If you have a boat when you come to Hernando Beach, you ought to visit The Flats – it is a large area located right off channel marker 21 – 25 where the water is clear and it stays pretty shallow between 18 inches to 3.5 feet year round for miles.

It gets crowded on weekends in the summer when the water is 89 degrees!

Quick Facts about The Flats

• Yes, it is part of the Gulf of Mexico
• Water is shallow, between 18 inches to 3.5 feet – watch the tides chart, and don’t get stuck!
• Water temperature in the summer is around 89 degrees, in the winter it is around 70 degrees. It starts warming up in April.
• Location: right off channel markers 21 to 25
• Dolphin sightings are frequent. Lots of small fish around – the kids will enjoy snorkeling, bring the gear!
• Lots of boats and pontoons (and drinking adults) on weekends in the summer.

What Activities Can We Do Here?

• Bring a Jetski
• The Flats is a place to just hang out and be at one with nature. It’s not touristy around here, and there are no vendors or anything. Pack a lunch, some drinks, and just enjoy being in the open water! If you’re here on weekends in the summer, expect lots of new friends!
• Kids will love snorkeling – if you have food scraps, the little fish will come. There are no tropical, colorful fish around this area of Florida – but still cool to see fish! The water is very clear.
• If you have a boat this is a great area to go tubing with the kids! I would still wear a life jacket, as you head out a little further out in the open water there are random spots that are 6-8 feet, however 90% of the time it’s around 4 feet deep.
• If you have a floating pad, bring it! Dogs love it, and the kids enjoy jumping off it nonstop. My boys wrestle each other on the floating pad and wins when someone gets pushed in the water – for three hours straight.

Tips for Going To The Flats

• Watch the tides! You don’t want to be here when the tides are too low, your boat might get stuck. Also, being in 18 inches of water (about knee deep) isn’t that much fun.
• Go at high tide for best experience – depending on how high the high tide is that day, you can find spots that are 3.5ft to 4 feet. It’s much more enjoyable at this depth.
• In the winter, it is a little cold at around 70 degrees. Still a great spot to have some privacy, and be at one with nature. You might be here with 3 or 4 other boats only. In contrast, during weekends in the summer, there could be over 50 boats anchored here.

How Do I Get To The Flats?

The only way to get here is with a boat. If you don’t have one, Let’s Get Salty LLC do day trips to the Flats, or you can rent a boat from the Marina.

Follow the channel to mile marker 21 or 25. There is a little opening around there – just take a right. You will most likely see other boats. Watch the tides! You can get stuck here when the water is too low.

Our Recommendation

Definitely visit the Flats if you are here in the summer or late spring such as May. If you are in the area during the winter, if it’s a nice sunny day, I would still go out here and just enjoy the warm sun, nice breeze, and keep your eyes open for dolphins! They frequent this area.

If you love being in the water, you should also check out Weeki Wachee, see our complete post about Weeki Wachee river, and find tips on how to spot a manatee!