Saltwater fish are more opportunistic than freshwater fish and will strike at almost anything that vaguely resembles food (imitators) or is brightly coloured (attractors). Many fly-fisherman will attest to the fact that fish, freshwater and saltwater, are more likely to strike at imitator patterns that they are to strike at attractor patterns.

When fly-fishing in saltwater or freshwater, you want to attempt to imitate the natural food source for the fish that you are trying to catch. Whether your fly is brightly coloured or not, you should always try to mimic the food source. In most cases the colour of your fly should be determined by the colour of the water. This practice will increase your catch rate considerably. The key to successful fly-fishing, whether saltwater or freshwater, is to first observe. Observe the water, activity in the water and look for the fish.

Your saltwater fly box should have the obvious food forms such as small bait fish imitations, shrimp, crab and prawn imitations.

Saltwater flies are usually tied with brighter colours and more flash than freshwater flies and some of the more successful flies are:
- Clouser’s Minnow
- Lefy’s Deceiver
- Crazy Charlie
- Popper
- Flipper
- Salty bugger
- Tarpon

To catch a fish you need to think like a fish.