Camp Mack Resort

[Nitro 882]

I'm booked for a visit to Camp Mack soon. I'm reading all kinds of stuff about constant break-ins and theft of fishing equipment and electronics from boats parked in front of cabins in well lit areas.

One guy said the local police told him this happened all the time ,especially when there was a tourney or when the camp was full with just recreational fisherman.

They make it sound like an epidemic.Like most of us, I've got more gear than I need in my boat and certainly more than I care to pay to replace. Anyone got any recent info? I'm nervous as hell. :-/

[FD.]

You do what you want, but I have never had any problems.  I have stayed in the camp ground and cabins during holidays and tournament weekends.  I have heard of 1 break in at the motel but that's it.

[Nitro 882]

You do what you want, but I have never had any problems. I have stayed in the camp ground and cabins during holidays and tournament weekends. I have heard of 1 break in at the motel but that's it.

A team of wild horses couldn't keep me from goin'. I guess I was just looking for reassurance (which you kindly provided).

Fishdaddy, when you stay there, do you leave your boat in the water or pull it up near your cabin??

[bocabasser]

my club and i have stayed there dozens of times and had zero problems. camp mack is a great place to stay. it is old school florida.

[JohnnyBigger]

On camp mack DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BOAT IN THE WATER over nite, unless your cabin is on the water. There is Excelent boat parking at Camp Mack. In my opinion it is the best place to stay and they are very friendly and will work with you. I fished a tournament out of there and checkout is at 12:30 I talked to them first and we didnt leave til 5pm. As for theft issues it is the same as anywhere else. My club fishes there twice a year and have never had an issues. If you are worried about it lock your boxes and take your gps/fishfinders of overnite. Have you ever been to kissimmee before?

[Al Wolbach]

I'm staying there the first week in March myself  and now I am a little concerned. I have stayed in many motels and fish camps while fishing out of state and never had a theft problem so far. However I lock up everything  possible and use a loc'r bar on the boat and lock up all compartments. That is really about all you can do except pray(and I highly recommend that) and make sure your insurance is paid..........

By the way my insurance agent told me the bad guys use your winch and winch strap to break your loc'r bar so nothing is totally safe so do what you can to prevent theft and try not to worry about it. Just go fishing.................Tight Lines...........Al

[salmicropterus]

I'm with the other Florida guys here. I've never heard of it being a problem and no one I know of has either. It's not been on the agenda when any of my bass clubs schedule a trip there. Where has this info been posted?

[FD.]

I always take the boat out of the water and park it next to the cabin or camper.  It only takes minutes to launch and I like my stuff close.

[SkilletSizeBass.]

We talked about going to Camp Mack a couple years ago, but ended up changing and went to lake Fork in Texas instead. But, a year or two before that we went to Vero Beach area, stayed at a Holiday Inn on I-95( ? i think), we were going to fish several lakes in the area.We fished our 1'st. evening at Stick marsh, and planned on returning the next morning. We were ready to walk out the motel room and my buddy looks out the window and see my brothers ranger boat being pulled out, by a truck other than his, and his Ford 250 being drove out by itself. 10 mins, maybe 5 mins, later, we would have walked out on them. They got away with his Ranger boat, Ford 250, and all 3 of our fishing gear, his toolbox in the bed loaded with stuff.We ran out of the room and seen them heading towards the interstate. We had to rent a car to drive home.We even turned the boat sideways in the parking spot and backed the truck back up against it. The thieves didn't even bother unplugging the elec. cord, it was dragging behind the boat. It took the police maybe 15 mins to get there, and they filled out a quick report, had kinda of an oh well attitude and left.The boat was recovered maybe a month later, stripped, motor, seats, all equipment, gone. A couple months later the truck we found close to Miami, the tool box was gone, and all odd and end stuff. By then his insurance had paid off. I'm not knocking Camp Mack, I have heard its a good place to stay. And, I'm not knocking Fl., I'd love to go back and fish stick marsh again. Just be extra careful, take any and all precautions, maybe even remove the coil wire from your truck and disable your boat somehow. Its sad you have to go to these extremes. The police told us at the time they had previously caught a new dump truck loaded on a ship about to leave the port in Miami, stolen. I'm not trying to sound negative about your trip, just secure your stuff as much as you can, anywhere. Good luck

[Nitro 882]

I'm with the other Florida guys here. I've never heard of it being a problem and no one I know of has either. It's not been on the agenda when any of my bass clubs schedule a trip there. Where has this info been posted?

