As founder of the popular community of trophy speckled-trout enthusiasts known as Speckled Truth, Chris Bush yawns at fish that cause most anglers to fight an irrepressible urge to wet their waders. The Holy Grail for trophy-trout diehards is a 30-inch fish, a true log of a lifetime, a fish that many anglers strive for, fully knowing they’ll likely never achieve. In his fishing career, Bush has landed six of them, and he’s got the pictures to prove it. So it took me less than two seconds to reply affirmatively when the San Antonio resident asked if I wanted to come to his home state and tag along with him in a quest to add another notch to his wading belt. 

A regular at the Texas coast, Bush said the absolute best place to do it would be Port Mansfield in the winter. So eight months in advance, we put some December dates on the calendar, and Bush lined up area guide Capt. Joe Prado to ferry us.

I’ve got four decades of speckled trout fishing experience, and two decades ago wrote a book on the topic, but nearly all of my pursuits have occurred in the marshes of south Louisiana, an area that produces numbers of fish that beggar belief but doesn’t offer a realistic shot at a 30-incher.

In fairness to my home state, I did catch my PB (personal best) there — an 8-pound, 8-ouncer — but that was during a five-year run of absolutely ideal conditions in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That fish, a remarkably rotund 28-incher, fell for a Norton Mud Minnow on Calcasieu Lake. I’ve caught some 24- and 25-inch fish since, but nothing approaching 30 inches.

Bush and I had agreed to fish two days in Port Mansfield, and when the dates for our trip arrived, we couldn’t believe our good fortune. A hard cold front blew through two days prior, leaving in its wake partly to mostly cloudy skies with absolutely no wind. Prado had scouted in preparation, and picked out an extensive grass flat with maybe a foot of water between the surface and the tips of the seagrass. We donned waders and fanned out across the flat.

It wouldn’t take long for the hopes and dreams I’d spent eight months conjuring in my head to be dashed. To my left and right, Bush and Prado were catching plenty fish, and a significant percentage of those were over 5 pounds with a handful over seven. I was catching as many fish as they were, but my trout were significantly smaller, and I seemed to be a magnet for redfish, nothing but a time-waster when you’re targeting big trout.

Only a foolish guest thinks he knows more than his hosts, so I studied Bush and Prado, whose cadences were markedly different but seemed to be equally productive. At various times, I tried to mimic each, but my results stayed consistent — lots of reds and small trout. My biggest of the day were a couple of 4-pounders — certainly not slouches, but not what I had driven 10 hours for, particularly when 28-plus-inchers were clearly in the area.

That night, I racked my brain trying to figure out what I was doing differently than the two much more experienced Texas wade fishermen who put on an absolute clinic. I vowed to keep trying different cadences on our second and final trip to the flat, but unfortunately, I got more of the same — except in addition to the reds and small trout, I caught two black drum and a sheepshead.

At a certain point, I wanted to snap my rod in two because Prado and I had wandered off shoulder to shoulder, casting to the same water, and within a 45-minute stretch, he subdued five fish over 7 pounds. I caught nothing anywhere close.

Then Prado gave me a lesson that would completely change my fortune. The hot bait of the trip was a MirrOlure Soft-Dine, a lure with which I’d had very little experience, and Prado offered that I was fishing it too slowly. Indeed, on maybe 10 percent of my casts, I’d come back fouled with grass, while Prado never did. He told me to twitch the lure almost as fast as possible and intersperse random short pauses — but so short that the lure would never fall more than four inches below the surface.

It felt quite unnatural to me, but I took the guide’s advice, and I’ll be forever grateful I did. Almost instantly, the size of the trout I was catching grew noticeably, and finally, with only 30 minutes remaining on our final day, I felt a hard thump, set the hook and knew instantly I hadn’t hooked a redfish.

Large trout sometimes fully breach the surface, but often, they’re so big, they can’t. The best they can do is emerge halfway, shaking their massive maws in what every angler hopes is a futile attempt to throw the lure. The ever gracious Bush, who had been pulling for me to catch a big one like I was a Make-A-Wish kid, saw the bite and the initial eruption, and rushed over, ready to stick a Boga in the fish’s mouth.

His first attempt was a swing and a miss, but the exhausted fish had little left in the tank. It circled back, and Bush clamped the prongs of the tool around the fish’s bottom jaw. It pulled the Boga to more than 7 pounds. Although it wasn’t a 30-incher, and wasn’t even my biggest trout ever, it was the biggest I’d caught in almost two decades, and made the trip more than worth it.

Bush said he regularly stresses to his followers the importance of fishing Soft-Dines almost impossibly fast when wading shallow flats, and the difference it makes was reiterated to him with my experience. That may be elementary to Texas wade-fishing veterans, but those traveling to the state in hopes of catching a big one should definitely keep it in mind.

The post After a Texas Trophy appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Some anglers plan their trips to Florida a year in advance, booking top-dollar charters or well-know
guides during choice tides. The preparation practically guarantees their success. Others, visiting family on a last-minute whim, toss a travel rod in with their other bags and hope for the best. That was me.

I spotted it from the balcony of my snowbird parents’ fourth-floor condo: a wadeable five-acre tidal flat — a mosaic of swaying seagrass and sandy shell bottom — bordered by a meandering channel. Somehow it had escaped the developers and subsequent draining, bulkheading, and paving that dominates so much of southwestern Florida. When I pointed the flat out to my octogenarian mom and dad, they nodded, smiled, and turned up Tony Bennett crooning to “The Good Life.”

Later that afternoon, spinning rod in hand, I walked past the pickleball courts, clubhouse, and heated pool, then made my way down a bend in a winding, manicured path of crushed shells. There, I found a gap in the mangroves that led directly into the Gulf. I hid my shoes at the edge of a close-cropped lawn and stepped in barefoot. Sand squished between toes, and warm saltwater lapped my knees.

The mangroves gave way to knee-deep flats. I began working a topwater, its rhythmic “chik-chik-chik” carrying across the water’s surface. With each cast, the gated development and assorted amenities faded behind me. The tourism board calls the region between Tarpon Springs and Naples the “Sun Coast,” claiming it gets more sunny days than any other region in the state. Apparently, the sales pitch worked.

