Flats fishing

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Flats fishing is a method of fishing where anglers target species of fish specifically in shallow, saltwater bodies of water.

Contents

History

While fishing shallow areas is not a modern invention, flats fishing as it is known today was developed in the 1940s in Florida and the Bahamas. [1]

As this style of fishing has gained popularity, so has its exposure in fishing related media. One example includes a flats fishing specific television series, Flats Class, created by World Fishing Network. [2]

Methods

Fishing on flats is often done with baits, lures or light spinning tackle, or by fly fishing. [1] [3]

Weather changes, such as barometric pressure and ambient temperature may affect anglers' success due to effects weather has on fish feeding patterns and tide levels. Other factors contributing to an anglers success in catching fish may include sunlight [4] and wind. [5]

Flats fishing can be done by wading, [6] form various types of boats including flats boats designed primarily for the activity [7] or other watercraft such as micro-skiffs, kayaks, and paddle boards, [8] making it accessible to a wide variety of anglers. [9]

Some anglers may choose to hire fishing guides who are knowledgeable about the local fishing grounds and feeding patterns. [10] The increase in popularity of flats fishing as a destination activity has created additional job opportunities for fishing guides in some destinations. [11]

When flats fishing from a boat, a guide or other angler may stand on a "poling platform" at the stern of the boat and use a pole to guide the boat (by pushing against the sea floor) as silently as possible toward fish, which are easier to spot from the platform due to its elevation above the water. [12]

Locations

Flats fishing is a popular type of fishing in Florida particularly, which is known for its large variety of flats fish species. [13]

Anglers may also travel to destinations to fish on the flats [14] and perhaps especially destinations known for a certain species, such as bonefish in Andros Island of the Bahamas. [15] [16]

While other locations such as Christmas Island may be considered iconic destinations for traveling anglers as well, flats fishing techniques have been employed in diverse areas of the world outside of its original heritage by both local and traveling anglers. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Targeted species

Fish species often targeted in the United States include redfish, snook, juvenile tarpon, bonefish, permit, pompano, sea trout and others. [23] [24] [25] [26] Larger gamefish such as marlin may be targeted in some locations. [27] Some species such as bonefish may be regulated for catch and release fishing only. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly fishing</span> Method of angling

Fly fishing is an angling method that uses a light-weight lure—called an artificial fly—to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. The light weight requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. The flies may resemble natural invertebrates, bait-fish, or other food organisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonefish</span> Species of fish

The bonefish is the type species of the bonefish family (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-game fishing</span> Offshore sportfishing targeting large fish such as tuna or marlin

Big-game fishing, also known as offshore sportfishing, offshore gamefishing or blue-water fishing, is a form of recreational fishing targeting large game fish, usually done on a large body of water such as the ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andros, Bahamas</span> Archipelago of the Bahamas

Andros Island is an archipelago within the Bahamas, the largest of the Bahamian Islands. Politically considered a single island, Andros in total has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined. The land area of Andros consists of hundreds of small islets and cays connected by mangrove estuaries and tidal swamplands, together with three major islands: North Andros, Mangrove Cay, and South Andros. The three main islands are separated by bights, estuaries that trifurcate the island from east to west. It is 167 kilometres (104 mi) long by 64 km (40 mi) wide at the widest point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exuma</span> Place in Bahamas

Exuma is a district of The Bahamas, consisting of over 365 islands, also called cays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic tarpon</span> Species of fish

The Atlantic tarpon is a ray-finned fish that inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. It is also known as the silver king. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, typically in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been reported as far north as Nova Scotia and the Atlantic coast of southern France, and as far south as Argentina. As with all elopiformes, it spawns at sea. Its diet includes small fish and crustaceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Pacific tarpon</span> Species of fish

The Indo-Pacific tarpon, also known as the oxeye herring or simply herring due to its superficial resemblance to the true herrings, of which it is not a member, is the smaller of the two species of tarpon and lives in Indo-Pacific waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayak fishing</span> Fishing from a kayak

Kayak fishing is fishing from a kayak. The kayak has long been a means of transportation and a means of accessing fishing grounds. Kayak fishing has gained popularity in recent times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artificial fly</span> Lure used in fly fishing

An artificial fly or fly lure is a type of fishing lure, usually used in the sport of fly fishing. In general, artificial flies are an imitation of aquatic insects that are natural food of the target fish species the fly fishers try to catch. Artificial flies are constructed by fly tying, in which furs, feathers, thread or any of very many other materials are tied onto a fish hook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonefishes</span> Family of fishes

Albulidae is a family of fish, commonly known as the bonefishes, that are popular as game fish in Florida, select locations in the South Pacific and the Bahamas and elsewhere. The family is small, with 11 species in 3 genera. Presently, the bonefishes are in their own order: Albuliformes. The families Halosauridae and Notacanthidae were previously classified in this order, but are now, according to FishBase, given their own order Notacanthiformes. The largest bonefish caught in the Western Hemisphere is a 16-pound, 3 ounce example caught off Islamorada, Florida, on March 19, 2007.

In Caribbean fly-fishing, a Grand Slam is when an angler is able to catch a bonefish, tarpon and permit throughout the course of a day. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) defines an Inshore Grand Slam as catching any three of the following species on the same day: the bonefish, tarpon, permit, and snook.