Please realize, I'm not trying to offend anyone and I'm certainly not trying to cast a shadow on Camp Mack. Hell, my stuff could get ripped off right in my driveway.

Maybe I'm gettin' paranoid in my old age.

The reports I saw on Camp Mack I stumbled upon while checking out the area on Google Earth. If you zoom in on the area and click on the Camp Mack indicator, a site opens up that is called "Trip Advisor" and it lists a couple "Traveler Reviews". One was dated 5/9/09 and the other 5/13/09 and they both report the same thing---the break in of a dozen boats at Camp Mack one weekend.

That ,coupled with the article on page 12 of the Feb. Bassmaster mag , simply woke me up a little to todays realities.

I'm a big boy and I'll be damned if I'll let some petty thieves ruin my fishin'. I was just looking for more info and perhaps if some of you weren't aware, just lettin' you know what I read.

Anyway, just tell your bass to watch the hell out cause I'm comin.

[Nitro 882]

On camp mack DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BOAT IN THE WATER over nite, unless your cabin is on the water. There is Excelent boat parking at Camp Mack. In my opinion it is the best place to stay and they are very friendly and will work with you. I fished a tournament out of there and checkout is at 12:30 I talked to them first and we didnt leave til 5pm. As for theft issues it is the same as anywhere else. My club fishes there twice a year and have never had an issues. If you are worried about it lock your boxes and take your gps/fishfinders of overnite. Have you ever been to kissimmee before?

First time to Kissimmee, JB. Last year I fished the Harris Chain and 2 years prior I fished the St. Johns river out of "Bass World Lodge" I had no problems nor did I hear of anything to be concerned about. Thats why this stuff about Camp Mack surprised me.

[flyboy]

This is not about Camp Mack, but on a parallel note I found a great place in the town of Okeechobee, the Travelodge.  I was looking for a place there to park the boat close to the room or cabin and stumpled on this place.  It is an all kitchenette motel with about 12-15 boat parking places that are long enough to leave your pickup hooked up to the boat and electrical for each space.  The managers live on site and it is well lighted.  The owner of the local tackle shop told me they have never had a problem, so I stayed there.  They have free coffee and pastries each morning and the staff is great, though the rooms are not the cleanest.  Better than most fish camps and a very boat friendly motel.

Bob

[RoLo]

Well...I live 10 minutes down the road from Camp Mack,

and somehow all these serial robberies have escaped local recognition.

Surely you realize that theft is opportunistic, it's something that can and will happen

wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Indeed, Camp Mack is a just a hole in the trees, but that's no reason for paranoia :

No fish camp in the world is theft-free, and like anywhere else USA,

your chances of being robbed can only be staved off by you.

Ah, live on the edge...give Camp Mack a shot

Roger

[Nitro 882]

Well...I live 10 minutes down the road from Camp Mack,

and somehow all these serial robberies have escaped local recognition.

Surely you realize that theft is opportunistic, it's something that can and will happen

wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Indeed, Camp Mack is a just a hole in the trees, but that's no reason for paranoia :

No fish camp in the world is theft-free, and like anywhere else USA,

your chances of being robbed can only be staved off by you.

Ah, live on the edge...give Camp Mack a shot

Roger

Where were you on the night of May 9,2009???? >

[JohnnyBigger]

Well...I live 10 minutes down the road from Camp Mack,

and somehow all these serial robberies have escaped local recognition.

Surely you realize that theft is opportunistic, it's something that can and will happen

wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Indeed, Camp Mack is a just a hole in the trees, but that's no reason for paranoia :

No fish camp in the world is theft-free, and like anywhere else USA,

your chances of being robbed can only be staved off by you.

Ah, live on the edge...give Camp Mack a shot

Roger

Where were you on the night of May 9,2009???? >

Man didn't you see all the stuff he posted in the BR Flea Markey ...................you will have fun and watch for the tournaments because there is normally one every weekend, so you can talk to them about how they were slaying them. Have fun(lucky wretched)

[RoLo]

Where were you on the night of May 9,2009???? >

Ahhhh...Backing up the truck  ;D

[Al Wolbach]

This is not about Camp Mack, but on a parallel note I found a great place in the town of Okeechobee, the Travelodge. I was looking for a place there to park the boat close to the room or cabin and stumpled on this place. It is an all kitchenette motel with about 12-15 boat parking places that are long enough to leave your pickup hooked up to the boat and electrical for each space. The managers live on site and it is well lighted. The owner of the local tackle shop told me they have never had a problem, so I stayed there. They have free coffee and pastries each morning and the staff is great, though the rooms are not the cleanest. Better than most fish camps and a very boat friendly motel.

