DESCRIPTION–Snapper Creek Canal (C-2) ing opportunities for anglers in the metropolitan Miami- have plenty of access to these fi sheries along Snap- F I S H ! is located in central Miami-Dade County in the cities Ft. Lauderdale area. per Creek Drive, SW 85th Street, at the canoe ramp SOUTHEAST FLORIDA of Sweetwater and Kendall. It begins near the inter- Fallen trees, canal intersections, sharp bends, on SW 117th Avenue, Dante Fascell Park, and else- section of Hwy 836 and the Turnpike Extension and and dead ends are generally productive areas for catch- where. Some exploring is necessary to fi nd the best CANALS runs southeast to the S-22 salinity control structure near ing most species of fi sh. Sportfi shes also congregate locations for shoreline fi shing, and always be sure Parrot Jungle on SW 57th Avenue. The main canal is in the shade of bridges, culverts, and other structures. to park cars safely on public right of ways. 12.3 miles long, averages 12 feet in depth, and ranges Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap areas, and even some resi- Snapper Creek anglers may also encoun- from 50 to over 100 feet in width. The north end of the dential seawalls (particularly in lateral canals) also pro- ter Snook moving inland from Biscayne Bay. This ANGLER’S GUIDE TO canal is narrower and shallower than the southeast end. vide good fi shing opportunities. If there is a strong cur- large predator is found throughout the canal, but There are fi ve boat accessible lateral canals and a small rent in the main canal, spend more time fi shing lateral they tend to concentrate under bridges. The pres- seven acre lake that is up to 22 feet deep. canals and other areas that provide refuge from the cur- ence of Snook gives anglers an opportunity to catch SNAPPER CREEK The boat ramp is centrally located: heading rent (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and the downstream a canal ‘trifecta’ or ‘grand slam’ (Butterfl y Peacock, east from the ramp it is 2.6 miles to Dadeland Mall, 3.2 side of spillways). Largemouth Bass, and Snook). miles to Dante Fascell Park, and 5.5 miles to the water Butterfl y Peacock are a little more abundant but Snapper Creek anglers can also catch Jag- CANAL (C-2) control structure; and, heading north from the ramp it somewhat smaller in Snapper Creek than in other area uar Guapote, Oscar, or Spotted Tilapia. These non- is 2.3 miles to the Turnpike Extension, 5.8 miles to the canals, while the Largemouth Bass are somewhat fewer native fi shes were illegally released, pose a threat Tamiami Canal intersection, and 6.8 miles to the non- but larger. Both species average 13.5 inches and about to native species, are good to eat, and you can keep MIAMI-DADE COUNTY boatable culvert at Hwy 836 (Dolphin Expressway). 1.4 pounds in size, and about one-third of the harvestable every one you catch. Jaguar Guapote resemble a BOAT RAMP DIRECTIONS–Exit the fi sh are greater than 14 inches. Trophy Peacock (those Black Crappie (Speckled Perch) with many small, Turnpike Extension east at Bird Road (SW 40th Street) greater than fi ve pounds) have been caught from this and sharp teeth. Oscar are bream-shaped fi sh with a to SW 107th Avenue, turn south (right) to SW 72nd other area canals, and we expect the current 9.08 pound red or orange circle at the base of the tail, and they Street (Sunset Drive), turn east (left) to SW 97th Av- state record to ultimately exceed 10-11 pounds. The bag have a thick coat of protective mucus on their bod- enue, turn south (right) to Snapper Creek Drive North limit for Butterfl y Peacock is two fi sh per day, only one ies. Spotted Tilapia are also bream-shaped, golden and turn west (right). The boat ramp is on the left of which can be greater than 17 inches; up to fi ve Lar- in color with black spots or bars, and some adults side of road before you reach SW 99th Avenue. From gemouth Bass can be kept, but only one of these can be have red on their bodies. I-95 take the Dolphin Expressway (Hwy 836) and go greater than 14 inches. Snapper Creek and other area canals re- west past the Miami International Airport to the Turn- Fishing for Butterfl y Peacock is usually best ceive a great deal of fi shing pressure so we encour- pike Extension south, and follow the directions above. from March through May, but they are caught consis- age anglers to release most, if not all the Butterfl y GPS COORDINATES (25.6944, -80.3515). tently throughout the year. This fi sh feeds only during Peacock, Largemouth Bass, and Snook they catch. This is a paved, single-lane boat ramp in good daylight and normally close to shore, although school- If anglers don’t release a majority of the sportfi sh condition, and it has adequate grass parking. There are ing Peacock sometimes feed aggressively in open water. they catch, these high quality fi sheries will deterio- no restrooms or other facilities at this ramp. Tamiami Butterfl y Peacock are more likely to be caught using live rate rapidly. Canal (C-4) can also be accessed from this boat ramp. fi sh such as small Golden Shiners for bait than are Lar- Together, Snapper Creek and Tamiami Canal provide gemouth Bass, which makes them an excellent fi sh for Anglers, particularly those from outside more than 43 miles of exciting fi shing opportunities in younger anglers, as well as those just learning to Bass the metropolitan Miami - West Palm Beach area, metropolitan Miami canals and lakes. fi sh. It is illegal to use Goldfi sh or any other non-native should be aware that vandalism occurs at some GENERAL FISHING INFORMATION– fi sh for bait except those legally caught from and used boat ramps. Therefore, care should be taken to se- Snapper Creek is a popular destination for south Flori- immediately in the same canal. For those who enjoy fi sh- cure your vehicle and keep valuables out of sight or da anglers. This canal consistently produced excellent ing with artifi cial lures, just about any fast moving min- take them with you when you leave the ramp. catches of Largemouth Bass and Butterfl y Peacock now imitating plug or fl y can be used to entice a peacock. prior to 1995; however, since then changing water man- Note: Plastic worms work well for Largemouth Bass, but For more Florida fi shing information, visit agement practices appear to have caused considerable they rarely catch Butterfl y Peacock. the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s fl uctuations in the populations of these species. The The number and quality of panfi sh over six inch- web site at MyFWC.com/fi shing. Non-Native Fish Laboratory Butterfl y Peacock is a world renown gamefi sh that was es in Snapper Creek is about average for area canals. Live successfully introduced in the mid-1980s by the Florida worms and crickets are the choice baits for many panfi sh th 801 NW 40 Street Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to eat un- anglers, although fresh bread or bread dough works well, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 desirable exotic fi shes, and to provide more sportfi sh- is readily available, and it costs less. Shoreline anglers