The Flats Slam, consisting of bonefish, tarpon, and permit, has always been the ultimate quest for inland saltwater fly fishermen. This prestigious challenge is equally admired by traditional spinning and casting gear anglers.
While I won’t go so far as to admit I’m obsessed with completing this quest, I do have aspirations to conquer it using spinning gear, but I’ve already set my sights on returning to tackle it with a fly rod in the next couple of years.
Yeah, you could say I’m more than a little obsessed.
But what makes this Flats Slam even more exciting is the surprising connection it has with the Lone Star State, Texas.
Let’s delve into the slam’s three species, each with its unique allure:
Tarpon: These behemoths of the slam are found in solid numbers along Texas’s Gulf Coast, from the famed “Tarpon Alley” between Galveston and High Island to Port O’Connor’s Pass Cavalo and the South Padre area. Although tarpon are notoriously elusive, the last few years have been promising. Capt. Brian Barrera, guiding out of South Padre, had some remarkable days recently, even coming close to breaking the state record with one colossal catch.
“Tarpon are an awesome fish and they have a deserved reputation of being hard to hook and hard to land. That makes them one of the world’s most prized catches,” Capt. Barrera proudly declares.
Have you caught a permit, bonefish or tarpon in Texas waters? If so, share your pics with us. We would love to post them on our social media. Send to cmoore@fishgame.com.
In This Issue: STAR Search: Winning Strategies for CCA S.T.A.R. • The Lairs of Giants:…
Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the…