Planning on paddling, camping, and fishin toward the end of year with my dad, Ya’ll ever done a trip down there?
Dad wants to do a 100 mile trip (7-9days), I was thinking something more like 5 days/nights.
Any advise on put in’s/ take out places for 4-6 day trip w/o guide? Camping sites? fish?
thanks.
CM,
I have done the Everglades in a yak about half a dozen times, typically right before Christmas. We did the whole 100 miles, N. to S., from Chokoloskee to Flamingo in 04. You don’t need a guide but do need to plan and pack well, especially in terms water. They’ve 30 or so sites in the park, all well identified on the NPS map. You need to reserve them in advance, but only within 24 hours of your departure. You can choose to stay out in the Gulf or move inshore on the wilderness waterway. Fishing’s good both places. Three types of campsites: chickees, beach sites, and inalnd ground camping. Tides can strand you at camp in many of the beach sites, even in a kayak. I’d get John Malloy’s A Paddlers Guide to the Everglades. he’ll have clear descriptions of all the sites. My favorite are the Middle and South Cape toward Flamingo. At the other end, check out Watson’s Place to visit but it was too buggy for us to stay. Read Peter Mathiessen to learn about the area and the legend of E.D Watson who came down from SC to terroize folks in that part of the world back in early part of last century.
Should have said: there a very limited options for launching. At the north end, you can put in at the national park in Everglades City where you can also leave your car. Or you can go to a little landing on Chokoloskee and pay the marina/store to park there. At the south end, Flamingo is the only show in town. There is really no access in between, hence the need to make sure you have water.
Scott some good info above, also go to FloridaSportsman.com and search the southwest and NMZ sections for info
thanks guys
Lots of Gators in them der parts aint they. How do you feel about increaasing your chances of getting eaten? I know you have probably seen a couple here and there up where you fish but I bet in the everglades they are pretty thick.
“Live like you will live forever but live like you will die tomorrow.”
Cutmullet’s my buddy. I get his boat when he dies. I always figured the sob would die on the water and sink the ■■■■ boat in the process. This gator infested Everglades trip might be my new boat!
Go’on mullet, have a good time, you’ll love it!
PS: take your dog wid ya’…he’ll have fun too!
“No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem”
beerBeer,
Don’t count on getting mullet’s boat under that scenario. Those creatures always look at the menu first.
Its not the gators you have to worry about in the glades it is the Skunk Apes…
whats a “skunk-ape”… ? whats she gonna do to me?
Beer wants the motorboat- Rockfish. His sense of humor is distateful, to say the least.
Leaning tward making some sacrifices and doing the entire trip. I ain’t scared of the gators, but not sure about crocadiles[:0]
Ditto to just what is a “skunk-ape.” So they have gators, crocks, and skunk apes down there. What about cottonmouths?
Bet there’s alot of cottonmouths! Probably all sunning on the back of the gators!
Skunk-apes sounds kinky…what they look like…cute I bet!
“No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem”
beerBeer,
Are anopheles mosquitoes still a problem down there?
ok, 51,…we’ve waited long enough…whats a shunk ape?
Mud and a four legged mutt
Tarpon 140
Cutmullet,
I would go to Kayakfishingstuff.com and start posting in the Florida Region forums. Lunasea, Fuzzy Bruce, IConn and the other “Derelicts” there will answer all questions with the same reverence you find here!
You might even get an invite to fish with them.
If you tell them that X_Fishn or myself recommended you… Well, on second thought… Forget about that! 
Also Vivian lives and fishes around Chokoloskee, and might be able to give you some pointers too.
YotF
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Thanks yak. The rest of you, trying to scare me, -can Bite me.
Please post if you go out… I’m gonna try for some oysters this weekend myself.
No problem bro’.
BTW: This weekend will be a non-fhser for me, finishing up work around the house. Next weekend, I will be in Sebastian, FL and fishing with a yak-fisher from KFS site, and my real bro.
Hope to get my first Snook from a yak.
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!