What is Saltwater Flat fishing?

You may have heard of saltwater flat fishing at your local tackle shop.  Or, you could have found this method online and want more information.  Here’s what you need to know.  You can fish the saltwater flats for various types of fish including bonefish, permit, and tarpon, as well as speckled trout, shark, cobia, jacks, redfish, snook, and barracuda.  Saltwater flat fishing is done in extremely shallow salt waters.  A specially designed skiff is maneuvered via a pole across shallow bodies of saltwater.  These special boats are generally somewhere in the neighborhood of sixteen to eighteen feet long.  They are required to be licensed by the coast guard, and they can legally carry two anglers and a fishing guide.  These skiffs have a hull that is modified with a “V” shape, which allows them to get into some very challenging locations of a much more narrow configuration than that of most other boats.  They also tend to ride very high in the water, allowing them to let anglers fish in very shallow water.

Many anglers consider fishing saltwater flats to be one of the most seriously difficult ways to fish.  The key is really these special skiffs.  They are incredibly quiet, and they allow anglers to get very close to the fish, so they can cast in areas other water craft could never get into as effectively.  Casts must be rapid and very accurate to be productive, because the fish for which you would fish saltwater flats tend to be among the most skittish and sensitive fish anywhere.

Tags: sport fishing, fishing in saltwater, fishing equipment, saltwater fishing techniques, saltwater fishing knots