On my Uber from the airport, an endless clutter of strip malls, chain restaurants, and traffic marched to the horizon. But look closely, and you can find vestiges of old Florida. White ibis still probe for insects, but now along the shoulders of highways. Osprey chirp over the drone of leaf blowers. Patches of mangroves — illegal to cut down in Florida — lower their spider-like roots, attempting to reclaim land.

A wake appeared behind my Spook. I tensed and kept reeling. Then: chik-chik-chik-swoosh. The lure cratered and the line came tight. A redfish slapped its tail in two feet of water, then bored away in second gear before eventually surrendering to a lip grabber. Four pounds. Solid slot fish. A quick text to my parents confirmed: “Yes, bring home for dinner!” I tethered the locked grabber to a submerged mangrove root with the redfish attached.

The late afternoon took over as more of the flat revealed itself. A frisbee-sized stingray approached my legs then bolted off with exaggerated wing flaps. Farther out, a pelican crash-landed pouch-first into the Gulf, then looked around as if hoping no one saw it. A mullet leapt up and bellyflopped just because it could.

I fished my bait with purpose and hope. With a keeper red already in the larder, anything else would be welcome but unnecessary. Something crashed the Spook, tore off 30 feet of line, then cleared the water. The hooks held, so it jumped again. Nice snook. The fish ran a second time, heading for a patch of emergent spartina grass. We both wrestled for a few moments before the fish yielded. Then it was a matter of steering it within reach, dodging the hooks, and lipping it. The linesider was not huge — maybe 26 inches — but it couldn’t have given me much more. After I eased my grip during the release, it ghosted toward a depression in the flat and vanished.

Maybe an hour of daylight remained with probably more fish around, but I knew my parents were sitting on the balcony waiting for the sun to set — and their son to return with a redfish. I waded to shore, put on my shoes, and headed back up the path. A group in Building 3 enjoying their cocktails asked from their balcony in a distinctly New York accent: “Hey! What kinda fish is that?” When I told them, they seemed astonished such a wild creature could live so close by.

The post Fishing on Foot: Gated Florida appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The Not So Common Permit

For permit addicts, the Florida Keys is a special place. But the holy grail is somewhere else entirely: the Seychelles. The Indo-Pacific permit, with its yellow-tipped fins, thrives here on the remote Poivre and St. Joseph atolls. Sometimes called the snubnose pompano, it’s a top-five fish for any globe-trotting flats fly angler.

But this Indian Ocean adventure is not for the weak, requiring plenty of planning and travel to get there. Then, it’s wade-fishing all day on shallow flats, searching for a fish known to laugh at a perfectly placed crab fly. Once you hook and hold one, all that frustration disappears. —Sam Hudson

In Honor of the Toughness of Tarpon

Tarpon are survivors. After all, they’ve been swimming the seas since dinosaurs roamed the earth. They can live more than 70 years. How have tarpon survived for so long when so many other species have gone extinct? It’s their ability to survive in a wide variety of conditions, and on a wide variety of sustenance.

The silver king can live in full fresh or full salt water, but most important is its special ability to breathe air at the surface using a row of lunglike tissue in the swim bladder. As juvenile fish, this allows them to live in stagnant, low-oxygen waters with fewer predators and competition. Canals, ditches, ponds—waters that don’t connect to salt water for most of the year—are no problem for them.

And the juvies make do with whatever food they can forage in these backwaters. Baby tarpon are opportunistic feeders, eating ants, shrimp, crabs and fly larvae. In fact, in 2020, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust highlighted a study that looked at the diets of juvenile tarpon in seven Florida locations. The conclusion: Tarpon will eat whatever fits in their mouths. —Nick Roberts

Bonefish Slime Matters

Props to conservation organization Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, which recently launched the Save the Slime campaign to promote proper bonefish handling techniques, developed in collaboration with top guides and bonefish lodges. Poor handling can remove their protective mucus layer and leave them vulnerable to sharks after release.

The techniques boil down to this: Avoid touching the fish, and if you want to hold one for a quick photo, then do so without sun gloves and limit air exposure to less than 10 seconds. Research shows that a bonefish held out of water for longer than that is six times less likely to survive once released.

As the campaign slogan proclaims: “The important part isn’t how you catch them. It’s how you let them go.” —Nick Roberts

Pumpkins With Fins

Over my 40-plus years of feeding flies to redfish in five coastal states, little compares to the Louisiana marsh. The shallow-water, bull redfish in bright auburn hues are like nothing else in inshore fishing. I call Venice “the Pumpkin Patch” due to the color and size of the red drum willing to eat a fly any day of the year.

On my first cast to a string of 30-plus-pounders one November morning, I made the typical “Florida cast,” leading the oncoming fish by 5 feet. They were gliding slowly, pec fins out, glowing golden orange in the muddy water.

“Mike, pick up and go again. Give the lead fish a mustache,” urged Capt. Brian Esposito from the poling platform. I picked up my line and slapped my big, bushy streamer between the fish’s eyes. The take was immediate and explosive. I cleared my running line to the reel and held on as it towed the skiff. After a couple of bulldogging runs, Esposito staked the pole and grabbed the fish. It weighed 31 pounds.

“A pretty good one,” Esposito said. “But we’ll see bigger, I promise.”

And we did. The pumpkin parade went on all day—singles, pairs, small schools. Out of about 40 shots, we landed 30 or more reds.

This happens year-round in Louisiana, with the biggest fish common from fall through spring. I once fished with a guide on a January week when the Roseau cane lining the outer marsh was covered in ice all day, with highs in the upper 30s. And amazingly, the fish ate flies. So, book a Louisiana poling guide, dress right, and be damn sure to give ’em a mustache. Chances are you’ve fished for reds, but haven’t experienced anything like Louisiana’s Mississippi river mouth monsters. —Mike Conner

A Striped Bass Favorite: Sand Eels

Sand eels are one of the baits that cause stripers to abandon caution and venture into dangerously skinny water. Correctly known as a sand lance, these thin, eel-like fish burrow directly into the sand. While some stretches of the coast have sand eels all season long, fall brings in large schools that hug the shoreline, and stripers follow.

Schools of 20- to 30-pound stripers are often right on their heels, slipping along the lip of an open beach with their backs and pectoral fins cutting the surface, massive tails wagging back and forth. These feeding frenzies look like something out of a BBC wildlife documentary, and offer some of the most exciting fishing of the entire season. —Joe Albanese

The post What You Might Not Know About Your Favorite Flats Fish appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A spiky dorsal fin pierces the water’s surface on a skinny water flat. A cast is made. The line comes tight. Fish on! Wait, you’re flats fishing in … Jersey?!

