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Large cotton mouth as fat as my arm, close to Flanagans in Weston. I have some pics I just cant post. He had no fear of me!

Day in and day out I choose these three. 1). Zoom Trick Worm - watermelon red or black, You can Texas rig, put it on a light jig head, or wacky rig with a small jig head. Works great in south Florida. 2). Senko type baits, BPS make a good one, at a good price - * 4 inch size* watermelon anything, or Okeechobee color. 3). Gambler E-Z swimmer, or Gambler Big E-Z - Throw it out and steady reel back. Try various speeds.

While fishing a friend he turned me on to this little bait. Jackall make a small jig head with a single wire weed guard to go with it. Works great, and very weedless wacky rig. Right now you could get hit almost every cast using this bait on the Alley in South Florida. Want to catch 200 fish in a morning, The Alley with a Jackall Wackey Rig.

1). If it very thick with vegitation, or flipping, I would use 65 pound braid. It will cut through the veggies like butter. 2). My #1 favorite line for plastics in South Florida is 15 pound Berkley Floro (Professional Grade). Not all floros are the same, don't be fooled, this stuff is very good. Super sensitive, super clear in clear water, super strong. This stuff is expensive, and you will have to change it out more than mono. I have alot of confidence in this floro and I'm convinced more bites. Any heavier than 15 pounds and the Floro become difficult to handle on the reel. 3). Top Water I use 12 pound Mono. It floats and helps keep the lure up, high and dry. It also provides alot more action to the lure.

That could be from an old hook in the mouth infection, trama from an old catch.

I would hire a guide to take me out the first time and then I would rent a boat. The Lake changes so much from year to year and from high pool to low pool. Get someone to show you around, and ask that person a ton of questions.. Good luck!

Alligator Alley is a canal system dug for road fill, along the side I 75, right through the heart of the Everglades. It is about 5 miles north of Holiday Park but it is all part of one huge drainage system. The whole system provides over 100 miles of fishable waters. The canal system is the only deep water throughout the river of grass. As the everglades drain, during the dry season, the canals become full of wild life excaping the low water levels. Sometimes you will catch hundreds of fish, see hundreds of gator, as well as snakes, big lizards, big otters, and other mammals along the edges. Definitely a unique eco-system.

Dolphin Hunter, west of the Miami River.

Thanks for the post. I always wear mine when I'm alone in the boat.

Twenty years ago I took my Principal out for an early morning fishing trip. We were out in the everglades in the three pines area of L67. It was a hot summer morning before first light, and grunting gators everywhere. Tom had a new Shimano high priced reel that was a gift he had never used. His first cast went twice as far as any cast he ever made. The Zara Spook went right into an over hanging tree on the bank edge. He asked me to back the boat over to the tree so he could get it out. Big gators were all over the place around the boat. As Tom stretched for the tree branch, he decided to put one foot on a rock next to the bank. This move pushed the boat toward the center of the canal, Tom went into a split. I heard a giant splash and he was swimming in 10 feet of water loaded with big gators. It flashed through my mind how I was going tell everyone at school that I took the Principal fishing, and he was eaten by gators. I never saw anyone move so fast up that steep canal bank with a $350 rod and reel in one hand and his favorite hat in the other. We laughed for hours after he got back in the boat and safety. It scared the crap out of me, and I think Tom peed himself for real.

The Alley is on fire right now. 150 fish in 4 hours, they are hitting everything. Lots of dinks but constant action. A fun day in South Florida.

Monday 1/ 20/14 I went to the Alley this Monday west of the Miami River with another member to the site. We started catching right away and it never let up for a moment. We had at least 20 doubles, scores of back to back catches. They were hitting Flukes, Trick Worms, Senkos, and a wide variety of colors and sizes. Wacky rigged trick worms were an every cast hit. We finished a four hour trip with over 150 fish caught. Becuase of the lower water levels the fish in the flats have found their way to the canals. The canals are full of bass and bait fish of all varieties. Right now it is like shooting ducks in a barrel. Take a kid they will love it!

Snazzy Senko, the senko types baits are a great way to go in Weston right now. The Okeechobee color in 4" by BPS has been hot for months in Weston. I hsd a great day Saturday with top five going almost 19 pounds. One of the best Weston days in months.

