Miami area fishing

[TonyMe]

Coming down there to fort lauderdale on vacation at christmas time and thought about going down to miami to fish for some peacock bass. Anyone know of some good locations to fish from shore for them? Or somewhere that might rent small boats? I was hearing that the canals are good for peacock bass. Also are there any ponds in the area that might have some ponds to fish for large mouth bass?

Thanks for your help, Tony

 

[eavega]

Re: Miami area fishing

If you can find access to the water, the lakes on the south side of the Miami airport are excellent. I used to walk there to fish as a kid, and as recently as last month I borrowed a friend's canoe and spent the morning hauling peacock bass out of there. Access is the tough part, though. It's all commercial properties there, and security guards are on the lookout for any shore fishermen.

Rgds

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Miami area fishing

Haven't fished that area in a couple of decades, but fish everything you can find. Canals, ditches, and retention ponds.

Like posted above, access can be difficult to find for some waters.

Other options you may want to consider:

Drive over to lake Okeechobee and rent a boat. Fish the ring canal if you don't have a GPS.

Drive out the Tamiami Trail and fish the ditches on the side of the road in the Everglades.

You never know what you're going to catch down there, lots of exotic invasives.

Saltwater options are fun too, try the drift boats for King Mackeral and Sailfish... the 4 hr. trips are cheap.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Miami area fishing

Any place that has water has fish. Thats what is great about miami.
Drive out the Tamiami Trail and fish the ditches on the side of the road in the Everglades. Head south 0n HWY 41 the Trail into the Everglades look for L67 canal, great place. Have fun

 

[TonyMe]

Re: Miami area fishing

Thanks for the tips. I will check these places out.


jigngrub - Actually we are planning on going up to okeechobee for a day. We have been there before and rented boats but only little skiffs so we where limited where we can go. This time we are going to rent a bass boat from Roland Martin marina so we can go places. Do you know of any hot spots on okeechobee? Haven't tried salt water fishing yet but may be an option.

Also do you fish peacock bass different from largemouth bass?

When fishing the everglades and canals do the gators bother you that much?


Thanks Again, Tony

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Miami area fishing

Thanks for the tips. I will check these places out.


jigngrub - Actually we are planning on going up to okeechobee for a day. We have been there before and rented boats but only little skiffs so we where limited where we can go. This time we are going to rent a bass boat from Roland Martin marina so we can go places. Do you know of any hot spots on okeechobee? Haven't tried salt water fishing yet but may be an option.

Also do you fish peacock bass different from largemouth bass?

When fishing the everglades and canals do the gators bother you that much?


Thanks Again, Tony

I've only fished the ring canal on okeechobee, the main lake is very easy to get lost on without a GPS... everything looks the same.

If a large mouth bass will eat it a peacock will eat it too.

Gators are afraid of humans and are hard to even get close to for a good pic unless someone has been feeding them. A wild gator will leave the area when people show up.

 

[TonyMe]

Re: Miami area fishing

Ok Thanks Again

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Miami area fishing

I have fished the St. Johns river and seen gators as long as my truck. As a matter of fact we fished out of a small boat within 30 feet of one laying on a point. He sure didn't seem very scared of us. I wouldn't want to make myself available to a hungry one because they can move very fast. We had one come up and look at us when we were in a bass boat last winter and then he swam away up the canal with another good sized gator. There is a you tube video of a guy fishing from the bank of a canal in the everglades and dodging gators. It looks like the gators are attracted to the fish being reeled in and start following them. Just saying- be careful.

 

[TonyMe]

Re: Miami area fishing

Yeah I was watching a couple of those videos. Looks like you better be very alert of your surroundings.


Tony

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Miami area fishing

bank fishing in areas with gators can get sketchy. I have been freshwater fishing all over florida my whole life and have dealt with more than a few annoying gators, but in all reality its not that common to truly get harrassed by them. Its mostly in areas that see heavier fishing pressure and the gators sort of get trained to come after hooked fish. And if you are in a boat then there is really no worries about the gators. I have been wade fishing in lakes and ponds in the everglades and had to fend gators off by hitting them with my rod tip, or chucking a rock at em. Thats one thing about gators, even the pesty ones that are used to people... they dont like it when you become the aggressor. They usually retreat. Now if its a big boy, say 8ft+, that is showing you a lot of interest, it may not be as easily intimidated as the little guys.

As far as targeting peacocks, its not the same as largemouth. They do eat a lot of the same things, but peacocks like things that are fast moving and flashier than a largemouth. They seem to prefer brighter colors, and sharp movements. I have had good luck on small topwaters worked quickly near canal banks. Also throwing spinnerbaits, inline spinners, spoons, smaller rattle traps, suspending slash baits like a rapala Xrap, things that imitate a fish. They dont really key on stuff like plastic worms, which is the primary lure most people use for largemouths in florida. Peacock bass love live baits too!