You bet it is. New Jersey hails as a primo location for striped bass fishing, with unique opportunities to target them on the so-called flats of the backwaters. High tides swell through estuarine channels filling up the shallow mudflats. During high waters, stripers creep into 1- to 3-foot depths to feed on fiddler crabs, bloodworms, sandworms and bay anchovies that get trapped in the shallows.

As the tide drops, stripers stage in the skinny water along the craggy cordgrass sodbanks to pounce on prey. Anglers on skiffs silently push-pole, casting soft baits 4 to 5 inches long paired to light 3/8-ounce lead heads. Long-rodders wave the fly rod with Clouser minnows or Deceivers, coming tight from the streaking runs of powerful bass. Topwater enthusiasts get rewarded with exciting visuals, as swirling fins lead to vicious popper attacks.

Myriad back bay hot spots brimming with flats fishing opportunity line Jersey’s 128 miles of coastline, including Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, Sea Isle City, Manasquan River and the Shrewsbury River. From May through October, pick a back-creek channel, plan around the new and full moons, and fish the high to outgoing tides to experience shallow water stripers on the flats.

The post Flats Fishing for Striped Bass in New Jersey appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Probably few things annoy an angler more than perfectly delivering a cast to a spot you know holds fish only to have the hook on your soft-plastic lure immediately snag some sea grass, a stick, an oyster bar or rocky bottom.

“If you throw a lure out in front of a fish and it gets hung up, you either have to rip it out of the grass and it runs right by the fish, or it’s hung up and a big, ol’ wad of grass spooks the fish,” says professional redfish tournament ­fisherman Mark Cowart, of Panama City Beach, Florida.

To avoid that, top anglers and guides rig their soft-plastic baits on hooks and jig heads to run weedless. The key is to essentially hide the hook point, a goal they achieve using a variety of hooks and other terminal tackle.

Hide The Hook in the Soft Plastic

Capt. Gary Dubiel of Oriental, North Carolina, is a Rapala pro staffer who fishes Storm’s 360GT Coastal soft plastics. The 360GTs feature slots in the belly and back so the hook point remains hidden, not protruding from the bait. The lures come pre-rigged with either a VMC Coastal Black jig head or a VMC Coastal Black Hook with Keel Weight.

Instead of fishing them on a jig head, where the hook would be exposed, Dubiel prefers the weighted hook, which he says is “fairly lightweight and designed primarily for fishing shallow grass flats in Florida. If you want to get deeper, you need to use a little bit heftier weight.” In that case, Dubiel rigs the lures on a VMC Heavy Duty Weighted Swimbait hook. The wide-gap hook features a locking spring that screws into the head of the bait and a weight on the shank. He uses 3/0 and 4/0 hooks, going bigger for thicker baits.

“I put the hook point into the body of the bait, and when it comes out, it actually sits in the groove on top,” explains Dubiel, who targets speckled trout, redfish and striped bass. “It’s outside the plastic, but the point is protected. It’s pretty smooth going through the grass. And the keel weight has a tendency to keep the lure a little cleaner, whether you’re fishing grass, wood or oyster shells.”

Capt. Ed Zyak of D.O.A. Lures in Stuart, Florida, says the company works with Eagle Claw to design hooks customized for its baits. D.O.A.’s PT-7 topwater lure comes with a 7/0 extra-wide-gap spring-screw TroKar hook with a needle point instead of the standard triangular point.

“The triangular point cut through the PT-7 easier than the needle point, which doesn’t rip out of the bait as easily and still has an extremely sharp point, plus we needed a bigger gap for the PT-7 for better hookups,” says Zyak, who also fishes the hook with a 5.5-inch jerk bait, 4-inch shad, and 5-inch swimbait for snook, redfish, and trout. “What makes it good is it’s a very strong, very stout hook. And because the wide gap drops down so far, it acts like a keel, which makes the baits swim true.”

Zyak skin-hooks the lures, going through the top of the bait with the hook point, then barely sticking the point back into the lure. He does the same with the 3/0 Needlepoint Screw Hook that Eagle Claw makes for D.O.A.’s 3-inch C.A.L. Shad and 4-inch C.A.L. jerkbait. He adds that a benefit of the spring screw, besides easy rigging, is it allows for multiple bites. “Many times fish come up and whack the bait, pull it down, and now the bait’s compromised, so you’re not going to get that follow-up bite because the bait’s in a ball. With the screw, they whack it and whack it and whack it.”

Rig Saltwater Soft Plastics Like Bass Fishermen

Capt. Mike Mann of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a member of the Rapala and Z-Man pro staffs, pairs VMC’s freshwater bass hooks with Z-Man’s swimbaits for redfish and trout in central Florida’s Mosquito Lagoon during summer. Because of Z-Man’s stretchy, nearly indestructible 10X Tough ElaZtech soft plastic, Mann employs an old Texas-rig trick from his largemouth bass fishing days.

“I use an eighth-ounce worm weight and put a toothpick in the top hole, breaking it off to pin the weight to the top of the lure. Screw-in worm weights don’t work well with Z-Man baits because they don’t stay in the ElaZtech,” says Mann, who fishes with an exposed jig hook during winter. Summertime is when he gets away from jig heads. That’s where a small bullet weight keeps the hook weedless.

“I use a wide-gap 4/0 hook with Z-Man JerkbaitZ and PaddlerZ and a 3/0 with PogeyZ and small (3-inch) paddletails.” Mann says. He Texas-rigs the lures. “I’ll bring the hook point up through the slit in the lure’s back and then just catch the tip of the hook point back in the lure. When a fish hits, it’ll pop right out and you’ll get a better hookup, but it still allows the lure to come through the grass without getting snagged.”

Zyak Texas-rigs lures with Eagle Claw’s specially made Long Neck Hook when grass is thick on the surface. He inserts the hook eye into the bait to reduce the chances of snagging grass, and secures a small bullet weight atop the nose of the lure with a rubber bobber stopper. Zyak also uses the hook to weedlessly rig a ¼-ounce 3-inch D.O.A. Shrimp backward, cutting off the tail flipper, leaving the weight, and adding a glass rattle into the bait’s head.