I began fishing in the boy scouts some 53 years ago. We fished the Ramapo River in NJ and a small boy scout lake for trout and smallies using salmon eggs. Then in college I fished for smallies and largemouth in Ohio, and had many fun afternoons exploring the lakes and reservoirs in the North East Ohio area. I actually hooked a musky in Lake Mogadore in Ohio, what a hoot that was! Upon moving to South Florida after graduating college, I began having a serious obsession with bass fishing. I still fish 5 or 6 days a week, a lot from the shore, one or two from the boat. I look at fishing like some people obsess at gambling. Everyday I go out I never know what luck will bring. All you can do is raise your odds with knowledge and experience. If you spend enough time on the water good things are going to happen, and even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. I have caught a lot of fish over the years and never get tired of feeling that tug on the line, whether its a dink or a double digit.

It is a perfect spot for a Kayak, and not much boat traffic. Good luck, let us know how you do. Watch for the big gators!

I have been a high school teacher and football coach my entire adult life. Next year will be my 43 year teaching in the Miami Dade County School System. I treat fishing the same way I approach teaching. I listen a lot and give advice when asked. I love fishing with a bunch of different people in my boat. Although I'm sure I have helped some with their catching, I continue to learn from others almost every time I go out. You are never too old, or to good, to learn from those around you. I have also had some incredible relationships with some I have taken out fishing. Getting a boat and enjoying this sport has been nothing but a win / win situation.

There are good places to fish all throughout Broward County. Look for places with vegetation and spawning flats. Places without will hold some fish but not the numbers that are available in these prime sports. The problem is home owner prefer sterile banks void of even a single pad or clump of grass. Good spots have an entire eco-system with frogs, snails, snakes, and turtles. This will assure a good sound food source. Without the weeds it all breaks down.

I have fished Fish Eating Creek from the main road west of the lake, to the lake. There was a blockage right before the lake. I have caught nice bass in there, and it is a nice sandy bottom because of the current. Be carefull running further west from the road, a friend ruined his motor sucking up way too much sand.

I fish an old dump site that was turned into a broward county park. The site was on the EPA's Super Fund List for one of the worst in the country. It has big, great looking bass that never have a mark on them. There is a warning sign that say, " Any consumption of fish will lead to a green glow under low light conditions" The wife is thrilled!

Here in South Florida we have the states highest levels of mercury and other contaminents due in part to the sugar cane industry dumping into the everglades. I think it has helped the fishing in South Florida by promoting catch and release. Fish look healthy, but I dont know anyone keeping fish anymore. Every ramp had a warning sign telling you about the dangers of eating these fish. It has been good for our sport. Fish normally taken are regularly being thrown back to catch another day. As sick as it may sound there is some benefit to the polution problem.

Peacock are speading out all throughout Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. The further south you go the better your chances of a decent size one. I will give you one good location in Dade. Behind the Falls Shopping center. I have caught peacock there, but I have seen some monster peacock that just would not bite for me. Dade county has the best overall population. Remember a hot summer day at high noon is peak time.

I also love throwing top water frogs. I have caught alot of fish on the Toads especially at Lox, and the Alley. Dont forget when fishing a frog wait a few seconds before setting the hook. If you dont wait you are going to lose a bunch of frog fish, also make sure your line is strong enough to pull them out of the slop. Nothing better then that explosion on a top water frog.

My whole goal in fishing is to have fun and relax. It is fun anytime something decides to pull on my line. I love fishing with a partner and sharing the experience. The ultimate trip is when we get into to Peacock Bass. Pound for pound they are far superior fighters to black bass. A decent size Peacock will do some crazy things. They take long fast runs, and go airbourne in wild flips. The fight just never stops, even when lipped. The ultimate freshwater game fish, its great to live in South Florida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scent cant hurt, it can only help. Bass have a good sense of smell. I only use it when the fishing gets real tough. Then I'm looking for every advantage. Too lazy to use it on a good day. I usually use Bang, it started as a local Florida company.

Moth Balls will also keep snakes and poison toads away as well as mice and rats. I had poison toads in the garage until I put out moth balls. No problems now, they hate the stuff.