Florida Flats Fishing

Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines.

The bottom of a flat may be made up of grass, sand, rock, mud, gravel, or a combination of these. Flats with grass or other aquatic vegetation offer cover and food for a variety of fish as well as shrimp and crabs. The most sought after fish when flats fishing include redfish, tarpon, seatrout, bonefish, permit and snook. Other popular catches are striped bass, bluefish, barracuda, shark, cobia and mutton snapper.

Flats

When choosing the best areas for flats fishing, look for flats that are 8 feet deep or less. More productive flats usually contain stumps, brush piles, grass beds or other types of cover. Flats that contain shallow ditches or humps are especially attractive to bass. Also look for baitfish, crabs and other "fish foods".

Observe tides carefully when locating good flats to fish. Some will be totally dry during low tide. As the tide rises, game fish will move in to feed whereas when the tide drops gamefish will wait for crabs and baitfish to flee the flat.

Flats are usually fished with fly gear or light spinning gear. Light tackle is the rule. Fly rods should be 8 or 9 weight. If you are using a spinning outfit, load it with no stronger than 12 pound test. Live bait such as mullet, pigfish, pinfish and shrimp works well. If you are using artificial lures, any size with attractor colors may be used from May through June. If you are flats fishing during July through August, natural colored lures work best.

Other equipment to include on your fishing trip is proper footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a raincoat and plenty of water to drink. Hydration is important since most flats fishing takes place in sunny climates such as the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, as well as lakes and rivers across the United States and other countries.

The most important equipment required is usually a small skiff with no more than two fishermen aboard. This lets the guide pole across shallow waters with ease, to reach the best flats. Also remember to wear light colored clothing to reflect the sun's heat, and be less visible to the fish.

Florida Flats Fishing

Wayne Gilbert is a Florida native with over 30 years of fishing experience. His website about Flats Fishing, Florida Fishing, has been providing its viewers with extensive coverage of the Florida backcountry fishing scene for a long time. Other topics include backcountry fishing, Florida Keys fishing, and individual gamefish habitats,statistics, and locations.

Flats Fishing Boats - The Shallow Water Fishing Boat

If in need of a stable fishing platform that offers performance, fishability and pole-ability in a shallow estuary it would be a wise choice to look towards the flats fishing boats.

A flat bottomed hull is able to run and floats the shallowest of all the hull types. It might not offer the performance of a v-hulled craft and the ride might be wetter, but its possible to float and jump up shallower and there's often an abundance of deck and storage space for the fishing equipment. Most of the flats boats are equipped with mounted trolling motors.

Flats

Action Craft Boats, Flats Cat, Bay Craft, and Calba Boats offer a series of shallow draft fishing boats that give a smooth, stable, and dry ride in shallow waters. These flats boats can also be equipped with a variety of accessories, such as a custom flats helm towers built in aluminum and able to accommodate one or two anglers, and a tailored cover that features a cut-out to fit around the aft poling platforms.

For the do-it-yourself enthusiast it only a takes a little time, effort and capital to construct a row or outboard-driven flat bottom skiff to a open cockpit flats flyer that's loaded with features. If on a tight budget this is the ideal solution to the factory-built boats at a fraction of the cost. Plans, patterns and kits for self build projects can be located from a variety of online sources.

Flats fishing boats offer a host of advantages to the fisherman that plans on running over shallow waters and in need of a durable fishing machine.

Flats Fishing Boats - The Shallow Water Fishing Boat

If you're interested in getting a more detailed look at Flat Bottom Boats, including a variety of boating tips and ideas, take a look at http://www.RecreationalWatercraft.com

Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques - Early Spring Bass Fishing!

Spring is just around the corner. If you are like me you are anxious to get out and go bass fishing. This largemouth bass fishing techniques article will point out some tips and strategies for early spring bass fishing.

As warmer, spring weather approaches and the water temperature in your favorite fishing spot starts to rise there are or will be a lot of changes going on in the environment that bass live in. Algae will begin to bloom and weeds will start to grow again. As this change starts to take place bait fish, crayfish, aquatic insects, frogs, and all the critters that bass like to eat will move from their winter refuges to shallow water and come to life. When this happens the bass will follow and start cruising the shallow flats, bays, coves, and channels looking for food and spawning grounds.

Flats

Early spring is a great time to intercept these cruising bass in shallow water. Look for dark bottom flats, bays, coves, and channels on the north side of the lake or reservoir you are fishing on. The water usually warms up faster on the north side of the lake since it is exposed to more sun during this time of the year. Most of the bass in the lake will be looking for the warmest water available in early spring. Look for areas on shallow flats, bays, coves, or channels that have nice, green and growing weeds. Cast your lures along the insides of these weed lines or weed clumps. Target areas 0 to 6 feet deep.

Minnow or crayfish imitating jigs along with jerk baits or lipless crankbaits work well this time of year. Use smaller lures in early spring and try to "match the hatch." The bait fish and crayfish have not reached their full size yet so try downsizing your lures to give the bass a more natural presentation. This will also require you to downsize your line a size or two to give your lure the best action possible. Don't be afraid to let your lure go down into or graze the tops of the weeds. Try casting a jig or lipless crankbait out, let it sink to the bottom, and then pull it through or rip it out of the weeds, then let it sink to the bottom again, and repeat. This technique can provoke some pretty aggressive strikes during early spring.

Find the warmest water available, find some growing weeds in shallow water, downsize your lures and you will have found some valuable largemouth bass fishing techniques for catching early spring bass.

Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques - Early Spring Bass Fishing!

If you're interested in learning more largemouth bass fishing techniques please visit largemouth bass fishing techniques or http://www.squidoo.com/largemouth_bass_fishing_techniques.