When he’s fishing around structure, Aaron Wavra, an associate manager at Pure Fishing, Texas rigs Gulp! Shrimp and Mantis Shrimp on a Berkley Fusion19 EWG (extra wide gap) Hook with an unsecured bullet weight because “you get a little more movement when you jig the rod and impart action to the bait. The weight slides up the line and allows the shrimp to do its own thing. It has an erratic action.”

For a truly different weedless option, Wavra suggests drop-shotting a baitfish imitation. Using a technique popular with bass anglers when the bite is tough, a Fusion19 Drop Shot or EWG Hook is attached to the line with a Palomar knot a foot or so above a weight. “Instead of nose-hooking the bait, come in between the gill plates” Wavra says, so the hook point is just inside the nose. “I’ve used it in Islamorada [Florida], in sand holes where you’d typically throw a shrimp on a jig head. You can really control the presentation and keep the bait vertical. The nice thing is you always have a tight line and can feel every bite. It’s ­excellent for finicky fish.”

If he’s fishing in grass, Wavra rigs Gulp! Shrimp, as well as the Gulp! Pogy, Nemesis and Ripple Mullet, on Fusion19 keel-weighted or unweighted swimbait hooks, which have a spiral bait keeper attached to the eye. “The thing I like about it is it keeps the shrimp vertically oriented.”

Likewise, Mann pairs the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ with a VMC Heavy Duty Weighted Swimbait hook because it allows the shrimp to hover vertically in the water and float down when he lifts the rod tip. He coats the shrimp lures with Pro-Cure Super Gel fish ­attractant, his favorite scents being shrimp and bloody tuna.

Rig Jig Heads With Soft Plastics

Cowart is a Z-Man pro staffer who partners with his son, Capt. Michael Cowart, in three different redfish ­tournament series. They used to Texas-rig their Z-Man baits on Mustad Grip Pin weighted hooks. Thanks to field testing and recommendations Cowart and his son made in conjunction with Eye Strike Fishing, Z-Man now offers the Weedless Eye jig head. It features a streamlined head that has a bait keeper plus a wire weed guard that goes through the hook eye, which is bent at a 45-degree angle, to the hook point. The weed guard prevents the exposed hook from snagging. “It’s 99.9 percent weedless,” Cowart says. “You can throw it with any Z-Man bait. Not just any jig head will work with a Z-Man. You need a keeper for the ElaZtech.”

Read Next: Secrets of Fishing Soft Plastics

Cowart also uses the Z-Man Texas Eye jig head. The freely swinging Weedless Eye head is attached by a ring to the eye of a Mustad hook. He Texas-rigs the jig head, going through the bait with the hook, then skin-hooking the hook point back into the lure.

“Any paddletail bait swims like freaking crazy on it,” says Cowart. “When you’re fishing a Z-Man and the jig head is resting on the bottom, the bait will float straight up. It makes one fantastic dead-sticking bait. Redfish can become very finicky. They don’t want a lot of flash or movement. A retrieve with the Texas Eye could last two minutes.”

Use a Lightweight Hook or Jig Head

Cowart says that for 90 percent of their tournament fishing, they tie on a jig head with a 3/0 hook. They use as light a jig head as possible because too heavy a head dampens the action of the bait.

His Weedless Eye weights are usually 3⁄16- and ⅛-ounce. He uses a ­3⁄16-ounce Texas Eye half the time, going to ¼-ounce when fishing in 5 feet or more of water.

Dubiel’s VMC weighted hooks range from 1⁄16- to ¼-ounce. The heavier hook is used for deeper water when Dubiel has to get a 360GT down to structure. Whichever hook he uses, it’s perfectly rigged so only fish get the point.

The post Hooks for Weedless Rigging Soft Plastics appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

If you want to fish the flats efficiently, no boat can make it happen better than a flats skiff. Minimal draft, maximum fishability, and a stealthy attitude make these craft ideal whether you plan on sight fishing for reds or fly casting for bones. Check out these top five contenders.

Hewes Redfisher 16

Hewes’ VARIS construction takes boatbuilding to the next level and sets this skiff apart from the ­competition. By delivering the ideal ­resin-to-composite ratio, it reduces weight while maximizing strength, resulting in a lighter boat that’s easy to pole and tough as nails. Add the wide beam and 15-degree transom deadrise, and you get a flats skiff that’s also surprisingly stable, runs smoothly, and rides high in a chop—precisely the kind of versatile boat that feels right at home fishing in inlets and passes, as well as in ­back­country bays or on oceanside flats. To cap it all off, the Redfisher 16 is a breeze to trailer and fits readily in a garage.

Maverick 18 HPX-V

The Maverick 18 HPX-V, popular with hardcore flats anglers and guides, poles well in extremely shallow water and affords the comfort and space of a backcountry boat. The extra elbow room lets three anglers fish comfortably in different types of waters, from flats and passes to inlets and bridges. The length helps the skiff track well, even in a breeze, and allows for considerable livewell capacity: a whopping 30 gallons for hauling large, live baits. The boat is designed to get on top of a chop instead of plowing through it, thanks to the builder’s weight-saving techniques that use Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion System (VARIS) construction, and Kevlar and carbon fiber. Added bonus: An incredibly rigid and solid hull.

Xplor Boatworks X7

Hull design on the Xplor X7 gives this boat unique running characteristics and also boosts fishability. The integrated rails take the upward force of the water and use it to soften the ride while ­channeling that water away from the boat to knock down spray. This allows for the rails to be placed higher on the hull sides than normal, minimizing rail or chine splashing that can create fish-­spooking noises while poling. Additionally, the hull has a padded running surface, longer than most, that provides more lift and stability. Topside design boosts the skiff’s fishing prowess as the cap extends beyond the hull confines, providing the most fishing area possible atop the minimal amount of wetted surface, leaving room for three livewells totaling a monstrous 86-gallon capacity.

Yellowfin 17CE

A vacuum-bagged and injected molding process, and the use of composites, including proprietary fabrics unique to Yellowfin, made with Kevlar, E-glass and carbon in a quad-axis weave, plus 1005 pure vinylester resin, give the Yellowfin 17 CE (Carbon Elite) a major dose of high-tech construction that sets it apart from the flats skiff crowd. With a stepped hull that’s 20 percent lighter and 17 percent stronger than its predecessor, the 17-footer has an average fuel burn of 7 mpg with a Mercury 60 FourStroke, and a range of over 150 miles—unheard of for a flats skiff. On top of that, Yellowfin’s high resale value means the 17 CE is bound to deliver exceptional value, despite a higher initial cost than some other skiffs.

