Fishing The Everglades

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A popular spot for freshwater sport fishing – one third of Everglades National Park is covered by water, creating excellent boating and fishing opportunities. Snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill are plentiful. Saltwater fishing includes Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, and elsewhere in the park’s coastal zone.

With thousands of kinds of fish and land forms unlike anywhere else in the United States – the Everglades is probably one of the best fishing spots on the planet.  The Everglades consist of mostly fresh water but does contain salt water in some canals.  In the salt water sections you’re likely to catch Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Trout, Grouper, Snapper, Triple Tail, Jacks, Lady Fish, and Sharks – and in the freshwater parts of the Everglades you can catch Peacock Bass, Large Mouth Bass, and Alligator Garr.

Forida’s Everglades is a very popular spot for freshwater sport fishing.Captain B. Rutzke

Fishing in the Everglades National Park can be good all year round.  However the types of fish you catch and style of fishing varies depending on the time of year.  Fall and winter is a favored time of year, however spring and summer can be good too and summer time is especially good for early morning sight fishing.

Alligators in the Everglades

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As the largest creatures living in the Everglades, there are over 200,000 alligators in the Everglades and some can reach 14 feet in length and weigh a thousand pounds. In Florida’s Everglades, you can easily observe gators bask in the sun and heat, keeping an eye open for their next big catch.

Visitors to the Everglades will see plenty of alligators, adding to the true wild of the historic swamp. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist – the Everglades is unique because fresh water in the Florida Bay meets the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico, creating a perfect ecosystem for both animals to live together.

Alligators also perform an important function in the Everglades. Studies indicate that they contribute much to the preservation of plant and animal life. The alligator contributes toward the preservation of living things by digging basin-like holes in areas where the water table fluctuates greatly. In the Everglades, these “gator holes” constitute the deepest pools and during periods of drought, they provide a refuge for various fish, amphibians and reptiles. These holes also supply food and water for birds and mammals.

Everglades Get-Away Closer Than You Think

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After enjoying one of our exhilarating swamp tours, check out what other attractions the Florida Everglades has to offer. Whether it’s exploring the majestic coral reefs of the Florida Keys or relaxing at a historic bed and breakfast spa, the list of what to do is endless when visiting the Florida Everglades area.

Enjoy a tram or bicycle tour at Shark Valley, where expert guides will point out some of the “hidden” aspects of the world-renowned wetlands. If you’re more of a water enthusiast, Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the perfect attraction to view the majesty of Florida coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps. Make a splash on an adventurous snorkeling tour or enjoy a unique glimpse into the serene undersea world in style and comfort on their flagship glass-bottom boat. If you want to learn more about the beautiful and historic Everglades, visit one of the city’s museums. The Everglades Museum presents the story of 2,000 years of human habitation with artifacts and period photographs. History buffs will enjoy touring this small museum to see exhibits, watch film clips, and learn about the Everglades’ past. You’ll find artifacts from early settlers and be able to see life through their eyes in black and white photo exhibits. Or step back in time at the Florida Pioneer Museum where you can explore farm tools, early mechanical goods (typewriters, etc), household goods, assorted memorabilia, and photographs of days gone by.

After a day of adventure, there’s nothing like refueling with delicious and authentic Everglades cuisine! Enjoy a mix of home cooking and fast food at the gator-themed Island Cafe, where you can pose for a photo with one of the gator statues…or chow down on gator burgers and crab sandwiches! Stop for some local fruit (and a homemade milkshake!) at the famous Robert Is Here Fruit Stand. What started as a roadside produce stand en route to Everglades National Park’s main entrance has blossomed into a tourist attraction with petting zoo, splash pool, and other family distractions.

Looking to rest your head? Settle in and relax at one of the many Florida Everglades hotels and resorts. Perfect for families and surrounded by the untamed beauty of the Everglades, Glades Haven has everything you need for an unforgettable vacation. Modern and nicely furnished, these rustic cabins sleep up to six or more – perfect for families! If you prefer a more intimate setting, look no further than the Everglades Historical Bed and Breakfast with Spa. Enjoy antique Victorian furniture in the rooms, a warm breakfast to look forward to every morning and spa features including facials, massages, body wraps and more.

Everglades for the Avid Bird Watcher

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Birding in the Florida Everglades a big deal – featuring some of the best and as many as 300 bird species! The best birding season is from December to March, when visitors from all over can easily view the Anhinga, Herons and Egrets in the saw grass prairie and the willow thicket.

According to Everglades National Park, there are three major groups of birds that can be found in the Everglades. First are the wading birds, which account for 16 of the 350 species of total birds in the Everglades. Second, are the land birds, and third the birds of prey. The most unique and ubiquitous of the types of birds that one will see while visiting the Florida Everglades are the waiting birds, particularly of the order Ciconiiforme.

