Flats boats also call flats skiffs or are used for flats fishing and should not be confused with Bay Boats. A flats boat offers the angler the ability to glide silently accross a shallow flat with the thrust of a push pole by the guide. The range of draft (depth) of a flats boat varies among manufacturers from 6 - 13 inches. These boats should have the ability to be manuevered with a push pole while the fishing guide is standing on the poling platform sighting fish for the angler on the bow or front of the skiff.

Flats boats have many different sizes ranging from 15 - 20 ft in length. as with any boat the larger the better the ride, however not as shallow. There is a give and take here. Be sure that the guide you chose to fish with has a boat that will comfortably run and fish the destination you are chosing to visit.

Things to consider.

If you have a bad back go with a larger boat that offers flats fishing.

if you are heavy set a larger boat will be nessasary to float you and will ride much better

If you are looking to fly fish for tailing reds in the everglades, then you will need a tiny boat to fish out of. Like a Hells Bay whip ray.

In Key West Fishing generally the boats that we reccomend are at least 17ft and the nicer ones are 20 ft. These boats offer our anglers the chance to fish even on a sloppy day without a beating and still get into the fish in Key West with no issues.

In the Upper Keys the boats can be smaller as this area is more protected against the elements and much of that fishery is super shallow.

In the Middle Keys a medium to larger flats skiff should be used for rougher waters and long crossings to fishable areas.