They are vast expanses of
serene, crystal-clear waters
as far as the eye can see.

It is an absolutely
unique place. It's usually
less than six feet of
water that is a matrix

of sand, seagrass, little
corals and sponges that offers
good foraging grounds for many

different species.

The fish are just going about
their business. You just see
them in their own element eating

and cruising and it's
really neat to see.

These are the Flats - a
place where recreational
anglers pursue the
legendary bonefish, tarpon

and permit.

There's no other place
I'd rather be fly fishing
than on the flats.

Flats fishing is just a very
romanticized, dramatic thing.

It's just the allure,
poling around these flats
and trying to find a fish.

Oh, come on. What is
that? Is that fish?

Flats fishing is not like you
drop a piece of shrimp to the
bottom and wait for the fish

to eat it. Flats
fishing is a hunt.

It's very much a stalking
game, it's like hunting except
you get to release the fish

when you catch it.

You actually have to see the
fish before you throw the fly.

You're trying to trick a
fish into eating a completely
artificial fly that you've often

tied yourself out of materials.

It's pretty challenging
especially when weather
conditions aren't in your favor.

You're not thinking
about anything else when
you're out on the flats.

Research commissioned by the
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
has shown these recreational

fisheries are worth big money.

There's a study, in 2009, in
the middle of the recession,
found that the annual economic

impact of the bonefish catch and
release fishery in the Bahamas
was 141 million dollars. We

are in the process of redoing
that study now and preliminary
estimates are that it's more

than 200 million dollars.
In the Florida Keys,
the flats fishery, which
is bonefish, tarpon

and permit, the annual
economic impact is over
460 million dollars.

But in some areas, these
fish are on the decline.

In order for us to pass this
down, we have to secure what
we have now. And in order to

do that, you've got to
work with the researchers.

What does scientific
research reveal about
bonefish, tarpon and permit?

Can it help to ensure their
survival into the future?