We love shallow-water flats fishing.  It’s what we do when we fish for ourselves.  It’s visual, exciting, and just seems to pull you into the natural habitat of the fish.  It’s challenging, for sure.  But when it all comes together, it’s magical.

We specialize in three specific flats fishing experiences:

The Worm Hatch

In May, when mid-day low tides allow the sun to warm up the mud, the stage is set for an extraordinary natural phenomenon.  Cinder worms, which have been buried over the winter, emerge at dusk, swim to the surface, and… get eaten by Striped Bass.  Gorged upon, would be a better description.  Their plan was to swim around in a mating dance and make more worms for next year.  That happens, too.  But for the angler, what you witness is stripers of all sizes slurping worms off the surface with little regard for anything else.  Sometimes they’re so close and so focused that they’ll accidentally bump the boat.

Easy pickins, right?  Not so much.  These stripers are so focused on worms, they won’t eat anything else.  And they’re so focused on THAT SPECIFIC WORM that they won’t eat your fly if it’s larger, smaller, different colored, store bought, home tied, or “guaranteed” by a friend.  It can be maddening.  But, (after you’ve rifled through your fly box, trying 9 different patterns) when you solve the mystery and get that first take, it’s incredibly satisfying.  And often that fly will catch fish until dark.

Meanwhile; what you witness is extraordinary.  So many fish.  So much life.  And it usually happens around sunset – which is hard to beat.  A great way to kick off the flats season.  Add it to your bucket list.

There are usually two worm hatches during May: one around the Full Moon and one around the New Moon.  We typically fish from 5pm-8pm.  It’s highly weather-dependent.  Cloudy days, rain, and wind can turn it off.  The only thing you can do is book a date and cross your fingers.  Give us a call.

Topwater

All season long, we’re looking for opportunities to fish topwater flies and plugs.  We’re just addicted to that surface explosion.  You know it’s coming, but every time it happens it’s an awesome surprise.

We start almost every trip fishing topwater.  Stripers, Bluefish, and even Bonito and False Albacore, will happily feed at the surface during the gentle morning light.  Sometimes it’s the subtle tease of a gurgler on the flats.  Sometimes we chug bangers to “call them up” from deeper water.  Either way, it’s just a great way to start the day. 

Topwater can be great mid-day, too.  Boulder fields, which hold bait and shadows and ambush points, are prime topwater territory when the sun gets high.  Even whitewater will give up topwater hits, though it’s hard to imagine the fish can see what your throwing. (They do.)

We even throw topwater at blitzes.  It’s a bit indulgent – the fish are hitting the surface already – but it’s just so cool to see them hit YOUR fly, or smack YOUR plug up in the air.  Why not.

Sight Fishing

In the middle of the day, if we’re fishing for ourselves, we’re sight fishing.  Creeping along a flat, peering into the water, stalking our prey.  It’s a team sport.  The guy on the platform is poling a course, scanning the water, ready to position the boat and guide the angler.  The guy on the bow must have good eyes, good casting skills, and calm nerves.  It’s hard.  But when it all comes together…

“Fish at 11 o’clock, 40 feet, moving left.”  You point your rod.  You see the fish.  One backcast and you lay the fly in its path, 10 feet ahead.  “Wait. Wait. Strip. Strip.”  The fish turns, accelerates, and…

Sometimes he takes it.  Sometimes he turns away.  Sometimes he follows it right to the boat.  All in front of your eyes.  Your heart races, stops, and sometimes bursts.  It can be the thrill of victory, or the agony of defeat.  It’s challenging, fascinating, and exhilarating.  And when the moment is over, win or lose, you catch your breath, get back in ready position, and can’t wait to hear…

… “Three fish straight ahead of the boat.  50 feet.  Coming right at you.”