Action Craft 1600 FlatsPro

If you love flats skiffs but not their limited capacity, you’ll want to check out Action Craft’s 1600 FlatsPro, a 16-footer US Coast Guard-rated to hold up to five people—more than many other flats skiffs, even significantly larger models. Stability is a big contributing factor here because the FlatsPro, with its 14-degree transom deadrise and 7-foot beam, is uber-stable. Action Craft also offers multiple seating options to increase the comfort level of those aboard, including a bench seat with flip-up backrest, and a raised console with leaning-post seating. Angling acuity gets a boost as well, thanks to the spacious fore and aft casting decks, each with its own livewell topping 20 gallons.

Blue Wave 1900 STL

One of two models in Blue Wave’s Ultra-Shallow series, the 1900 STL combines skinny-water capabilities, generous storage and ­excellent fishability without sacrificing comfort, making it a great choice for spending the day on the flats with the family. The hull boasts a large, rounded tunnel and a slot transom—exclusive Blue Wave designs—for taking off and cruising in shallow water with confidence. Stability, both on the run and at rest, is one of the 1900 STL’s hallmarks, and the layout includes large fish boxes and livewells, elevated casting areas fore and aft, and plenty of walk-around space, plus forward-console seating, a leaning post that accommodates two at the helm, and twin jump seats astern.

The post Best Skiffs for Flats Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Streaking bonefish. Tailing reds. Rolling tarpon. Fishing shallow-water flats is the stuff of dreams. Countless destinations across the globe provide striking diversity and opportunities to fulfill any angler’s fantasy-fish wish list. In many cases, flats-fishing allows anglers to single out a specific species, eliminating much of the luck and boiling down success — or failure — to split-second decisions and actions. Choosing which flats to target and when can take some research. But some areas, including the following five destinations, maintain world‑class fisheries.

Throughout the decades, each has attracted its share of world-record seekers and globe-trotting anglers, who spread the fame throughout countless tackle shops, watering holes, and marinas around the world.

Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Mandating catch-and-release fishing only since 2009 for tarpon, bonefish and permit, Turneffe Atoll is the largest and most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Western Hemisphere. As such, extensive flats here offer a prime target for anglers who want to fly-cast their way to a flats-fishing grand slam by catching all three of these headline species in a single day.

The diverse selection and size of fish that reside on these flats make them unique, according to fishing guide Edison Gabourel of Turneffe Island Resort. “Seeing these flats is like looking at a nice slice of apple pie — you feast your eyes. You’ll see singles, doubles, and big schools of tailing bonefish, permit and tarpon. People who come here are thrilled with the fact that you can see schools of fish for hours; you can see your targets in the crystal-clear water, and then make your cast and do it right. After they fish Turneffe, people always say they’re coming back.”

Turneffe is relatively accessible for American travelers, only two to two and a half hours by plane from several southern U.S. airports. Anglers fly into Belize City, which features a large international airport, and take a 30-mile boat ride to the atoll. Several resorts lie on Turneffe; most offer pickup (some even via helicopter) from Belize City.

Peak Season: The height of the season is summer; June, July and August offer the best shot at catching a grand slam, but bonefish and permit prowl these flats year-round. Although there are some resident tarpon, most migrate away from the flats in winter.

Tactics: Wade-fishing and stalking, mostly while sight-fishing with fly-fishing gear. Seven- and 8-weight fly tackle is recommended for bonefish and permit. Reels should be spooled with at least 200 yards of 20-pound backing plus weight-forward floating line. For tarpon, size up to 11- or 12-weights and use 30-pound backing. Size six to 10 unweighted flies such as Crazy Charlies, Gotchas, and crab patterns work best for the bonefish and permit; use 3/0 to 4/0 Deceiver patterns for tarpon. Anglers can also use 10- to 20-pound spinning gear to cast plugs or live bait.

Contacts
Turneffe Island Resort
turnefferesort.com
800-874-0118

Turneffe Flats
tflats.com
888-512-8812

Lower Laguna Madre, Texas

With low rainfall and little freshwater inflow, the Laguna Madre of south coastal Texas is one of just a half-dozen or so lagoons holding reliably hypersaline water. Add to that a shallow average depth of just over 3 feet and abundant sea grass, and you generally find gin-clear water. In the Lower Laguna Madre, on the east side in particular, white sandy flats intertwine with grassy areas. The area is best known for big schools of tailing redfish.

“The cool thing about the Lower Laguna Madre is that it’s unique,” says native Texan and captain Ben Paschal, of Laguna Madre Outfitters. “The water’s so clear that sometimes you can spot fish 200 feet out. When sight-casting, you often get multiple shots. And you can target species people don’t usually sight-fish for, such as big speckled trout.”

Because wildlife refuges or protected seashores comprise 75 percent of its shorelines, many of the best fishing areas are far from access points, and area lodging is fairly concentrated. South Padre Island is the most popular place to stay, and offers a number of good options.

The nearest commercial airport is in Brownsville, about 25 miles from South Padre. There are limited accommodations to the north in Port Mansfield and slightly inland at Raymondville. Some guides, including Paschal, commonly prearrange lodging for their customers in nearby rental houses, which are closer to the fishing, in areas such as Arroyo City.

Peak Season: Paschal says spring is his favorite time to fish the Lower Laguna Madre, but through the heat of summer, the fish continue biting. March through November provide top-notch flats-fishing. Many anglers cast from shallow-water skiffs and flats boats, but others prefer wade-fishing.

Tactics: Mostly sight-casting from skiffs, and some wade-fishing, while using either fly or conventional gear. Popular flies include EP fiber crabs, gurglers and Clousers. The clear water dictates stealth at all times. When fly-fishing, use long leaders on 7- to 9-weight 9-foot rods, and limit false casts. Use 8- to 12-pound ­spinning gear to cast soft plastics rigged to jig heads, or bucktails (often tipped with shrimp).

