Best Flats Boats for 2024 – Top 10 Options for Anglers

Contrary to what you may think, flats boats are not necessarily “flat-bottomed” boats. Their name has nothing to do with the shape of their hull, but more about where they run.

Flats boats, which are sometimes called “skiffs,” are designed for fishing in shallow water flats. Their unique setup allows them to cruise through water that’s just 14 inches deep or less.

Most skiffs measure anywhere between 15 and 25 feet in length and are usually outfitted with an outboard motor, although they are light enough to be pushed forward with a pole.

Since these vessels are mainly designed for fishing, most of them come with a front casting deck and an aft poling deck to allow one individual to cast a line while the other pushes the boat forward with a pole.

So, what are the best flats boats, and how do you choose the best one? Here’s everything you need to know about them.

How to Choose the Best Flats Boats – Buyer’s Guide

If you’re shopping for a new flats boat, there’s a good chance that you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the different options available. We’ve put together the top 5 factors you need to consider to help you narrow down your choices.

Shallow Poling

The first thing you need to think about is where you intend to fish 90 percent of the time. Will you use your skiff in jetties, creeks, or shallow water flats? The answer to this question will determine how close to the fish you’ll need to get, and how quiet your approach needs to be.

If you intend to fish in shallow water flats, it means that the fish will likely be hanging out close to the surface. If that’s the case, then you’ll need to get a quiet skiff. These have hulls designed to minimize the sound waves generated when water crashes or “bangs” against the boat surface.

The closer you want to get to the fish, the quieter your flats boat will need to be.

Type of Fishing

The next thing you need to consider is the type of fish you want to catch. Do you plan to go fly fishing or bait fishing? Will you throw in plugs and jigs? If you plan to catch bonefish and redfish, for instance, you’re going to need a flats boat with a 6-7 inch draft.

Keep in mind that a boat with this draft length would suffice to get you to areas with shallow waters, as well as provide the stability you need to traverse any deeper spots on your way to the fishing site.

Ride Quality

The smoothness of a boat’s ride is directly related to the shape of the hull. Ideally, vessels that have a deep-V hull or deadrise absorb the bumps of choppy water better than those with more rounded/flatter drafts.

Now, the issue is – if you’re looking to cruise through shallow flats, a deep-V hull just won’t cut it. You just have to compromise, which brings us to the question we posed in the first point – where do you intend to fish 90 percent of the time?

If you’re going to be poling in shallow flats, then you’ll need a quiet hull, so it will just have to be flat. This, in turn, means you’ll have to contend with a rougher ride. If you’re going to be in choppier waters most of the time, you’ll need to get a boat with a deeper hull design to give you the smooth and stable ride you crave.

Standard Features

When choosing the best flats boats to buy, you need to look at the basic features of the boat. Skiffs are generally utility crafts. So, functionality – not luxury – is the main thing you need to be looking out for when choosing a boat.

For instance, does it have ample storage to keep items like a fire extinguisher, a throwable emergency cushion, signaling devices, life vests, etc.? Does it have enough room to store a tackle bag, spinning rods, a change of clothes, a light snack, and anything else you wouldn’t want to get wet?

Does it have rod tubes and rod holders? Does it have a fish box where you can store your catch? Does it come with a baitwell and Livewell? If so, how many, and are they enough for your flats fishing requirements?

All these are questions you need to ask beforehand to identify the must-have features you’re looking for in a vessel. That should help you narrow down your choices further.

Price

Flats boats come in all shapes, sizes, and price points. The main thing you need to ask yourself is – Am I getting great value for my money?

For one thing, the material used to construct the boat plays a major role in how much it will cost. Skiffs with wooden components, for instance, are dirt cheap. But you also have to consider that wood rots quite quickly when constantly exposed to moisture. And you will, after all, be using your flats boat in the water…

If you come across a reasonably priced skiff, it checks all the boxes with regards to quality. Ensure that the manufacturer has used a lasting waterproof adhesive to bond the parts together.

If it has a metal boat hull, you want to check that the various components are welded together as opposed to riveting or bolting. This helps to keep the moisture out.

Only buy from a manufacturer that has a sterling reputation for creating high-quality flats boats, and steer clear of the ones that have had a history of cutting corners. Keep in mind, though, that “expensive” doesn’t always mean “high-quality” and “cheap” doesn’t always mean that something is total crap (although it does, more often than not).

Due diligence is key to make sure that you don’t end up buying a lemon – and an expensive one at that.

Quality Above Everything

The greatest asset you have when buying the best flats boats is the internet. Check online forums to learn more about what other users have to say about it. Once you have a general idea of the kind of vessel you want based on the specs you need, go to the dealer website to arrange for a demo to get a feel for it and see if it lives up to your expectations and fishing requirements.

We recommend checking out any of the 10 boats detailed in this guide. Their respective manufacturers have a long history of making high-quality and high-performance vessels.

In the meantime, if you’re in the market for a new center console boat, check out our comprehensive review on the best center console boats.