves
in, the population of these fish diminishes,
but other species become more populated. Cold
water attracts the Redfin Needlefish. These
fish are the favorite food of larger predators.
When the cold water brings in the needlefish,
they are followed by mackerel and barracuda.
Sharks will even enter the flats to feed on
these larger fish, and catching a Blacktip,
Hammer, or Tiger shark on the fly can occur
even in these shallow waters.
During Florida's hot
summer months, fly fishing on the
flats is extremely popular. Anglers in search
of bonefish will find this species in abundance
in between the cold fronts. These fish will
feed on the flats during the day, offering
great opportunities for fly fishers to catch
many of these fish. Fly fishing for bonefish
on the oceanside flats, as well as backcountry
areas, can be a unique and rewarding experience.
During those hot summer days, permits will
be populous and easily caught. These fish
feed on the flats and are found during the
hottest parts of the day.
As the summer cools and fall
moves in, fishing in Florida is at its best.
Tarpon, bonefish, and permit are numerous.
When the water temperature starts to lower,
bonefish make a huge comeback and are found
virtually everywhere on the flats. Each season
throughout the year offers opportunities for
anglers to catch an array of species while
fly fishing on the flats. This is why fishing
the flats in Florida has become popular for
sport fishing. With light tackle and a small
skiff, anglers will have access to hundreds
of flats that attract these fish year round.
Fly fishing on the flats continues to grow
in popularity as the Florida Keys attract
more and more fly fishers each year.
