Florida Keys Inshore Flats Fishing
Charters and Guide Service with Capt Luke Kelly of Key Flat Charters
Shallow water sight-fishing charters in the secluded nearshore waters of the Florida Keys & Key West.
Catch and release sport fishing for tarpon, permit, bonefish, and more on spin and fly.
Fishing Guide Capt Luke Kelly
Thank you for visiting! With a lifetime spent in the Florida Keys, over 20 years flats fishing experience, and countless hours navigating these inshore waters. I provide all customers the upmost professionalism expected from a full-time fishing guide. Honest, low-stress attitude within the scenic tropical waters of the Florida Keys flats & backcountry.
I built this website to help interested anglers better understand this unique fishery. Use it as a guide to find what you can catch on the flats, and time of year you can expect to catch it. You'll also find everything my service offers; where to stay, and even how to get here. Below is an introduction and points to consider about this fishing charter experience. Captain's Bio
I built this website to help interested anglers better understand this unique fishery. Use it as a guide to find what you can catch on the flats, and time of year you can expect to catch it. You'll also find everything my service offers; where to stay, and even how to get here. Below is an introduction and points to consider about this fishing charter experience. Captain's Bio
Flats & Backcountry Fishing 101
The term flats and backcountry is often used when describing the over 500 square mile body of water surrounding the lower Florida Keys. The hundreds of uninhabited mangrove keys within are viewed as the backcountry. Whereas the shallow inter-tidal expanse of water connecting those mangrove keys are viewed as the flats. This environment offers endless saltwater sport fishing possibilities.
The Flats & Backcountry Fishing Boat
The Hell's Bay Marquesa, a dependable smooth riding flats skiff even during high wind conditions. Stable as a barge, floats in 7" of water fully loaded. Best of all, the Hell's Bay patented hull design is dead quiet while poling flats in pursuit of challenging shallow-water gamefish. An all weather skiff that delivers professional results when needed the most. Read more about this Flats Fishing Charter Boat
Charter Location
The Sugarloaf Marina, located in the heart of the Lower Florida Keys. A short 20 min drive north of Key West puts you directly in the middle of this vast nearly 500 square mile inshore fishery. Plenty of shelter during windy days, and endless possibilities during fair weather conditions. Read more about this Historical Flats Fishing Location
See Google Maps link here
See Apple Maps link here
See Google Maps link here
See Apple Maps link here
Sight-Fishing on the Flats is a Hunt
Not your typical cast and wait for a bite style of fishing. True sight-fishing in shallow water is best described as a hunt. Where eyesight, patience, and dedication are most important. Your fishing rod is a weapon and you only use it when the shot is clear (i.e., when you see the fish).
Successful catch-and-release fishing for tarpon, permit, and bonefish on the flats is the main objective within this tropical environment. A kind of quality over quantity deal, where it only takes but a few trophy gamefish to make for a good day of flats fishing. Best during spring, summer, and fall months. Read more about Florida Keys Fly Fishing
Successful catch-and-release fishing for tarpon, permit, and bonefish on the flats is the main objective within this tropical environment. A kind of quality over quantity deal, where it only takes but a few trophy gamefish to make for a good day of flats fishing. Best during spring, summer, and fall months. Read more about Florida Keys Fly Fishing
Cast & Retrieve Backcountry Fishing
Imagine a saltwater environment with hard fighting predatory fish, full of a seemingly endless amount of baitfish. Enter the Florida Keys Backcountry, where anglers can use light-tackle spin rods and a collection of artificial lures to target a variety of hard fighting fish.
This is a more action packed style of fishing where quantity over quality is the overall objective. Rather than waiting for fish to show on the flats and make an accurate cast (sight-fishing). Anglers actively cast and retrieve more frequently, often referred to as prospect casting. This is most efficiently achieved with light-tackle spin rod outfits. Best during winter and spring months, targeting snapper, sea trout, pompano, jacks, barracuda, and even tarpon and bonefish when conditions are right. Read more about Light-Tackle flats fishing
This is a more action packed style of fishing where quantity over quality is the overall objective. Rather than waiting for fish to show on the flats and make an accurate cast (sight-fishing). Anglers actively cast and retrieve more frequently, often referred to as prospect casting. This is most efficiently achieved with light-tackle spin rod outfits. Best during winter and spring months, targeting snapper, sea trout, pompano, jacks, barracuda, and even tarpon and bonefish when conditions are right. Read more about Light-Tackle flats fishing
A Catch & Release Fishery
The fish caught in the Florida Keys flats and backcountry are highly prized and valuable to this fishery. Therefore 90% of what is caught from these waters are released alive back to the environment they came from after proper measures are taken to ensure survival. (i. e., reviving the fish with minimal handling).
This includes tarpon, permit, bonefish, barracuda, and redfish. Photos make memories and that's always ok, but a strict "keep-em-wet" policy is always practiced. By doing this we hope that gamefish will live to fight another day and reproduce for generations to come.
This includes tarpon, permit, bonefish, barracuda, and redfish. Photos make memories and that's always ok, but a strict "keep-em-wet" policy is always practiced. By doing this we hope that gamefish will live to fight another day and reproduce for generations to come.