Fly fishing tackle comprises the fishing tackle or equipment typically used by fly anglers. Fly fishing tackle includes:

Bernard "Lefty" Kreh was an American fly fisherman, photographer and fly casting instructor who resided most recently in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Kreh is most known for being one of the pioneers of saltwater fly fishing and his book, Fly Fishing in Salt Water, is considered the seminal volume on the subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida pompano</span> Species of fish

The Florida pompano is a species of marine fish in the Trachinotus (pompano) genus of the family Carangidae. It has a compressed body and short snout; coloration varies from blue-greenish silver on the dorsal areas and silver to yellow on the body and fins. It can be found along the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean, depending on the season, and is popular for both sport and commercial fishing. Most Florida pompano caught weigh less than 3 lb (1.4 kg) and are less than 17 in (43 cm) long, though the largest individuals weigh 8–9 lb (3.6–4.1 kg) and reach lengths up to 26 in (66 cm).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tube fly</span>

A tube fly is a general tying style of artificial fly used by fly anglers. Tube flies differ from traditional artificial flies as they are tied on small diameter tubes, not hooks. Tube flies were originated in Aberdeen, Scotland by fly-dresser Minnie Morawski for Atlantic salmon anglers around 1945. Tube flies were designed to improve hooking success and to prevent damage to complex and expensive salmon flies by the teeth of hooked salmon. Tube flies have been widely adapted to fly patterns for a variety of cold water and warm water species and are extremely popular for steelhead and salmon in the Pacific Northwest and northeast United States, as well as saltwater species along the Atlantic, Florida and Gulf Coasts. They are widely used in European waters for Atlantic salmon, sea trout and pike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Chicone</span>

Andrew "Drew" Chicone is an American author, saltwater fly designer, fly fisherman and fly casting instructor. He writes books and magazine articles demonstrating how to tie saltwater fly patterns, primarily focused on warm-water fish and fly fishing from standup paddleboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Charlie</span>

The Crazy Charlie is a bonefish fly for saltwater fly fishing developed on Andros Island in 1977 in the Bahamas by local bonefish guide Charlie Smith and popularized by San Francisco angler Bob Nauheim. They fly was developed to imitate glass minnows, a common forage for bonefish on the nearshore flats of south Florida and Caribbean islands. The Crazy Charlie has become a staple fly for bonefish and permit anglers around the globe.

<i>Trachinotus africanus</i> Species of fish

Trachinotus africanus. the Southern pompano or African pompano, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flats boat</span>

Flats boats are a category of boat designed primarily for fishing in protected, shallow water areas often referred to as "flats" by anglers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonefish fly patterns</span>

Bonefish fly patterns are a collection of artificial flies routinely used by fly anglers targeting various species of Bonefish. Bonefish frequent tidal sand and mudflats in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes to feed on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and mollusks. Bonefish have small mouths and most Bonefish flies are tied on size 4 to 8 saltwater fly hooks.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Guy. "Premier Fly-Fishing Captain Paul Dixon Hauls The Billionaires To The Bass In The Hamptons". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  2. ↑ "Flats Class". World Fishing Network. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  3. ↑ "Flats fishing for bream using lures and fly - Fishing World". www.fishingworld.com.au. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  4. ↑ "Five Tips for Sight Fishing on Cloudy Days". Field & Stream. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. ↑ "How to Fish the Flats". Sport Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  6. ↑ "The Bonefish Vacation: A D.I.Y. Stalk on the Flats". Field & Stream. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  7. ↑ ANGLING 101, Robert Lugiewicz-. "Wanted: The perfect boat". Sun Newspapers. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  8. ↑ Clarke, John (2018-08-15). "The New Fishing Vessel of Choice? Stand-Up Paddleboards". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  9. ↑ Herald, By Frank Sargeant | Special to The News. "Don't have a boat? No worries, you can still catch a bounty of fish". News Herald. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  10. ↑ Dorsey, Chris. "Remembering The Ultimate Bonefish Destination". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  11. ↑ Santella, Chris (2012-06-19). "Finding Work From Fly-Fishing's Popularity (Published 2012)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  12. ↑ "Fish Hawks in Paradise". Garden & Gun. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  13. ↑ Maizler, Jan S. (2007). Fishing Florida's flats : a guide to bonefish, tarpon, permit, and much more. Tim Borski. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida. ISBN   978-0-8130-3145-3. OCLC   154704847.
  14. ↑ "Saltwater fishing fury". minotdailynews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  15. ↑ Video: The Bahamas Are a Resilient Paradise, 2020-07-29, retrieved 2021-02-17
  16. ↑ "Andros Island: An Offshore and Inshore Fishing Mecca". Sport Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  17. ↑ "Out of the Ruins: Photos of Mexico's Best Flats Fishing". Outdoor Life. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  18. ↑ "Outdoors: Christmas Island offers local anglers ultimate fly fishing holiday". The Blade. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  19. ↑ "Crankbaits on the flats for big bream - Fishing World". www.fishingworld.com.au. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  20. ↑ Santella, Chris (2011-10-01). "A Tropical Technique for Maine's Shallows (Published 2011)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  21. ↑ Apr 9th 2017 - 1am, fccnn Administrator | Sam Cook |. "Fishing guide prefers simpler tactics for Lake Superior's big Seeforellen brown trout". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  22. ↑ "Sons of Santiago". Field & Stream. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  23. ↑ "Fishing Report: Feb. 12, 2021". FOX 13 News. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  24. ↑ "Tips on How to Fly Fish for Pompano". Florida Sportsman. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  25. ↑ "Best Bets for Florida's Big Bend Inshore Fishing". Sport Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  26. ↑ "Best Location, Bait and Technique for Permit". Florida Sportsman. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  27. ↑ "Big tuna caught on Hervey Bay flats - Fishing World". www.fishingworld.com.au. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  28. ↑ "Bonefish". Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
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