Flats Rat Skiff

We don’t test a lot of flats skiffs here at Fisho. They are usually considered specialised fishing boats but very well suited to many forms of flats and estuary fishing. Many people think flats fishing is only available in northern Australia but there are estuary flats right throughout NSW and Queensland. I did a lot of flats fishing in southern NSW when I lived there but a flats skiff is also very well suited to estuary and impoundment fishing which makes them extremely versatile. Before I get started on this boat test I think a quick overview of flats fishing is probably a good idea so we all understand what it involves and how it works.

Flats fishing was pioneered in the southern areas of the USA half a century ago. The Florida Keys were instrumental in the development of flats fishing and purpose built flats boats. Many years ago, keen flats anglers realised that the average fishing boat was not designed to fish in shallow water. The draft was too deep, there was nowhere