Photos

On The Flats

Photos by Jeff Pierce

By Jeff Pierce

Updated: November 28, 2011

_Few key players in the recreational-fishing industry spend more time walking the walk than Mustad’s Jeff Pierce. Here, he shares a bakers’s dozen of a variety of inshore shots taken around the Gulf.
_ This could possibly be my most memorable catch to date. This fish took a crab fly in the Marquesas during the 2010 Cuda Bowl, but after the hook up, the flyline came up off the deck in a big tangle so I threw the rod at the fish to keep from breaking off. After a chase I recovered the rod, fishing the fight and we landed, tagged and released the fish. Video can be seen here. The fish was 19 pounds.

Bonnethead shark on the flats of upper Florida Bay.

This Cajun seatrout fell for a jig and plastic tail in Lake Calcasieu, Louisiana.

Florida Keys bonefish in the net.

When we are in the skinny water between Islamorada and Flamingo in search of bonefish, we always have a rod rigged with a circle hook and a trace of wire for sharks when the opportunity presents itself. This Lemon gladly piled onto a shrimp cast in front of it in less than two feet of water.

Takeoff! Flock of flamingos leaves Florida Bay about five miles south of their geographical namesake, Flamingo.

A school of tarpon prowls the emerald water near Key West’s Stock Island.

Redfish cruise the very skinny water on the shore of Lake Calcasieu in western Louisiana.

This is my Norwegian friend Asgeir with one of many redfish we caught this day sight-fishing with the fly near Myrtle Grove, Louisiana. We were fishing with my good buddy and sight-fishing guide extraordinaire Capt. Rich Waldner.

In-your-face barracuda taken near Key West.

Bonefish swims the clear waters of the central Florida keys.

Bull red clobbered this Bomber Badonk-a-Donk topwater bait.

As we competed in the 2010 Cuda Bowl, the weather conditions really got the permit and tarpon pouring up onto the flats which made concentrating on the cuda’s tough. So, we took our shots and scored a few permit and tarpon on fly and light spinning around the Marquesas.

Big flats ‘cuda explodes on a Bomber popper.

More: photos

More Photos

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Sport Fishing may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

On The Flats

World’s Biggest King Mackerel

20 Great Fishing Photos of Warm-Water Game Fish

Gyotaku Fish-Printing Art from Hawaii

Ocean Predators: 20 Dazzling Photos

Read More

Fishing’s Most Dangerous Animals — The Impalers

What Do Fish See Underwater?

The Guide to Texas Redfish Fishing

Use Hoop Nets to Capture Ballyhoo