Barracuda, Bahamas
The barracuda is often written off as junk fish by many saltwater anglers. But each winter and spring, a phenomenon occurs throughout the Bahamas and most of the Caribbean: cudas take to the flats in pursuit of ballyhoo, which flood in from the cold, deeper waters. And for a moment, the barracuda morphs from junk into treasure.
Read Next: Barracuda: Supersonic Game Fish of the Flats
Striped Bass, New Jersey
Jersey’s 128 miles of coastline has myriad hot spots for targeting stripers on the so-called flats of the backwaters, including Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, Sea Isle City, and Manasquan River. From May through October, pick a back-creek channel, plan around the new and full moons, and fish the high to outgoing tides.
Snook, Cuba
A national park framed by mangroves and backcountry thicket featuring a treasure trove of inshore species—sounds like that famous chunk of Earth in South Florida. But this is no river of grass; it’s Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in western Cuba. The limited number of anglers allowed and the lightly pressured linesiders ensure that even greenhorns have a good chance of success. Yellow Dog Outfitters is one of the few American travel companies that can make it happen.
Triggerfish, Florida Keys
Aggressive, highly visible, and challenging, triggers are often targeted in shallow, clear water by casting small crab flies or crustacean-imitation lures near rocky structure, jetties, or tailing areas. In the Dry Tortugas, they fight intensely to return to, and wedge themselves into, coral or rock, making them a strong, fun, and delicious target on the flats.
