Just inside the fringe reef along the seaward side of the atoll are miles of shallow, gin clear flats.  This is the area where fly fishing anglers search for bonefish and permit, and the "flats" are alive with sea creatures of all sorts.  With a discerning eye and the aid of your guide, you will likely see schools of bonefish, permit, trunk (box) fish, barracuda, small rays, snappers and even small sharks. In the surf you can sometimes see large parrot fish or trigger fish with their backs half out of the water.  

The flats are covered with turtle grass, which is a key habitat for many species of juvenile fish, and the flats are also vital in protecting the coral reef by acting as a sediment filter.