Tommy Batun & The Floating Crab

Meet the Fly That Started a Movement

Tommy’s Floating Crab. Born from the Story of Tommy Batun.

In the film Silent Spotter, from award-winning filmmaker RA Beattie and Off the Grid Studios, audiences are introduced to the extraordinary life of Tommy Batun, a deaf and mute fly-fishing guide from Xcalak, Mexico. With sharp eyes, unmatched intuition, and an unshakable love for the flats, Tommy has redefined what it means to be a guide, an innovator, and a hero in the world of saltwater fly fishing.

Raised under the mentorship of his father, Alejandro, Tommy carved out his own way of leading anglers, communicating through lip-reading, self-invented sign language, and sheer passion. But guiding wasn’t his only gift. In his pursuit of the notoriously elusive permit, Tommy crafted a fly that would change the game: Tommy’s Floating Crab.

More Than a Fly — A Legacy of Innovation

Tommy’s Floating Crab isn’t just another pattern. It’s a direct extension of Tommy’s resilience, creativity, and the bond he shares with his community and the water. Designed to entice permit in the shallow flats, it’s quickly earned a reputation among anglers as a must-have in any serious saltwater box. The pattern is:

Proven in the film. Featured throughout Silent Spotter as the pattern that embodies Tommy’s ingenuity.
Built for results. A surface-riding crab imitation that drives permit wild.
A story in every cast. When you fish this fly, you’re not just chasing fish; you’re carrying forward the spirit of innovation and connection that Tommy lives by.

Own the Fly. Share the Story.

Silent Spotter isn’t about disability, adversity, or obstacles. It’s a celebration of passion, family, and the universal language of fly fishing. By buying and fishing with Tommy’s Floating Crab, you’re not only adding a deadly permit pattern to your arsenal, you’re supporting the legacy of one of fly fishing’s most inspiring guides. With the floating crab craze, you are starting to see them on the market, but Tommy’s is truly authentic, invented by a local, in one of the locations where the floating crab game started.

Don’t Wait. Order Your Six-Pack of Tommy’s Floating Crab & Be a Part of the Story

In partnership with Umpqua and Off the Grid Studios, for a limited time (Sept 15 and Oct 15), you can purchase your pack of Tommy’s Floating Crab by clicking on the button below. Net proceeds from your purchase will be donated directly to Tommy and his family. Only 40 packs are available for purchase, and each contains six flies. These will go quickly! Bring the story of The Silent Spotter to life on the water.

Cast with purpose. Fish with connection. Celebrate the innovation of Tommy Batun.

About Off the Grid Studios
Off the Grid Studios is an award-winning production company based in Bend, Oregon, specializing in authentic storytelling that connects people, place, and purpose. Known for its visually stunning and emotionally resonant films, the studio has carved a niche in outdoor and conservation media—collaborating with brands, nonprofits, and artists to create stories that resonate far beyond the screen.

About RA Beattie
RA Beattie is the founder and creative director of Off the Grid Studios. A filmmaker, writer, and lifelong outdoorsman, he has spent two decades producing acclaimed fly-fishing and adventure films that have screened at festivals worldwide. With a reputation for blending cinematic craft and heartfelt narrative, Beattie is recognized as one of the leading voices shaping the future of outdoor storytelling.

About Fly Fusion and the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4)
Fly Fusion is a leading voice in the fly-fishing community, producing one of the sport’s most respected magazines and digital content platforms. Its signature event, the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4), showcases the best fly-fishing films from around the world, touring internationally to connect anglers through storytelling, culture, and shared passion.

About Umpqua
Founded in 1972, Umpqua is one of the most trusted names in fly fishing, renowned for innovative flies, packs, and gear that set industry standards. Working with the world’s leading fly designers, Umpqua has built a global reputation for quality and creativity, making its products a staple in fly shops and anglers’ kits worldwide.

Top image (© Arian Stevens photo): Tommy Batun in the latest issue of Fly Fusion, now published six times a year – four print and two digital. Bottom image (© RA Beattie photo): Tommy Batun holds his surface-riding crab pattern that drives permit wild.

For those arriving on this page via The Floating Crab Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Purchasing flies or subscribing is optional and will not affect your odds of winning.