While the Everglades is great spot for bird watching (especially during dry season) prime locations may change each year. Bird watching can take a visitor on a trip from Homestead to the Gulf Coast, along a trail, by a pond or just outside a visitor center, providing a unique experience for everyone!

Brief History of The Florida Everglades

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The Florida Everglades is a place like no other. Established in 1947 to preserve the biological diversity and resources of the Everglades ecosystems, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of Florida’s southern tip and is a mix of freshwater and coastal prairie, mangroves, marshland, pine and cypress woods and the waters and islands of Florida Bay. The river spans as much as 60 miles in width, yet is only six inches deep in some places.

The Florida Everglades is a place like no other. Established in 1947 to preserve the biological diversity and resources of the Everglades ecosystems, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of Florida’s southern tip and is a mix of freshwater and coastal prairie, mangroves, marshland, pine and cypress woods and the waters and islands of Florida Bay. The river spans as much as 60 miles in width, yet is only six inches deep in some places.

Dubbed the River of Grass, the Everglades is a mosaic of freshwater ponds, prairies and forested uplands .Everglades Swamp Tours

The Everglades also provide critical, and often undervalued, services to people, called ecosystem services. The waters of the Everglades ecosystem support agriculture and provide drinking water for south Florida. The wetlands improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and absorbing excess nutrients, replenish aquifers, and reduce flooding.

The Everglades Swamp Tours Experience

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Everglades Swamp Tours can take you places no other Airboat Tour can. Ride with us to see alligators up close in thier natural habitat. In addition to the Alligator, the Everglades is home to various species of birds and fish unlike anywhere else in the United States. Fishing in the Everglades can be good all year round. Rent a Kayak for a perfect way to fish those hard to reach spots.

What is an Airboat?

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Airboats are flat-bottomed boats that are powered by an aircraft engine and propeller. The engine, prop and seats are mounted high on the boat to raise the center of gravity so that the boat will skim over the surface rather than having to push its way through the water.

Most airboats are about 16 feet (4.9 m) in length but they have been built as short as 6 ft. (1.8 m) and as long as 30 ft (9.1 m). A comfortable width is about 8 ft (2.4 m), which allows for a stable platform and easy trailering and trucking.

Also known as fanboats, airboats were invented in Nova Scotia by Alexander Graham Bell in 1905 and fifteen years later, the boat was introduced to the Everglades by pilot and engineer of early American aircraft, Glenn Curtiss, to navigate the marshy areas of the Everglades.

 The very first airboat to be registered in America was in Florida in the 1920s. Airboats were initially used as means of navigating shallow waters (so that people could fish and hunt), like those in the Florida Everglades.

In places like our Ft Lauderdale location in the Florida Everglades, airboats are the best way to travel on water because the water is too shallow for a standard submerged propeller engine. Airboats are different in that they have a flat bottom and move with the help of a large, caged propeller on the back of the boat. The modern version of the airboat is made from aluminum and fiberglass and its design hasn’t changed much from the past.

With speeds of up to 50 MPH, more than 3,000 airboats whoosh through the Everglades, marshes and wetlands of Florida and are used for sightseeing, hunting, fishing, law enforcement and much more.

Your Next Everglades Family Road Trip

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When was the last time that you and your family experienced something that left you in total amazement? While Florida is famous for numerous family friendly vacation spots, nothing compares to a family adventure at Everglades Swamp Tours. It’s ideal for lovers of the great outdoors, with loads of nature to watch. From tons of hiking trails to kayaking, and of course- airboat ride swamp tours!

Experienced Floridian guides will take you deep into the Everglades on a unique swamp tour that is fun and educational – perfect for kids! Prepare yourself for exotic tropical wildlife and lush plants as the Florida Everglades spreads out before you. During your Airboat tour you’ll glide effortlessly through waterways and marshlands, down paths and around ponds.

Experience a real-life adventure for the whole family from the comfort of a one of a kind airboat ride. Airboat tours are safe, exhilarating and fun and journeys you up close and personal with some of the best wetland scenery and colorful wildlife that South Florida nature has to offer. With miles of wetlands to discover, you’ll trek deep into the Everglades, zipping across the “River of Grass”.

If you prefer to kayak, there are plenty of challenging trails that wind through a variety of habitats.  You can troll through the mangrove islands where you’ll see so many alligators and beautiful birds that you’ll lose count.

The Florida Everglades is an awe-inspiring natural attraction – a awe-inspiring wetland filled with exciting animals, unique vegetation and more. With over 300 species of birds, white tail deer, bald eagles, panthers and even bears calling the Florida Everglades their home, each swamp tour is truly a unique and extraordinary adventure that the whole family is sure to enjoy.