Flats Etiquette

As flats fishing has become more popular, rude fishing behavior has become far too common. After talking to some of the offenders and thinking this over, we've come to the conclusion that many of these anglers are ignorant rather than rude. Most of these anglers appear to be new to flasts fishing, where stealth is essential, and have no experience on the flats. Following is a list of tips for wading the flats so that this style of fishing is productive and enjoyable for everyone.

Give Plenty of Space Fishing the flats isn't like sliding in between a couple of other anglers along a jetty, beach, or river. In those situations folks often need only enough room for casting. On the flats, anglers are looking for fish that are cruising in shallow water. These fish are often spooky, and may swim a long way across the flat before reaching the angler. A flats angler needs a large portion of the flat to remain undisturbed so that the fish reach his/her sight-fishing station in a feeding mode. Three hundred yards from another angler is not too great a distance.

Don't Blind Cast Fishing the flats is all about sight-fishing - spotting a fish and then casting to that fish. Blind casting may catch the occasional fish on the flats, but more often fish are spooked by the haphazard casting. If you want to blind cast go somewhere else. Sighting fish on the flats takes practice, so just because you don't see any fish doesn't mean they aren't there. Spooking fish on your section of the flats makes those fish wary towards everyone else as well.

Move Slowly The more you move, especially if you are inexperienced, the more you will scare fish. On calm days, the fish will be able to feel the small wave pushed out by a fast-moving wading angler. Also, rapid movement makes noise that the fish can easily hear.

Fish Within the Conditions Use the sun, current, and wind to your advantage. Move across the flat with the sun at your back, or just over either shoulder. Move with the current; most often the fish will be feeding as they head into the current, so you should be looking downcurrent.

Don't Run The Flats Running over fish disturbs them, and makes them more wary of boats and less likely to eat a lure, fly, or bait.If run over too much, the fish will change behaviors (in some places redfish no longer tail), or leave entirely. We've actually found redfish dead from being hit by a boat propellor (the pro-scars are obvious). Since redfish are bottom dwellers, this means the boat was running in extremely shallow water. Never use a boat to herd fish on flats or to spook fish so it will reveal itself. Boat responsibly, don't run the flats!