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Flats Nation — Flats Fishing & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine


Flats Nation Welcomes Mezz Canvas!
Flats Nation welcomes Mezz Canvas, a Jersey Shore manufacturer of American-made fishing and marine accessories. Explore their products and save 10% on qualifying purchases with code FlatsNation10.

Dave LeGear
10 hours ago3 min read


Hell’s Bay Marquesa: The Bigger Technical Skiff Built for Skinny Water and Chop
Named after the Marquesas Keys near Key West, the boat was designed with the kind of water that can change its mind quickly.

Dave LeGear
5 days ago8 min read


Flats Nation Podcast with Steve Pelini of BMS
Join the Flats Nation Podcast with Steve Pelini of Bob's Machine Shop (BMS) as we discuss hydraulic jack plates, the True Tracker Stabilizer Plate, marine performance, and practical upgrades for flats skiffs and bay boats.

Dave LeGear
Oct 144 min read


Keeping an Eye to the Sky: Hurricane Season Tips for Coastal Boaters
Keeping an eye to the sky can make all the difference during hurricane season. Check tropical weather quickly and know when it may be time to secure the boat, prepare the house and keep an eye on changing conditions.

Dave LeGear
Oct 74 min read


Flats Fishing Primer - Florida
Learn the fundamentals of flats fishing in Florida, including tides, tackle, stealth, fish behavior, positioning, and shallow-water techniques.

Dave LeGear
Sep 229 min read


Nikon Z6 Long-Term Review: My Experience With the Z System
After years of shooting with the Nikon Z6, here is my real-world experience with Nikon’s Z system, NIKKOR Z lenses, autofocus improvements, and photography performance.

Dave LeGear
Sep 155 min read


Oil Filter Magnet Technology: How FilterMag Helps Protect Your Engine
FilterMag is not a replacement for maintenance. It is another layer of protection for engines we would rather keep running than rebuilding.

Dave LeGear
Sep 43 min read


Photography Tips from Flats Nation!
Yes, you can grab great pictures with your Phone, it's post cleanup that makes them really pop!

Dave LeGear
Sep 15 min read


Flats Nation Performance Shirts: Built for Life on the Water
Whether you’re spending the day stalking fish across a shallow flat, running the skiff along the coast, working around the boat, or heading somewhere a little more civilized afterward, good performance clothing earns its place in the gear bag.

Dave LeGear
Aug 244 min read


Amera Trail Relaunches Updated Website Ahead of IBEX 2026
As many Flats Nation readers already know, Amera Trail joined us earlier this year as an official Flats Nation collaborator. That relationship made sense from day one because we tend to look at boating from the entire ownership perspective—not just what happens after the boat slides off the bunks and into the water.

Dave LeGear
Aug 157 min read


Flats Nation Performance Fishing Hats: Built for the Heat
These hats are a refreshing upgrade from your usual mesh trucker caps, offering much-needed relief when you're battling fish the size of farm animals or chasing speedy catches on the Bow, all while braving the scorching heat over 90 degrees.

Dave LeGear
Jun 223 min read


Saltwater Camera Care: Protecting Your Gear on the Water
I cannot think of a more corrosive environment to operate any gear short of an active volcano.

Dave LeGear
Jun 205 min read


New Flats Nation Mangrove Logo Added to Art & Merch
The new Flats Nation Mangrove logo is now available in the updated Art & Merch section, with design options for shirts, mugs, prints, bags, phone cases, and more.

Dave LeGear
Jun 84 min read


Welcome Aboard, Amera Trail Trailers: A New Flats Nation Collaborator
Flats Nation is pleased to welcome Amera Trail Trailers as an official collaborator and part of the growing Flats Nation family and ecosystem. For those who spend real time around skiffs, bay boats, tow vehicles, backroad ramps, and long hauls to the water, Amera Trail is a name that already carries weight — literally and figuratively!

Dave LeGear
May 307 min read


Rigging a Plastic Shrimp backward and other methods.
Rigging a Plastic Shrimp backward.

Dave LeGear
Apr 174 min read


FilterMag Oil Filter Magnet: Outboard Fitment & Long-Term Use
I’ve used FilterMag oil filter magnets since 2004. Here’s what I’ve learned about outboard fitment, clearance, and real-world use on Honda and Yamaha engines.

Dave LeGear
Jan 225 min read


Low budget Outboard Pre-Lube Pump (4 Stroke only)
Pre-Lube pumps circulate lube oil throughout the engine before it is started.

Dave LeGear
Jan 194 min read


Flats Nation Sound Bites Volume 14
In this Flats Nation Sound Bites Volume 14, Steve Pelini, VP of Sales for BMS, is back to educate us on the True Tracker Plate.

Dave LeGear
Jan 101 min read


Low-budget hatch liners for your Skiff/Boat!
Are you looking to help keep your tackle, camera, and other gear bags drier and off the deck inside your hatches?

Dave LeGear
Jan 94 min read


Increase your hook up & success ratio (Top Water)
With this little upgrade, the dude can roll around with your Top Water lure like a Gator and should stay hooked.

Dave LeGear
Jan 45 min read
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