Flats Nation — Flats Fishing & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine

Explore the Hell's Bay Professional 17.8 technical poling skiff, from its advanced construction and shallow-water performance to fishing features and real-world insights from Louisiana fishing guide Captain Mike Lambert.

Named after the Marquesas Keys near Key West, the boat was designed with the kind of water that can change its mind quickly.

Tarpon Lodge has stood along Pine Island Sound for 100 years. We look at the history, fishing roots, food and Old Florida character behind one of Pine Island’s most recognizable waterfront landmarks.

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.

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.

The Hell’s Bay Marathon blends technical-skiff fishability with rough-water capability, speed and range for anglers who cover serious water before the fishing begins.

Explore Flats Nation Technical Wear, from UPF 50+ hoodies to performance button-up shirts. New Free Sunshields customers can save 10% with code WELCOME10!

Improve your flats fishing knowledge without spending a fortune. Discover Dr. Aaron Adams' books and learn more about coastal habitats, gamefish and their prey.

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

These same tips and tricks can help you save even more money or at least slow down your spending!

Here are a few things I have found to help extend their life and appearance

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.

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.

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.

I cannot think of a more corrosive environment to operate any gear short of an active volcano.

Great businesses often get buried (or simply lost) online because their websites do not clearly explain (to the computer servers sorting all this information) who they are, what they do, where they serve, and why they matter.

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.

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!

A boat trailer wiring harness is one of those things most owners do not think about until the lights stop working, the tow vehicle starts blowing fuses, or the trailer gets backed into saltwater and suddenly decides it no longer wants to communicate with civilization.

Not everyone can draw a clean boat wiring diagram on demand. Some folks can sketch out a full marine electrical system on the back of a napkin. Others, myself included, may end up with something that looks more like a treasure map drawn during a small-craft advisory.