Key West Flats Fishing Charters

What is Flats Fishing?

The waters off of Key West are surrounded by large expanses of very shallow water called “Flats”. These flats are environmentally rich, abundant with wildlife and host some of the worlds most sought after game fish including Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish, Barracuda & Sharks to name a few.

Flats fishing is done from smaller boats we call Flats Skiffs. These boats are specially designed for shallow water. The boat is maneuvered quietly by the guide with a push pole on the raised poling

platform at the rear of the boat while the anglers fish from the front. A trolling motor is pretty common on flats skiffs and is used in deeper waters, like channels and bay areas.

For the most part, flats fishing is sight fishing. You stalk the flats, looking for fish. You spot the fish and make a cast, sight fishing. When fishing the bays and channels in the flats, you will most likely make blind cast. This just casting out and retrieving without actually seeing the fish first. Most anglers use spinning rods, but some prefer to take it to the next level and use a fly rod. Either way, It is a beautiful place to fish and the water is almost always calm. The flats boats will carry one to two passenger, some will take three…very few. Key West flats fishing for permit
Key West Flats Fishing at Sunset Flats & Backcountry fishing can accommodate everybody from the novice to the most experienced of anglers, because of the vast variety of species and ways to catch them there are fish for all skill levels. Even the accompanying non-fisherman can come along and take in the many species of birds, and witness abundant sea life including dolphins, turtles, sharks and sting rays cruising in the shallow waters.

The big three of the flats down here are tarpon, permit and bonefish. You may also have shots at barracuda and sharks as well. If you end up in some of the channels and bays you may catch jacks, snapper, ladyfish, sea trout, redfish and cobia.

Flats & Backcountry fishing can accommodate everybody from the novice to the most experienced of anglers, because of the vast variety of species and ways to catch them there are fish for all skill levels. Even the accompanying non-fisherman can come along and take in the many species of birds, and witness abundant sea life including dolphins, turtles, sharks and sting rays cruising in the shallow waters.

Fish Key West on top of the line flats skiffs designed to float in inches of water and get you to your fishing destination quickly and comfortably. We use only the finest saltwater fly fishing and spin fishing tackle manufactured.

Fish the flats for a half, three quarter or full day charter as well as split trips and night trips during tarpon season – February through July.