Where To Fish In Everglades Holiday Park, Fl?

[Dolphin_Hunter 5]

Hey all,

I've only been to Holiday Park a handful of times and only have ever fished deep in the middle canal with very good success. But I know people catch bigger fish in other areas. I'm looking to start fishing the other areas but the only reason I haven't explored is because I don't want to get lost.

Does anyone know any other decent areas? Not looking for specific spots, just general areas, I can do the rest. I've been studying the Google Earth view but I can only see so much.

Is the canal that runs north to Alligator Alley any good? Or the one that goes south? Or the one in the middle that shoots off northwest from where all the airboats usually take pictures?

Here's a picture so y'all can see what I'm looking at:

Thanks so much if anyone can help! I really appreciate it.

DH

[LgMouthGambler 544]

If you have a fast enough boat, you can go out to the Alley and fish. Otherwise you are pretty much all in canals throughout. If you can get out by the middle of nowhere canal, its pretty good all back in there.

[topwaterrob 59]

The "middle of nowhere" is actually not a canal, its an airboat trail.  You can fish there when the water is up but if youre not familiar with it i'd stick to the main canals.  As the water comes down, you should be able to catch fish in any of the canals there.....

[salmicropterus 15]

That airboat trail I believe is called "Billy West" and runs all the way up to the camp on the Miami Canal. It's not marked as a "marsh area" but I think you  should have a flats flag when you run out there. As mentioned, if you are not familiar with the trail or don't have a good GPS, best to stick to the canals.

When the water is high like it is, you just have to beat the banks and you can find some fish or go into the flats. To my mind, there really isnt "spots" per se although  for some reason some years certain stretches of canal bank seem continuously better than others. Then, the next year, not so much.

[bocabasser 108]

the alligator alley canal is the L68A. it runs into the L68 canal which takes you to the alley.

the middle canal is called the center canal. it takes you to the miami canal.

the middle of nowhere canal is the billy west trail and it is an airboat trail that leads to the flats.

the south canal is the L67. it runs to the tamiami trail.

 

the rule of thumb with that whole fishery is this: the finger canals usually start first when the bite is good, followed by the alley which is followed by the center canal and the miami canal followed by the L67 and ending with the tamiami trail. 

 

the past 2 years have been horrible out there because of the high water. hopefully the water goes down before the second round of the king of the glades series. if the water stays high, look for hank krieg and skip reed to dominate. nobody fishes the flats better than those 2 cats.

[Dolphin_Hunter 5]

Really appreciate the information. It helps a lot. I like the looks of the L68A canal. I'll have to give it a shot next time I go out for sure.

Quick question. How do you get out to the flats, safely?

I'm going to be completely lost when I start fishing Lox...

Thanks,

DH

[topwaterrob 59]

Really appreciate the information. It helps a lot. I like the looks of the L68A canal. I'll have to give it a shot next time I go out for sure.

Quick question. How do you get out to the flats, safely?

I'm going to be completely lost when I start fishing Lox...

Thanks,

DH

 

  the entrances along l67 are marked just make sure you take a 10ft flag & GPS.....

[Gotfishyfingers? 142]

Fish the finger canals north of alligator alley (i75). That is a prime spawning area this time of year. Look for ones that have a harder but compared to a muck bottom.

There are boat ramps over there to, so you don't have to take a long trip from holiday park. There is like 3 different boat ramps west of 27 for you to choose. Most trails that lead into the flats are marked with signs. There small but you will notice them. Like TWR said, make sure you have a orange flag min. 10ft high when going into the flats. You will get a ticket by FWC if they see you in there without one. Also I would not venture in without a GPS. You will get lost, it's very easy to. The mouth of those trails are good fishing to.

[piscicidal 319]

the alligator alley canal is the L68A. it runs into the L68 canal which takes you to the alley.

the middle canal is called the center canal. it takes you to the miami canal.

the middle of nowhere canal is the billy west trail and it is an airboat trail that leads to the flats.

the south canal is the L67. it runs to the tamiami trail.

 

the rule of thumb with that whole fishery is this: the finger canals usually start first when the bite is good, followed by the alley which is followed by the center canal and the miami canal followed by the L67 and ending with the tamiami trail. 

