Key Largo Flats Fishing
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Target redfish, snook, bonefish, permit, and tarpon speciesFourhour morning charter accommodates up to three guestsShallow flats and mangrove fishing with gear included
There's nothing quite like stalking fish in the gin-clear waters of Key Largo's flats. This 4-hour morning charter with Back Bone Charters puts you right in the middle of some of Florida's best shallow water action. You'll be poling through skinny water, sight-casting to tailing redfish, and working the mangrove edges where snook love to ambush bait. With space for up to 3 anglers, this trip keeps things intimate and focused—no crowded boat, just you, your fishing buddies, and miles of pristine flats stretching out in every direction.
Your morning starts early, which is exactly how you want it on the flats. The fish are most active in those first few hours after sunrise, and the water is usually glass-calm before the afternoon breeze kicks in. Your captain will read the tides and current conditions to decide where to start—maybe working a grass flat for bonefish, or sliding along a mangrove shoreline where snook are prowling for breakfast. The beauty of flats fishing is that it's visual and interactive. You'll see your targets before you cast, watch them react to your fly or lure, and feel that heart-pounding moment when everything comes together. All tackle is provided, so whether you prefer spinning gear or want to try your hand with a fly rod, you're covered. The boat stays in shallow water most of the trip, which means less time running and more time with lines in the water.
Flats fishing is all about stealth and precision. Your captain will pole the boat silently through water that's often just knee-deep, positioning you for clean shots at cruising or feeding fish. You'll learn to spot the subtle signs—a nervous wake, a flash of copper, or the telltale black tips of a tailing redfish. Most of the fishing happens with light tackle: 8-12 lb spinning setups with jigs, soft plastics, and topwater plugs, or 8-weight fly rods throwing shrimp patterns and baitfish imitations. The key is making quiet, accurate casts and working your bait naturally. Strip strikes are common with fly fishing, while spinning tackle anglers need to stay sharp for those subtle taps and line movement. The mangrove shorelines add another dimension—you'll pitch baits back into the shadows where big snook and baby tarpon lurk, ready to explode on anything that looks like an easy meal.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Key Largo flats fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallow grass beds and oyster bars, often in small schools that'll get your heart racing. They average 18-27 inches here, with some pushing into the upper slot. Redfish are aggressive feeders and will eat just about anything presented properly—jigs bounced along the bottom, weedless spoons fluttered over grass, or crab patterns stripped slowly on fly. What makes them special is how they fight in shallow water, bulldogging toward deeper water and making long, powerful runs that test your drag and your nerves.
Snook are the glamour fish of the mangroves, and Key Largo's shorelines are loaded with them. These ambush predators hang in the shadows, waiting for baitfish to wander too close. They're structure-oriented fish that love dock pilings, mangrove roots, and undercut banks. A well-placed cast with a white jig or pilchard-pattern fly often triggers explosive strikes that'll remind you why snook have such a devoted following. They're acrobatic fighters that jump, gill-rattle, and make blistering runs toward the nearest snag. The ones you'll encounter range from schoolie-sized fish to legitimate 30+ inch specimens that'll put a serious bend in your rod.
Tarpon are the silver kings of the flats, and even the juveniles you'll find in Key Largo's backcountry pack serious attitude. These fish are pure adrenaline—they jump repeatedly when hooked, often clearing the water completely in spectacular aerial displays. Baby tarpon between 10-40 pounds are common around bridges and in deeper potholes throughout the flats system. They're visual feeders that often roll on the surface, giving you a target to cast toward. When one eats your bait, get ready for a rodeo. They're notorious for throwing hooks with their acrobatic antics, which makes landing one even more satisfying.
Bonefish are the ghosts of the flats—silvery, spooky, and absolutely addictive once you hook into one. Key Largo sits at the northern edge of their regular range, making every bonefish encounter special. These fish are masters of camouflage, blending perfectly with sandy bottoms and turtle grass. You'll often spot them by their shadows before seeing the fish themselves, or catch a glimpse of tail tips when they're rooting for crabs and shrimp in shallow water. Bonefish are notorious for their blistering initial runs—a hooked bone will peel line off your reel like nothing else, often running 100+ yards in seconds. They're the ultimate sight-fishing target: challenging to spot, difficult to approach, and absolutely electric when hooked.
