South Florida fishing: Jon boat or pedal kayak

[BranFL]

Trying to decide on which setup to get for fishing south Florida. I will mostly be by myself fishing the Everglades or one of the many south Florida canals. I like the simplicity of both the Jon boat and the pedal kayak although I’m not sure how well the pedal drive will do with all the vegetation. If I went with a Jon boat it would have to be a max of 14ft to fit in my garage. Price isn’t an issue, just looking for some guidance from those with experience. Thanks!

[Seaworthy81]

I’m at a similar crossroads here, hoping to get some feedback on this topic as well. 

[GreenPig]

Love my 1448

[Captain Phil]

I would go with the Jon boat.  Eventually you will want a larger boat so you can fish with a buddy.  You will also want a small motor so you can run farther.  A Jon boat can also do double duty as a back country flats boat.  GreenPig's boat looks perfect to me.  I once bought an old Starcraft and rigged in similarly.  Great boat for the Everglades. 

[flyfisher]

Nott sure about that area and boat usage but a motorized kayak that you can also paddle well is better than any pedal kayak to me.  You can also get one for around the same price or less than a pedal kayak in most cases.  

[Catt]

Jon boat, 14' long with a minimum of at least a 44-48" bottom width.

[Dwight Hottle]

The jon boat will be a lot more gator friendly than a kayak. 

[Koz]

Gator country = Jon Boat.

 

Seriously. An unruly gator could easily swamp or tip a kayak. I know guys here on BR kayak fish in gator country, but why take a chance? It would be easy to miss a stalking gator while focusing on fishing. Or worse yet, have a hungry gator come at you in a low to the water kayak while you reel in a catch.

 

I've had more than my fair share of scary gator encounters while bank fishing and that's enough to put me off from being trapped in a kayak in open water in gator country.

[BranFL]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like I’ll be getting the Jon boat. 

[GRiver]

I have had both here in Fl. I definitely preferred the Jon boat better. More room, stability and the ability to upgrade with motor etc. One thing was the ability to stand up and fish or just see better. I know the have kayaks you stand up in but mine wasn’t. 

[TnRiver46]

On 11/25/2022 at 3:11 PM, Koz said:

Gator country = Jon Boat.

 

Seriously. An unruly gator could easily swamp or tip a kayak. I know guys here on BR kayak fish in gator country, but why take a chance? It would be easy to miss a stalking gator while focusing on fishing. Or worse yet, have a hungry gator come at you in a low to the water kayak while you reel in a catch.

 

I've had more than my fair share of scary gator encounters while bank fishing and that's enough to put me off from being trapped in a kayak in open water in gator country.

Yeah I’ve gotten a little too comfortable around alligators many times. Then I heard some growling a time of three and now I get the heebie jeebies 

 

[Zcoker]

I exclusively fish here south Florida and use a powered kayak. I can tote it anywhere, launch it anywhere, and fish it in just about any imaginable depth or structure. Many places in south Florida just cannot accommodate anything bigger. Some places here don't allow trailers nor motors, only electric. Sometimes I have to launch hundreds of feet away from my vehicle and the only way to get to the launch area is to tote the kayak on wheels. So there are many, many situations where a kayak is the absolute best bet here in south Florida. 

[Zcoker]

On 11/25/2022 at 3:11 PM, Koz said:

Gator country = Jon Boat.

 

Seriously. An unruly gator could easily swamp or tip a kayak. I know guys here on BR kayak fish in gator country, but why take a chance? It would be easy to miss a stalking gator while focusing on fishing. Or worse yet, have a hungry gator come at you in a low to the water kayak while you reel in a catch.

 

I've had more than my fair share of scary gator encounters while bank fishing and that's enough to put me off from being trapped in a kayak in open water in gator country.

