INTRODUCTION
 

While fly-fishing for trout has a long and rich tradition, presenting a fly in saltwater didn’t begin its popularity until the late 1940s and ’50 with the development of new equipment that could handle the incredible speed and power of these fish. 

Inshore fly-fishing attracts the greatest number of fly-fishers because its more generally available (existing along every coast) and can be done from banks, wading or from small boats. 80% of the U. S. population live within four hours (or less) drive of salt water. The opportunity to offer a fly to large, fast, powerful fish away from crowds and in open waters is becoming more and more popular. Part of the recent growth in the popularity of salt water fly-fishing is reduced commercial fishing and a resurgence in populations of fish such as Redfish and Channel Bass in the south and Stripped Bass in the north.
 

OPENING DAY FOR FRESH WATER

OPENING DAY FOR SALT WATER

 
THE TYPES OF WATER

The types of water where salt water species are pursued are divided into four classifications: Offshore, Inshore, Estuaries, and Shoreline (Surf Fishing). 
  
OFFSHORE:

 
Marlin, Sailfish, Dolphin, (Dorado) Wahoo, Albacore, Bonita, and Tuna are the most popular offshore species. 

They are located offshore by sighting, chumming, and trolling.
 
ONSHORE:

 

Onshore fishing or, fishing the FLATS, involves some of the most popular Fly - fishing in the world. These warm waters include:

BONEFISH, PERMIT, TARPIN, STRIPED BASS, RED-FISH, BLUEFISH, and BABRACUDA. We will address each of these species. Their prey consist mostly of baitfish, crab, and shrimp, We will discuss and illustrate the importance of all current conditions, tides, tactics, tackle, water temperature, and locating the fish. 
ESTUARIES

Estuaries consist of a brackish mix of fresh and salt water. Fast currents at the mouth of an estuary usually give way to lagoons and backwaters. 
 
In the fast water, BASS and MACKEREL can be found feeding on baitfish while slower, low salinity water is preferred by SNOOK, BABY TARPON, and FLAT FISH and possibly a dozen additional species. 
 
Harbors, jetties, pilings, and dredged channels are some features common to estuaries.

 
SHORELINE

Surf fishing beaches are typically broad expanses of sand washed by shallow seas and exposed to prevailing winds.

FLATFISH such as FLOUNDER and SAND DABS are happy in a few inches of water. When wind, swells, & low light combine; bigger predators ranging from PACIFIC STRIPERS to ATLANTIC BLUEFISH will venture into easy casting range. 

  

With so much water, finding the fish is the key. If you have a guide much of your problem is solved. However, if you are on your own you will need to recognize signs that suggest the presence of fish. We will discuss and illustrate these signs. 

In our previous section on ‘Equipment’ we included Lines, Leaders and Tippets  and how they related to Trout fishing. However, due to the size, speed and power of salt water fish the Rod, Reel and Tackle are ‘Supersized’ We need to give this some attention. 

There are over fifty species of fly-taking fish along the Atlantic and Pacific Coast and the Gulf. Of these, the seven most popular (Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Stripped Bass, Snook, Bluefish and Redfish) will be covered.