Permit round out the flats slam possibility, though they're the most challenging of the group. These disc-shaped fish are notoriously picky eaters and spook easily, making them a prized catch among serious flats anglers. When you do find permit, they're often in small groups cruising grass flats or working along deeper edges. They have a distinctive profile with their tall dorsal fins and can grow quite large—fish over 20 pounds are caught regularly in these waters. A permit on light tackle is a bucket-list fish for many anglers, combining the visual excitement of sight-fishing with the challenge of fooling one of the ocean's most selective fee
Your fishing machine for Key Largo's shallow waters is a brand-new 2025 Ocean Bay 18.6 powered by a reliable 2024 Yamaha 115 SHO outboard. This flats boat is built to get you into those skinny waters where the big fish hide – perfect for stalking redfish, snook, bonefish, permit, and tarpon along the mangrove shorelines. The shallow draft design lets your captain slide into spots bigger boats can't reach, while the GPS keeps you on productive flats and channels. At 18.6 feet, there's plenty of casting room for up to 3 anglers without feeling cramped. The Yamaha's quiet operation won't spook fish in the shallows, and its fuel efficiency means more time fishing, less time running. Whether you're sight-fishing the flats or working structure around the mangroves, this setup handles Key Largo's backcountry waters like it was made for them.
Albula VulpesBonefish are the "gray ghosts" of the flats - silvery torpedoes that blend perfectly with the bottom. Most run 3-6 pounds and 16-24 inches, but they're lightning fast and can peel 100 yards of line in seconds. They feed in super shallow water, sometimes with their tails sticking out while they root for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing here, but spring tides give you the best tailing action. Guests love the stalking aspect - it's like hunting with a fly rod. We release them all since they're full of small bones. The real thrill is spotting them cruising and making that perfect cast. Key tip: lead them by 3-4 feet and let your shrimp or crab pattern sink to the bottom before they get there.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - tall, disc-shaped fish that'll humble any angler. They average 10-20 pounds but can hit 30+ pounds, and they're spooky as hell with eyes like golf balls that see everything. You'll find them on sandy flats and around coral heads in 2-8 feet of water. April through October is best when they're spawning, but we catch them year-round in warmer months. What makes them special is the challenge - they're incredibly difficult to fool and will test your casting skills. Many anglers spend years trying to land their first permit. They're decent eating but most get released. The trick is live crabs fished dead still - any movement and they're gone.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for our shallow water fishing, cruising flats in 1-4 feet looking for crabs and shrimp. You'll spot them by those signature black spots near the tail and their bronze backs. Most run 20-28 inches and put up a solid fight without the acrobatics. They're around year-round but fall and winter fishing is prime when they school up. What guests love is how aggressive they are - they'll crush topwater plugs and make your reel scream. Plus they're fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. The real fun is sight-fishing to tailing reds in skinny water. Pro tip: if you see their backs out of the water, they're feeding hard and will eat almost anything you put in front of them.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are ambush predators that love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in 2-6 feet of water. Most run 18-24 inches, but you'll find some real bruisers pushing 30+ inches. They're famous for that thick black lateral line and golden color that makes them easy to spot. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around moving water during tide changes. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and the way they'll jump and run for cover. They're also excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. Here's the key - cast your live shrimp or soft plastic right up against the mangroves where they're waiting. Don't be shy about getting close to structure.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the kings of our flats - silver-sided giants that can hit 6 feet and 100+ pounds. Most of what we see runs 4-5 feet and 60-80 pounds, which is still plenty of fish. They cruise shallow water and deeper channels, often rolling on the surface. May through September is prime time when they're migrating through. What hooks people is watching a 100-pound fish launch 6 feet out of the water trying to throw your hook. They're pure muscle and will test your drag and your patience. We don't keep them - they're full of bones and better left to fight another day. My tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. It keeps slack in the line so they can't use their weight to break off.
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