As flats fishing has exploded into a global fishery, there's many exciting species sight-cast, caught, and released in knee- deep water. The first wave of exploring anglers may find habitat and fisheries in far-flung places that are incredible because of their remoteness- a relative term. Yet, horror stories of problems, crises, and actual harm to anglers are not infrequent because the destinations, guides, owners, supplies, and local governments are shaky, inexperienced, on a shoestring budget, and poorly equipped.
Before you settle on a destination, check out your guide, their availability, and their skiffs by asking or getting written verifiable responses. Unless you're working flats within sight of your lodge and with fully given float/fish plans TO THE ONSITE LODGE PERSON, you absolutely should have cellphone and VHF radio backup. Try to visualize running twenty miles in a 16 foot tiller handle skiff and your engine dies..your youthful guide looks up at you with a quizzical, good-natured smile. What's your next step? Wait for another boat? When will that be? These and similar kinds of incidents have happened more than a few times off Andros, the Amazon Basin, and the Carib side of Mexico, according to reports I've seen. This has nothing to do with those countries, but it does with the people that run those camps, as well as poorly-trained, poorly- equipped flats fishing guides. Some intrepid souls treat these situations as adventure and inevitable manifestations of new, unfolding areas. I am grateful for this, as these problems should have been rectified by the time it becomes a possibility for me.
I want my safety concerns addressed right away, so I can stow them and enjoy the flats fishing experience. I insist that the guide, skiff, and the lodge has what it takes or else I do not recommend them. I also respond to the inquiries of other anglers why I never bothered with certain destinations. I always involve the camp owners, guides, and outfitters with any problem, so they can respond and correct it, as well as to see if they simply care. The most important thing for the globe-trotting flats angler is to do their homework or have it done for them by a good outfitter who have these destinations as part of their inventory. Be sure to check out the outfitter as well- generally the well-established outfitters have done site inspections and create a de facto quality control for the lodges. Again, this does not guarantee a safe happy trip, but it helps!
Jan
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