[RunningOnEmpty]

Can't you put a boat in there?

https://goo.gl/maps/WSwC9Vtz8Y52

 

[RunningOnEmpty]

I fished those waters in my old gheenoe without any problems. Some of those gators are big, but they always cleared out of my way. I don't recommend holding fish in the water on the release! What about the saltwater crocks? I saw one in Ferguson Bay that looked like a dinosaur. It slid into the water and went right off the bow while under water. I felt like sitting duck in that little gheenoe.

 

[RunningOnEmpty]

anyone fishing out of a paddle board in those areas should be required to have an observer, camera in hand - to document the fun you'll have when a big, big 'gator decides he likes your fish up close and personal...

I've seen big 'gators take herons standing up on top of a four foot tall seawall over at Port of the Islands (I still think of that place as Remuda Ranch...). You have to see it to believe one can lunge five feet in the air when they need to... Kind of makes primitive fly rod fishing a blood sport....

Port of the Islands is a very interesting place to fish in the raining season. Big snook, tarpon, sharks and plenty of big gators. I liked staying there well past dark and it was kinda sketchy in a gheenoe.

 

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Backwater, I used to stay at a airboat camp in the Miccosukee reservation. Gators were just a normal everyday thing that didn't bother me too much. I agree with you on the crocks. I don't know anything about them and that concerns me. I know I've seen them on nature shows and that's enough for me.

 

[RunningOnEmpty]

How big are they getting here? Are they as aggressive as the ones we had in Indonesia?

I don't think so, but I'm still keeping plenty of safe distance.