Contacts
Laguna Madre Outfitters
lagunamadreoutfitters.com
214-704-3158

Getaway Lodge
getawayadventureslodge.com
956-944-4000

Seabreeze Beach Resort
seabreezebeachresort.com
800-541-9901

St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius

Closed for years to international visitors, the 40 islands making up the Indian Ocean archipelago of St. Brandon’s — about 300 miles from Mauritius and well off the east African coast — reopened to foreign anglers in 2009. This is a fishing destination, pure and simple, with virtually no other reason for visiting, except perhaps enjoying the complete absence of cellphone service, internet and any other non-satellite-based form of communication.

Many anglers would put St. Brandon’s at the absolute pinnacle when it comes to sight-casting for bonefish; this area has been known to produce fish up to 15 pounds. Although bonefish take the headlines, St. Brandon’s is also known for a wide mix of trevally species, ranging from green spot to giant trevally. The Indo-Pacific permit also makes its presence known in these waters.

“Unlike many atolls, St. Brandon’s has a very small tidal range,” says Gerhard Laubscher, CEO of FlyCastaway guide service, which offers trips to St. Brandon’s and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. “The flats stay at an ideal depth for species such as bonefish and permit for extended periods, making it the perfect habitat for tailing species. It’s the finest bonefish destination on the planet both in terms of numbers of fish as well as the average size of the fish, and it’s not uncommon to have three- to four-hour-long sessions where you’re wading in ankle-deep water constantly casting to 8-plus-pound bonefish. It’s paradise for any saltwater fly angler.”

Getting to paradise, however, is a major-league journey. Anglers heading there have to fly to Mauritius (which usually routes through Paris or London and takes more than 24 hours from much of the United States). From there, it’s a long boat ride to the atoll.

Since the journey is so long, most travelers book 10-day packages (with seven days of fishing). Accommodations are limited to a few relatively basic fishing lodges on the islands and a few ­mothership-style operations.

Peak Season: Spring and fall are the best times. The monsoon season in winter and the cyclone season in summer can interrupt the fishing.

Tactics: Wade-fishing and stalking, mostly while sight-fishing with fly-fishing gear. Nine- to 12-weight fly tackle is recommended. Reels should be spooled with tropical floating lines; bring spare lines in case you lose one to a large, unstoppable fish. Crab imitations and other popular fly patterns to target giant trevally must have heavy-duty hooks. Heavy-duty wading boots are also recommended because of sharp shells and underwater terrain.

Contacts
FlyCastaway
flycastaway.com
27-11-234-1450

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures
yellowdogflyfishing.com
888-777-5060

Tourette Fishing
tourettefishing.com
27-84-622-2272 (mothership)

Florida Keys

It should surprise no ­enthusiast to find the Florida Keys on this list. And while anglers might continually bicker about the best flats in this string of islands, the Islamorada area south into Marathon often takes top honors. Tremendous diversity highlights this region’s fishing, and while species such as bonefish, tarpon and permit get most of the headlines, you never know what will end up inhaling your bait or lure. Jacks, barracuda, several species of sharks, snook, redfish, seatrout, ladyfish — the list goes on.

“Options are what make this area so great,” says Capt. Ted Benbow, who runs Skins and Fins Fishing Charters in Islamorada with his son Donnie, a third-generation Florida fishing guide. “I can run to the Intracoastal; I can fish around the islands close by; I can run to Everglades National Park; I can fish north; I can fish south; and I can enjoy some of the best bonefish and permit ­flats-fishing around.”

Capt. Benbow explains that no matter which way the wind blows or what time of year it is, fishable flats lie within reach. Thanks to the countless mangrove islands scattered throughout the area and the innumerable sandy flats between them, clear, sheltered water can always be found.

Fall offers anglers their best shot at bones and permit on the flats, particularly on days with a northwest wind when the Atlantic-side flats are sheltered and calm. Spring is usually the top pick if you have tarpon in your sights, although they can be caught any time of year.

Although the Florida Keys isn’t exactly remote, getting there usually requires a flight into Miami, followed by a two-plus-hour drive south. Anglers can also fly into Key West and drive back north. Traffic, particularly during weekends, on the Keys’ Overseas Highway can be tricky, with speed limits bouncing between 35 and 55 mph. But once you reach your destination, you’ll find plenty of hotels, resorts and offbeat lodging to choose from, ranging from five-star accommodations to rental houseboats.

Peak Season: Bonefish and permit in fall, spring for tarpon

Tactics: Casting from skiffs, with some wade-fishing and stalking, while using either fly or conventional gear. When targeting bonefish and permit, an 8- to 10-weight rod is appropriate; size up to 11- or 12-weight for tarpon. Use floating fly line with 12-foot leaders. Tie 12- to 20-pound tippet for smaller species and 20-pound tippet with a 60-pound shock leader for tarpon. Muddlers, gurglers, shrimp, and crab patterns are all popular and effective. Anglers casting spinning or conventional gear often use bait (most commonly shrimp) or cast plastic shrimp or grubs.

Contacts
Skins and Fins Fishing Charters
skinsandfinscharters.com
305-393-0363

Bud ‘N Mary’s
budnmarys.com
305-664-2461

Hawk’s Cay Resort
hawkscay.com
888-395-5539

Ascension Bay, Mexico

Ascension Bay lies inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which encompasses a third of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. As such, the bay — about 100 miles south of Cancun — is protected from the usual habitat destruction that goes along with development, resource extraction, and the filling of wetlands. In fact, only a few thousand people live in Sian Ka’an, and the only industry to speak of is localized fishing, catch-and-release sport fishing and eco-tourism. Net result: acre after acre of thriving flats teeming with fish.

“My favorite thing about Ascension is the variety,” says Joe Rotter, of Red’s Fly Shop, a Washington-state fly-fishing outfitter that books trips to a variety of fly-fishing destinations. “An angler intrigued by the grand-slam species might look around and see permit to the right, bonefish to the left, tarpon over there, and a snook back the other way, just to make it even more interesting. It can get very chaotic. Sometimes it’s tough to decide which fish to cast at.”

Rotter says that while other destinations might be better for one particular species or another, overall, he feels that Ascension can’t be beat. Permit might be the main target in many areas of the bay, but jacks, barracuda, sharks and even triggerfish add to the ­flats-species diversity.

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Snook add an extra element. This species isn’t a common target on the flats, but they’re caught in open shallow water as well as along the nearby mangrove shorelines.

Plenty of lodges lie along Ascension Bay, many of which provide transportation for the trip south from Cancun’s airport. But the roads can be sketchy at times, and by land the trip can take three to six hours. Many anglers arrange private air charters from Cancun, and in some cases, helicopter travel to the lodge can be prearranged.