 

the past 2 years have been horrible out there because of the high water. hopefully the water goes down before the second round of the king of the glades series. if the water stays high, look for hank krieg and skip reed to dominate. nobody fishes the flats better than those 2 cats.

 

Boy, were you ever right, Bruce!  I fished the King of the Glades yesterday....about 50 boats.  Only seventeen boats weighed in more than ten pounds.  More boats weighed zero than weighed double digits.  Skip/Hank caught over 31 pounds!!  They just crushed the field.  They also had big fish  (8.15lbs)...take away their 8lber and their other fish still averaged almost 6lb and they still would have won!

 

Those guys are on something special, way out in the middle of nowhere.

[Gotfishyfingers? 142]

Amazing weight compared to the rest!!

[topwaterrob 59]

I caught a bunch of fish but if I weighed them all together they probably wouldn't have made 31lbs. It was really frustrating and I saw a bunch of boats dive in to the flats only to come out empty handed. It was good to see a decent bag out of holiday though.

[piscicidal 319]

robert, did you fish KOTG yesterday?

 

We weighed ~11lbs, which I think was 16th.   I was actually pretty happy with that, until I came in and saw the dinosaurs that Skip/Hank weighed. 

[topwaterrob 59]

robert, did you fish KOTG yesterday?

We weighed ~11lbs, which I think was 16th. I was actually pretty happy with that, until I came in and saw is the dinosaurs that Skip/Hank weighed.

I didn't end up staying until weigh in..... Threw in the towel a little early. I fished south towards opening #4 and a little in the center.... Just couldn't get anything over 11 inches to bite... I'd of been real happy with 11lbs on a day like yesterday good job.... There's always next month to make another donation.....

[GLADES 29]

I didn't end up staying until weigh in..... Threw in the towel a little early. I fished south towards opening #4 and a little in the center.... Just couldn't get anything over 11 inches to bite... I'd of been real happy with 11lbs on a day like yesterday good job.... There's always next month to make another donation.....

 

When the tournament is at Holiday this time of year, you need a small boat(duck boat) that will run through skinny water deep in the flats quietly to have any chance of winning, plus lots of hours back in the slop pinpointing the spots. The canals usually start producing bigger bass March - June

I stopped donating last year. I came to the realization that I just don't have the required time(job, kids,wife-if I want to stay married..lol)) to constantly fish pre tournament to compete with those semi pros. What ever the prize money is, they certainty deserve it, cause it isn't easy to consistently bring in 20-30lb bags. I will probably give it a go again in the future, with a better game plan(2 boats).

[Gotfishyfingers? 142]

I've never had much success in the flats and I've explored out there pretty good. I have pretty high hopes to. lol

[topwaterrob 59]

When the tournament is at Holiday this time of year, you need a small boat(duck boat) that will run through skinny water deep in the flats quietly to have any chance of winning, plus lots of hours back in the slop pinpointing the spots. The canals usually start producing bigger bass March - June

I stopped donating last year. I came to the realization that I just don't have the required time(job, kids,wife-if I want to stay married..lol)) to constantly fish pre tournament to compete with those semi pros. What ever the prize money is, they certainty deserve it, cause it isn't easy to consistently bring in 20-30lb bags. I will probably give it a go again in the future, with a better game plan(2 boats).

 

I hear you with the smaller skinny water boat for the flats.....  And those dudes know how to fish them openings....  The water is dropping fast and the canal bite should start up in the next week or so....

[piscicidal 319]

When the tournament is at Holiday this time of year, you need a small boat(duck boat) that will run through skinny water deep in the flats quietly to have any chance of winning, plus lots of hours back in the slop pinpointing the spots. The canals usually start producing bigger bass March - June

I stopped donating last year. I came to the realization that I just don't have the required time(job, kids,wife-if I want to stay married..lol)) to constantly fish pre tournament to compete with those semi pros. What ever the prize money is, they certainty deserve it, cause it isn't easy to consistently bring in 20-30lb bags. I will probably give it a go again in the future, with a better game plan(2 boats).

 

I hear ya, Glades.  It's tough to compete with the semi-pros/guides who are fishing +100 days a year out there, when you have young kids/two jobs/business travel/etc....  If I fish 10-15 days a year in the glades, I am happy.   But like you said, those guys put in the time and they deserve to reap the benefit from it.  

 

I just enjoy going out there and competing.  Like in golf, you get better by going out and competing against better competition.