Bob

If you make another trip to Okeechobee check out Buckhead Ridge Marina. I have stayed there 12-15 times on fishing trips to Okeechobee. When you stayed in the town of Okeechobee you probably launched at Oka tanee State Park launch(Lightey's resturant). Buckhead Ridge Marina is just over the bridge from that launch. About 5 miles from Travel Lodge. I have not stayed there in about 5 years but we use to rent a two bedroom 2 bath mobile home(on the water) for about $400 a week. I believe they have 10 for rent and everyone is friendly and helpful. It is in a residential area and very safe due mostly to restricted access. If you go back check it out.....Al

[Nitro 882]

Hey Rolo, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. I'll be the guy with the flippin' stick hancuffed to his wrist. ;D

[CaseyBass]

May 2nd 2009 BFL had a Gator Division out of Camp Mack and I think it was around a dozen boats that got broke into.  I am not positive that the boats that got broken into were all parked at Camp Mack.  I thought I heard that they were parked at other hotel around close to the Lake.  The guys broke rod lockers and took everything I heard one Guy had 20 Gloomis rods taken, one guy got the fiberglass cut out of the side of his boat to get the locker bar off.  Luckily my Boater drove over that morning so nothing had happened to his boat.  It was a horrible sight to see when I was sitting in the Lock waiting to get into Toho and coanglers were giving half of there rods to the boater to borrow for the day. 

[RoLo]

Hey Rolo, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. I'll be the guy with the flippin' stick hancuffed to his wrist. ;D

Touche'

But seriously, I'm pretty sure you're going to have a great time, and will love Camp Mack.

There's also an outside chance that we may meet, I'm at Camp Mack fairly often.

Roger

[Nitro 882]

Hey Rolo, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. I'll be the guy with the flippin' stick hancuffed to his wrist. ;D

Touche'

But seriously, I'm pretty sure you're going to have a great time, and will love Camp Mack.

There's also an outside chance that we may meet, I'm at Camp Mack fairly often.

Roger

Lookin' forward to it. I'll arrive on Sat.,2/6 with my son. I'm 6'6" and 300# and have a gray/black beard. My son is only 6'1" and 240# so I let him carry the gun.

Tom

[warmer]

You do what you want, but I have never had any problems. I have stayed in the camp ground and cabins during holidays and tournament weekends. I have heard of 1 break in at the motel but that's it.

yeah, but didnt they hit 10 boats that night?  whoops, thankfully i was sleeping on the deck of mine!

[Al Wolbach]

For you folks that have read the reports or in Rolo's case,driven the truck:

Are the thieves taking "grab and run" type equipment like rods/reels, fishing tackle, etc, or are they getting equipment that may require tools and limited knowledge like trolling motors and props?

Not trying to blow this up, but I do want to be prepared............................Al

[masterbaiter99]

I fished the BFL last year and that is when there was a break-in and about 10-15 boats got hit. It was a professional job as they knew the boats to hit and what to look for. As a co-angler I arrived in the morning to meet my partner and there were Sheriffs meeting with the guys that got hit. I have stayed there a number of times as my club fishes there every year and have not had a problem myself but I refuse to leave any of my rods on the boat after seeing what had happened. They aren't looking for lures, they want high end rods and electronics...that is the stuff they can sell. They tore covers, popped locks, etc. Camp Mack is a great facility (although their ramps and parking kinda suck for the amount of money they bring in...pave the road already!). Liars Lodge is a great place and it is geared for the bass fisherman but leave your gear on your boat at your own risk!

[frogtog]

Never stayed at camp Mach but I have stayed a many of night at camp Lester next door ( Think they finally sold out) but we staggered back and forth from Lester to Mack and never had any problems  I don't think. Well there was this incident with a Monkey one time, his owner tied him to my trailer and he took all the nuts and bolts off my trailer.