Peak Season: For permit and bones, the best time is late fall through spring. Tarpon are most abundant during the warmer months.

Tactics: Wade-fishing and stalking, mostly while sight-fishing with fly-fishing gear. A 9-foot 8-weight rod with a tropical floating line is ­considered ideal for most species, but many anglers also carry a 10-weight for the tarpon and keep a 10-weight rigged with a wire leader, in case large barracuda or sharks show. A shorter rod is also good to have on hand, rigged with a 40-pound shock tippet, if you want to probe the mangroves for snook.

Contacts
Red’s Fly Shop
redsflyshop.com
509-933-2300

The Palometa Club palometaclub.com
888-824-5420

Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge
pescamaya.com
888-894-5642

About the Author: Lenny Rudow has been a writer and editor in the marine field for almost three decades, has authored seven books, is the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk, and has won multiple Boating Writers International writing awards. He fishes as often as possible on the Chesapeake Bay and in the Atlantic Ocean.

The post World’s Greatest Flats-Fishing Destinations appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Flats anglers are natural hunters. Much in the same way that deer or hog hunters must identify animal signs, scents and habitat, skinny-water aficionados should understand how to read a flat and react to different variables they encounter. There are many different kinds of shallows, and fishermen are wise to treat them individually. Even the same flat can be fished in numerous ways depending on different conditions. I find it best to treat a flat like a kaleidoscope, with new patterns and elements emerging each trip. All inshore anglers must consider five essential variables when fishing the flats: wind and air conditions; the sun’s position; water clarity and temperature; the size, shape and composition of the flat; and existing signs of life.

Feel the Breeze?

To be thorough, first check the barometric pressure in the area you expect to fish. Barometric pressure — easy to research at fishing-report or weather websites — is particularly relevant to flats anglers because high air pressure can keep water levels low, while low pressure allows water levels to rise. Additionally, a rapidly changing barometer triggers feeding or deters it, depending on the flats species and other variables. Local, on-the-water experiences help anglers understand how barometric pressure affects their favorite flats.

The next factor is air temperature. Air temps are extremely important because, along with direct sunlight, they determine the water temperature on a flat. Water temperature is a strong indicator of which species will be available, depending on their tolerance ranges. Air temps can change rapidly, especially during the approach of a cold front, but water temperatures take longer to react. Therefore one night of chilly weather will not drop a flat’s temperature as significantly as three nights. Conversely, it takes a few days of direct sunlight to get a chilly flat back to conditions that warm-water species prefer.

Another significant factor is wind direction and velocity. Flat, windless days can be great for casting topwater plugs for seatrout, as well as ­spotting rolling tarpon and tailing bonefish. However, flats fish in these conditions are also far more vigilant and spooky from sudden splashes and movements. Tailing bonefish feeding beneath flat-calm waters require extreme stealth and finesse. Increased winds create wavelets that help mask an angler’s presentation.

Wind direction becomes more relevant as its velocity grows. High winds can affect water level on the flat, keeping it high if the wind opposes a tide or low if the wind augments the tidal ­direction. The wind direction should therefore determine your poling strategy. If the wind velocity becomes excessive, waters often turn too turbid and dirty for good sight-fishing. This is especially true for flats with soft bottoms. Wind can be a flats fisherman’s friend, but not too much of it!

The Sun’s Position

The second key variable is the amount of available light. Low-light conditions shading a flat favor a topwater bite for species like seatrout, snook and redfish. If I know I’ll have a cloudy day and I’m fishing for bonefish, I’ll fish the shallowest tides and flats so I can spot the bones tailing at the surface. Pick out redfish under the clouds by watching for pushes (surface wakes), tailing commotion or even backs protruding from the water.

When fishing somewhat deeper water where you need to see into the water to spot cruising fish, lots of overhead sunlight is ideal. Brightly lit waters are excellent for the bigger gamesters that need deeper flats, such as cruising permit or tarpon; after all, even a huge permit can’t tail up in 5 feet of water. If you have a patchwork sky, pole toward the blue portions because cloud reflections can make spotting cruising fish difficult. Though many would differ with my strategy, I actually prefer not to wear sunglasses when looking for tailing, rolling, crawling or pushing fish. Conversely, when I need to see into the water column for cruising fish, I don the finest polarized sunglasses I own. My favorite lens colors in shallow waters are vermilion and brown. On cloudy days I use yellow-tinted models.

Water Conditions

The third variable is the water itself. Water temperature is paramount; it determines which species will be present and feeding. Naturally, tropical flats fish such as snook, tarpon and permit prefer warmer temperatures. Bonefish can tolerate moderate water temperatures in the 70s, while mid- and south-Atlantic flats feature spotted seatrout, striped bass, redfish and black drum that tolerate colder water. Interestingly, barracuda remain on flats even in cold weather.

Deep water allows fish enough room to swim on the flats proper. I consider moon phases essential components and predictors of depth as well as current velocity. The new and full moons give anglers spring tides, which produce higher highs and lower lows. The quarter moon creates less tidal height change and has more-tepid currents. Always consult tidal charts for each day and the target fishing area, because tides are rarely evenly distributed throughout the day. Some areas have two tides a day, some have four, and some locations, like Charleston, South Carolina, have such large tidal swings that anglers risk stranding their boat if not careful.

In Florida, the season of the year plays a role. Fall brings high flood tides that allow skiffs to chase redfish into shallow spartina grass flats, whereas winter in South Florida creates such low tides that flats are barren for miles at low tide, especially if the ebb tide is pushed by northerly winds. The next consideration with water movement is tide — in particular: direction, stage and velocity. Many books have been written on tide, but one overriding axiom is that each flat has its own species-specific productive tidal periods. Permit might move better on a particular flat during the last part of an incoming tide, while bonefish might move across the same flat on the mid to last part of the outgoing tide. I have always preferred fishing flats on the spring tides that produce the fastest currents and water movement, provoking agitation and disorientation of forage such as shrimp, crabs and clams.

Remember to bring a logbook and pen to take notes on particularly fishy conditions. Certain flats have contours that create unique meanders (winding currents) that trap bait. Places like this exist throughout Miami’s Biscayne Bay and produce highly predictable permit fishing on a tidal profile. If you see a regular current meander, make note of it because it will likely prove extremely productive. The last aspect of water assessment is water clarity. If you are fishing dark-water Everglades flats or other turbid shallows, blind-cast or spot-cast the skinny water with topwater plugs, spoons or other search lures, such as spinner baits. These methods can produce redfish, snook, seatrout and other species.

