Everglades city

[fishnfool73]

Going to Everglades City this weekend for a bike race but will have time to fish. Any suggestons as I have never fished that area by shore or kayak before ? Thanks in advance.

[swordfish]

Going to Everglades City this weekend for a bike race but will have time to fish. Any suggestons as I have never fished that area by shore or kayak before ? Thanks in advance.

I am sure our Ranger Leadslinger will chime in, this is his turf and he knows it very well. I know a little bit, but honest to God have not done amazing there yet. I will tell you this though... Bring the BUG SPRAY! I mostly go due to the number of fish i tend to get, mostly small to slot but lots of them... Let us know how you do. I am waiting on the rains to begin steadily to head out for some top water baby tarpon round these parts... There ARE reds, but I have yet to see one from land personally. Lots of trout, have caught flounder (decent sized, long ago, Ricky ate it LOL)!

-Swordfish

[lkatze2]

there is a bridge on the causway before you enter chokoloskee. During the cold weather months trout will hang in the bay, close to the bridge, on an outgoing tide. It probably is too late for that,but definitely worth a try. Just drift a shrimp from the bridge out into the bay(far out). Sometimes there are snook under the bridge too. You can also try the bridge just before you enter everglades city for sheepshead or mangrove snappers.

[fishnfool73]

Thank you everyone for the replies and PMs. The fiance will be with me and she wants to fish so need to do my best to find action for her.

[PhishingPhanatic]

Stop by Grimms and get some fresh stone crab claws straight off the boat.

[joenofishhere]

Fishing right on the Tamiami Trail can be real good too, especially with the low water we have now, fish are more concentrated.

[Leadslinger]

Well since Juan put me on the spot...here it is

If you want to bend a pole...head down to the river (riverside dr) park where the fire boat is docked. You can't fish off that dock but walk 15 feet north and you can fish. Catch a couple cats and cut the tail off, use that to make a kitty cone to soak on the bottom for tarpon. There are several docks that you can fish from, most folks don't care long as you act like you got some common sense and don't leave a mess. If you walk south following the river there is a sportfish boat docked, if you want to earn some brownie points with the old lady be there at sunset. It'll put Mallory Square to shame...anyway enough bridges of Madison County type poop, back to fishing.

Swordfish turned me on to hogy baits, well the bridge as you come into EC is a great spot to throw one. Work it slow and hold on if the snook are around (falling tide) you'll know. There is a bait and tackle shop by the circle and grocery store, you can also get live pins to throw under the bridge. If the snook are in it'll be a rotation like yellowtailing. You can park just north of the bridge on the left hand side or go over the bridge and turn just before the RV place on the right.

Someone mentioned the chokoloskee bridge, it's a hit and miss spot this time of year and loaded with bloodsuckers. However, you can still get some good black drum from the southwest side access.

There is another bridge, which takes you a little island called Plantation. Now you can't fish off this bridge but if you happen to find yourself on that bridge with a live shrimp and popping cork it would behoove you to throw it off the southwest side of the bridge along the mangroves on a falling tide...snap city.

There are a few other spots around town and on Hwy 29 that are worth stopping (the old rail road trestle for one) but those are my normal spots.

Now on 41 you have the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center, park either behind the welcome center, or over to the east side by the picnic tables. There will be tarpon rolling hard in there around sunset. Work of caution, if you fish the little point right behind the welcome center be very alert for the big toothy lizards. I was over there a few weeks ago and almost shat my pants when a 10 footer popped up in front of me. You can fish that entire canal along seagrape drive but I see more success right around the visitor center on a falling tide (are you noticing a trend here?).

There are spots for days out there, if we get some rain before your trip, all the better. Enjoy the trip and the ride.

Grimms is spot on for stone crab, but if you want prepared food go to Island Cafe or Camelia Street.

If you are interested in renting a kayak there is a little store, Glades Haven, across from the Everglades Gulf Coast Visitor Center that rents them for a good price.

[swordfish]

Well since Juan put me on the spot...here it is

If you want to bend a pole...head down to the river (riverside dr) park where the fire boat is docked. You can't fish off that dock but walk 15 feet north and you can fish. Catch a couple cats and cut the tail off, use that to make a kitty cone to soak on the bottom for tarpon. There are several docks that you can fish from, most folks don't care long as you act like you got some common sense and don't leave a mess. If you walk south following the river there is a sportfish boat docked, if you want to earn some brownie points with the old lady be there at sunset. It'll put Mallory Square to shame...anyway enough bridges of Madison County type poop, back to fishing.

Swordfish turned me on to hogy baits, well the bridge as you come into EC is a great spot to throw one. Work it slow and hold on if the snook are around (falling tide) you'll know. There is a bait and tackle shop by the circle and grocery store, you can also get live pins to throw under the bridge. If the snook are in it'll be a rotation like yellowtailing. You can park just north of the bridge on the left hand side or go over the bridge and turn just before the RV place on the right.

Someone mentioned the chokoloskee bridge, it's a hit and miss spot this time of year and loaded with bloodsuckers. However, you can still get some good black drum from the southwest side access.

There is another bridge, which takes you a little island called Plantation. Now you can't fish off this bridge but if you happen to find yourself on that bridge with a live shrimp and popping cork it would behoove you to throw it off the southwest side of the bridge along the mangroves on a falling tide...snap city.

There are a few other spots around town and on Hwy 29 that are worth stopping (the old rail road trestle for one) but those are my normal spots.

Now on 41 you have the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center, park either behind the welcome center, or over to the east side by the picnic tables. There will be tarpon rolling hard in there around sunset. Work of caution, if you fish the little point right behind the welcome center be very alert for the big toothy lizards. I was over there a few weeks ago and almost shat my pants when a 10 footer popped up in front of me. You can fish that entire canal along seagrape drive but I see more success right around the visitor center on a falling tide (are you noticing a trend here?).

There are spots for days out there, if we get some rain before your trip, all the better. Enjoy the trip and the ride.

Grimms is spot on for stone crab, but if you want prepared food go to Island Cafe or Camelia Street.

If you are interested in renting a kayak there is a little store, Glades Haven, across from the Everglades Gulf Coast Visitor Center that rents them for a good price.

Like I said... It's you. You're the rocket man when it comes to these parts!!! When the rains start heavy, I would like to go toss some frawgs with you on Tamiami... You like them Hogy's huh... It is cool how you tossed them there, I have fished that bridge before but never with Hogy lures! Will give it a try next time I feel like donating some blood to the swamp angels.

My "team" just got sponsored by RonZ out of Cape cod and their baits are VERY similar to Hogy... I'll let you know what I think about them once I get my claws on them...

Word of caution to anyone who tries fishing out there... The oversized Lizards are SNEAKY and LOVE coming close like he said... Just be watching the water like a hawk, don't touch the water's edge if you can avoid it and ALWAYS have a clear path behind you.

-Swordfish