Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Shallow Water Fishing Boats

By Mike Relahs


You've heard about it, and now you've decided you want to get into shallow water fishing. You want to be the guy that reels in shallow water fish like snook, red fish, tarpon and snapper. But you know that without the right boat, that's not going to happen.

First of all, to do it right, a guide is a must. A Florida flats fishing guide is invaluable to find shallow water fish. This guide, or Sultan of Snapper, will take clients out to hard to access areas, usually in a specially designed skiff, which can be anywhere from 15 to 20 feet long. Shallow water boats such as these may seem outsize, but due to their shallow draft, they navigate elegantly in "skinny waters."

A great guide will not only be able to tell clients what to fish for, based on area, season, and weather, he can actually assess their strengths and weaknesses. Based on these variables, he can best advise for the shallow water fishing trip of their dreams.

Even the shallow water anchors are unique; you will see hydraulic 'power' poles which can hold the boat steady in up to 8 feet of water, or simple manual poles which can also be used as a push pole, to maneuver skillfully around the banks, and in the shallower waters.

With a boat and a guide, you can explore Florida Bay, and go after such prizes as the afore-mentioned tarpon, trout, snapper and redfish. These fish can be bigger than expected. For example, tarpon can get up to 40 or 50 pounds.

Florida Bay offers the experience of taking fishing boats through miles of interlocking 'basins,' most of which are barely three feet deep. While the fun of floating along and taking in sights such as hawks, herons and egrets is undeniable, at some point all you want is to sink that shallow water anchor and get down to business!

But what about the whole point of shallow water fishing? The fish! The beauty of shallow water fishing is that you can float in literally inches of water, and position yourself above creatures that would be inaccessible from deeper-draft style craft. Not to mention the stability that a good, 15 foot boat can give you. No worrying about keeping your balance, you can focus on the sport itself.

At the end of a very satisfying day, the shallow water fishing trip which takes in the Florida back country, will leave an angler with a lifetime of memories.




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