Flats Composition

Other strategic variables to consider when dissecting a flat are its size, shape and bottom composition. The size, shape and contours of a flat are crucial factors for poling strategies as well as predicting the movement of certain flats species. Both tarpon and bonefish are notable contour feeders. Bottom compositions that feature sandy potholes in the midst of grassy expanses can be honey holes for big trout and snook. Mangrove islands in the middle of flats are usually circumscribed by deeper moats that harbor snook and tarpon. In addition, muddy bottoms can retain heat better than sand can, and therefore become fish-friendly throughout a warming winter day.

Signs of Life

The final essential variable is signs of life. In particular, pay attention to forage and predatory species. If you find a flat with wading birds, rays and sharks, this is prime feeding activity indicating the presence of baits such as minnows and shrimp. Clues to fish-feeding activity can take many forms. It might be the presence of spraying glass minnows: a sign that seatrout, Spanish mackerel and other game fish are active. In Los Roques, Venezuela, spraying minnows usually mean feeding bonefish. Schools of finger mullet on a flat regularly attract redfish, snook, seatrout and tarpon.

Then there’s the crunchy food. Savvy flats-fishers know the presence of live crabs in the water column and on the seafloor attract redfish, bonefish, tarpon and permit. But don’t overlook stationary food such as sea urchins, clams and sea worms. My personal-record permit (23 pounds on 4-pound line) had a gut loaded with black sea urchins. Groups of wading birds help pinpoint baitfish or shrimp concentrations. On a recent flats trip to Flamingo, Florida, the birds tipped us off to a large school of small tarpon gulping shrimp.

Lastly, watch the flats closely for signal species, as I call them. Stingrays and trunkfish often hunt for the same food as bonefish, redfish and permit. And if lots of sharks and barracuda are present, these species are targeting the very same flats fish you’re hunting.

Extreme Tides

Severely low or high tides on the flats should be treated as fishing opportunities rather than daunting limitations. The best results come when flats anglers have done solid advance planning for an upcoming extreme tide. Pair the intended target species to the location and water level to figure out where the fish will stage.

Decidedly low water often concentrates fish. Winters in Florida feature seasonal low tides. If this occurs in the presence of a north wind and an outgoing spring tide, normally water-covered flats can be dry for miles. In these conditions, it is not unusual for certain flats fish like seatrout to temporarily hunker down in flats potholes that retain enough water for refuge. Enterprising anglers who have prior knowledge of these potholes or channels can enjoy astonishing action.

The challenge is reaching these small havens. The trek might take a combination of long, careful wading and paddling a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). In years past, I have taken almost two-dozen trout from one particularly large pothole on Florida’s west coast. Fortunately for me, this extreme low-tide haven is only a 50-yard walk over fairly hard bottom.

In the Sunshine State, the fall season brings notably high tides. Once again, if this coincides with onshore winds and a high spring tide, water can flood dry shorelines or other places skiff anglers can’t normally explore. This is the time of year to follow the fish to the secluded places that never have access. A classic example is the flood-tide fishing for redfish in the shallow grass fields of north Florida and nearby coastal states of Georgia and South Carolina. When I fish bonefish in Miami in these conditions, I pole my skiff to within 3 feet of the beaches.

Examine, Study, Record

Traditionally, a good way to learn the physical characteristics of a flat is to put down the fishing rod and explore the expanse you want to learn. An ideal time to do this is during the low-tide phases beneath a strong overhead sun. Obviously, you should have enough water under you that you won’t run aground or risk stranding.

Vessels such as kayaks and SUPs can be used for exploratory expeditions when the waters are too shallow for a skiff. I prefer putting an SUP on my skiff for my prospecting trips because it is far sleeker and less cumbersome than a kayak. I also like the SUP advantage of standing on my exploration trips because more height leads to better visibility. Carry your waterproofed logbook and make copious notes. I personally love fishing sandy beach flats for bonefish in Belize and snook at Sanibel Island. Beach flats fish best during the high tide. But you want to explore the area during a midday low tide to spot shallow gullies and ruts that fish use for travel and feeding. Try to do this in your bare feet, if possible. You will be amazed by how the soles of your feet feel the smallest contours that bonefish or snook utilize as highways when the tide rises later.

Modern Technology Comes To Our Aid

Many years ago in Islamorada and Florida Bay, some fishing guides hired small-plane operators to search for strings and daisy chains of tarpon. Though the practice of using spotting planes is no longer viable, we can be grateful for two newer aids that gaze down from aloft. The first is Google Earth, the Web-based visual-mapping program that offers some extremely detailed views of flats, often showing shallows, ­drop-offs and channels in considerable detail. Some extremely remote regions might not yet be photographed, but many have been, much to the benefit of the world-traveling do-it-yourself flats-fisherman.

The second and newest development — camera-equipped drones — can be operated from a hand console with a display screen. The best part is that these devices take HD videos and stills of the entire area you plan to explore. The results can be reviewed again and again. The drones fly at various heights for your exploratory needs. Before operating the drone, first check to see whether there are any laws or regulations that prohibit its use. Also practice with the drone on land before taking it on the boat.

About the Author: Jan S. Maizler is a veteran shallow-water light-tackle journalist. He has fished flats all over the world. His latest book is Fishing for Spotted Seatrout, published by University Press of Florida.

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Discover some of the best shallow-water fishing locations on the planet during the best months to visit them. Click on the image below to see them.

“Three pairs of eyes, cloaked in shades of polarized amber, were busy scanning the water ahead of the sun-bleached skiff. All they needed was a sign in the shallow water: a shadow, a fin or a tail.”

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Sport Fishing’s International Flats Calendar

January: Oahu, Hawaii

February: Exmouth, Western Australia

March: Christmas Island, Kiribati

April: St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius

May: Ascension Bay, Mexico

June: Florida Keys

July: Los Roques, Venezuela

August: Turneffe Atoll, Belize

September: Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

October: New Orleans, Louisiana

November: Aitutaki, Cook Islands

December: Andros, Bahamas

BONUS: Guanaja, Honduras

BONUS: Florida Keys

BONUS: Seychelles

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