 

Gators are no issues whatsoever on a kayak...or at least I have no issues with them. I mainly fish at night out in the Everglades solo at least 2-3 nights a week until the sun breaks, so I have pretty good handle on the matter. I've been doing it for years and cannot say that I ever want to see the light of day again lol In fact, gators are much more manageable at night because they are so easy to see with a quick light. They usually hang out or huddle in groups at night, so avoiding them is easily done. But often times I don't want to avoid them because they are are good indication of where the bait activity is, better than any live scope! So they can be very helpful! At this point, I really pay them no mind, not the least concern whatsoever of being attacked, even in the most remote areas imaginable. As long as you pay attention and stay alert at all times, all should go well. Gators are just as much fearful of you as you are of them. Sometimes when snuck up on, they do this wild splashing about with a bunch of commotion while scurrying away, which is kinda funny. I always roll my eyes, like really, why all the fuss & drama lol. 

 

 

[Zcoker]

Launching at night into the abyss!

 

 

 

 

[Koz]

6 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

Gators are no issues whatsoever on a kayak...or at least I have no issues with them. 

 

 

I have a different opinion. I've been stalked and chased by aggressive alligators. I'll fish near them in a boat or on the bank where I have clear egress. I'm too old and slow to FAFO.

[Captain Phil]

I have been fishing the Everglades since the mid sixties.  Much of my summer bass fishing was done at night.  I have never been attacked by a gator, but I have seen them act aggressively toward small boats heading their way.  I have had snakes crawl into my boat and they seemed as surprised as much as I was. I have never seen a Sasquatch, Skunk Ape, UFO, alien or little green men.   Given it's South Florida, it wouldn't surprise me if I did.  Would I fish in a kayak alone in the Everglades at night?    NO! 

[Zcoker]

On 12/3/2022 at 2:41 PM, Captain Phil said:

I have been fishing the Everglades since the mid sixties.  Much of my summer bass fishing was done at night.  I have never been attacked by a gator, but I have seen them act aggressively toward small boats heading their way.  I have had snakes crawl into my boat and they seemed as surprised as much as I was. I have never seen a Sasquatch, Skunk Ape, UFO, alien or little green men.   Given it's South Florida, it wouldn't surprise me if I did.  Would I fish in a kayak alone in the Everglades at night?    NO! 

 

I know a few who are convinced Sasquatch live out in the Everglades and I've heard some crazy noises that almost make me think they exist, too! Sometimes I think the greatest dangers out there is by man himself. Amongst other things, it's like a war zone at first light during hunting season, bullets flying everywhere! 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, Zcoker said:

 

I know a few who are convinced Sasquatch live out in the Everglades and I've heard some crazy noises that almost make me think they exist, too! Sometimes I think the greatest dangers out there is by man himself. Amongst other things, it's like a war zone at first light during hunting season, bullets flying everywhere! 

I don't know about Squatch, but I have no doubt there are animals in the Glades that humans have no idea about.  Think about all the stuff that could hide there and never be found.   Similar to the Amazon.   

 

It's all but impossible to escape Man's long reach when trying to find solitude, but there are some animals better equipped to do it.  

[Zcoker]

On 12/5/2022 at 11:04 AM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I don't know about Squatch, but I have no doubt there are animals in the Glades that humans have no idea about.  Think about all the stuff that could hide there and never be found.   Similar to the Amazon.   

 

It's all but impossible to escape Man's long reach when trying to find solitude, but there are some animals better equipped to do it.  

 

That's what I luv about the glades, untouched and virgin, miles and miles of new beginnings! One day it can be this way; the next day the other way, like a living creature in itself, ever changing. One day there's a nice little creek-like entrance winding into a beautiful lagoon....gone a week later! No sign of nothing, like both never existed. Plays out like that a lot in the glades. You have one chance to fish and enjoy the mystery. And I'm quite sure mysterious creatures live out there as well. I've seen stuff out there like freaky looking birds that I've never seen before. It's really a way of life, fishing out there, a big change from the conventional stuff. I guess that's why gators and such don't bother me so much at night, not because they might attack me but because I know they won't. 

[Captain Phil]

I have never seen anything in the Everglades that hasn't already been discovered. If you want to hear some crazy noises, try anchoring in Shark River at night with sharks and manatees rubbing on the bottom of your boat.   The cutest thing I ever saw was a mother raccoon with two cubs trailing behind... adorable.  Otters are cool too.  There are lots of alligators and a few crocodiles.  I left South Florida before the pythons came.