Fw & Sw Small Boat Fishing In Fla (Pb, Broward, Dade, Keys). Should I Worry About Gators?

[rhymobot]

Hi.

 

I'm from Toronto, Canada and I plan on driving down there for 3 weeks starting in late April. I have a 12 foot inflatable with a trolling motor.

 

I've been doing a lot of reading on different lakes and canals to fish with public boat ramps and I'm looking forward to this trip.

 

 

However, do I have to worry about gators? I'm in an inflatable and pretty close to the water. What if I'm fishing a canal that's connected to the glades and I happen upon a gator? Is that something I should be worried about?

 

I considered the glades itself from that Holiday park but I don't think I'll give that a go anymore. I'd want to be in an aluminum for that.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I'll be based out of family houses in Coral Springs and Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale. I plan on fishing a lot of the FW and SW park lakes and the Miami aiport lakes in those counties I mentioned and maybe even launch near the ICW in the canal and marina area of Lauderdale, if possible. And I'll probably try John Pennekamp park in the keys in all those little creeks and channels.

[BassinLou]

Hi.

 

I'm from Toronto, Canada and I plan on driving down there for 3 weeks starting in late April. I have a 12 foot inflatable with a trolling motor.

 

I've been doing a lot of reading on different lakes and canals to fish with public boat ramps and I'm looking forward to this trip.

 

 

However, do I have to worry about gators? I'm in an inflatable and pretty close to the water. What if I'm fishing a canal that's connected to the glades and I happen upon a gator? Is that something I should be worried about?

 

I considered the glades itself from that Holiday park but I don't think I'll give that a go anymore. I'd want to be in an aluminum for that.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I'll be based out of family houses in Coral Springs and Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale. I plan on fishing a lot of the FW and SW park lakes and the Miami aiport lakes in those counties I mentioned and maybe even launch near the ICW in the canal and marina area of Lauderdale, if possible. And I'll probably try John Pennekamp park in the keys in all those little creeks and channels.

 

Sounds like a fun outing and adventure, best of luck. You picked a good season to do this trip. As far as gators are concerned, for the most part they will leave you alone if you do. If you happen to come across one that is more curious than normal and you are not comfortable. Put your trolling motor on hi, and leave the area. 

[1234567]

Lou gave good advice..if you're out following a cold front as well and the water is cool all gators will be on the bank sunning themselves.  There was a post on another forum where a gator was actually putting it;s front feet along the side with it's head up over the boat.  Although extremely rare, it's probably attributed to the fact someone was feeding it.  don't dangle lures over the side either!  In general they usually mind there own business unless your throwing topwater. 

[Pz3]

Gators dont usually go after boats even inflatable ones. If you have a kevlar bottom you should be fine for the most part.

[doyle8218]

All the canals where I live there are canoes, inflatables and even jet skies. There are also some nice lakes that are gator free in the Miami area. I fish the canal and a few lakes everyday here and never had a problem. I have seen a few over the years but never even a small problem.

[geo g]

Almost every body of water will have gators from time to time in South Florida. For the most part they leave you alone. Have had a few friendly one recently. They do get territorial during the breeding season and make for some interesting situations. In an area with big gators, I want a bass boat to truly feel comfortable with these big lizards. One put its head and front feet in the boat of a guy fishing the alley last week. Good luck if you go in a tube.

[rhymobot]

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

Here is the boat I'll be bringing.

 

 

 

It's a soft bottom.

 

 

I was thinking of carrying food on board. Like something I could toss at an incoming gator but away from the boat to distract him and get him moving in a different direction.

[rhymobot]

By the way. Can someone tell me how many lines you're allowed to use per person? Does it vary by FW and SW or by county?

 

 

At home it's one line pretty much everywhere. But if you're on Lake Ontario then it's two per.

[1234567]

Tossing food at it would be a horrible idea.  It will keep coming back and not to mention if someone sees you it could get you a visit from fwc.  This could be bad for some little kid down the road as well that has no idea the gator is conditioned to a point.

[rhymobot]

Tossing food at it would be a horrible idea.  It will keep coming back and not to mention if someone sees you it could get you a visit from fwc.  This could be bad for some little kid down the road as well that has no idea the gator is conditioned to a point.

 

lol. ya i'd toss at it then haul azz outta there in the other direction.

 

but the more and more i read on forums about fishing so low to the water in FW in Florida the more and more I'm thinking that I shouldn't do it.

 

there's always the SW lakes and inlets but I love fishing for bass and would love to try and catch peacocks and even snakeheads. i could try from shore but it gets boring for me and i wouldn't be able to troll.