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Peacock  Bass  Association
www.peacockbassassociation.com
 Executive Director: Larry Larsen;   Editor: Lilliam Larsen

Information Central  (c) Larry Larsen

ANGLER'S GUIDE TO

SNAPPER CREEK CANAL (C-2)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Courtesy Florida Game and Fresh WaterFish Commission
801 NW 40^th Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33431

DESCRIPTION--Snapper Creek Canal (C-2) is located in central Miami-Dade County in the cities of Sweetwater and Kendall. It begins near the intersection of Hwy 836 and the Turnpike Extension and runs southeast to the S-22 salinity control structure near Parrot Jungle on SW 57th Avenue. The main canal is 12.3 miles long, averages 12 feet in depth, and ranges from 50 to over 100 feet in width. The north end of the canal is narrower and shallower than the southeast end. There are five boat accessible lateral canals and a small seven acre lake that is up to 22 feet deep.

The boat ramp is centrally located: heading east from the ramp it is 2.6 miles to Dadeland Mall, 3.2 miles to Dante Fascell Park, and 5.5 miles to the water control structure; and, heading north from the ramp it is 2.3 miles to the Turnpike Extension, 5.8 miles to the Tamiami Canal intersection, and 6.8 miles to the non-boatable culvert at Hwy 836 (Dolphin Expressway). For help with flights or hotels in the area, click here

BOAT RAMP DIRECTIONS--Exit the Turnpike Extension east at Bird Road (SW 40th Street) to SW 107th Avenue, turn south (right) to SW 72nd Street (Sunset Drive), turn east (left) to SW 97th Avenue, turn south (right) to Snapper Creek Drive North and turn west (right). The boat ramp is on the left side of road before you reach SW 99th Avenue. From I-95 take the Dolphin Expressway (Hwy 836) and go west past the Miami International Airport to the Turnpike Extension south, and follow the directions above. This is a paved, single-lane boat ramp in good condition, and it has adequate grass parking. There are no restrooms or other facilities at this ramp. Tamiami Canal (C-4) can also be accessed from this boat ramp. Note: Anglers, particularly those from outside the metropolitan Miami - West Palm Beach area, should be aware that vandalism occurs at some boat ramps. Therefore, care should be taken to secure your vehicle and keep valuables out of sight or take them with you when you leave the ramp.

GENERAL SPORTFISH INFORMATION--Snapper Creek is a popular destination for south Florida anglers. This canal consistently produced excellent catches of largemouth bass and butterfly peacock prior to 1995; however, since then changing water management practices appear to have caused considerable fluctuations in the populations of these species. The butterfly peacock is a world renown gamefish that was successfully introduced in the mid -1980s by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to eat undesirable exotic fishes, and to provide more sportfishing opportunities for anglers in the metropolitan Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area.

Fallen trees, canal intersections, sharp bends, and dead ends are generally productive areas for catching most species of fish. Sportfishes also congregate in the shade of bridges, culverts, and other structures. Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap areas, and even some residential seawalls (particularly in lateral canals) also provide good fishing opportunities. If there is a strong current in the main canal, spend more time fishing lateral canals and other areas that provide refuge from the current (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and the downstream side of spillways).

Butterfly peacock are a little more abundant but somewhat smaller in Snapper Creek than in other area canals, while the largemouth bass are somewhat fewer but larger. Both species average 13-14 inches and about 1.3 pounds in size, and about one-third of the harvestable fish are greater than 14 inches. Trophy peacock (those greater than five pounds) have been caught from this and other area canals, and we expect the current 9.08 pound state record to ultimately exceed 10-11 pounds. The bag limit for butterfly peacock is two fish per day, only one of which can be greater than 17 inches.

Fishing for butterfly peacock is usually best from March through May, but they are caught consistently throughout the year. This fish feeds only during daylight and normally close to shore, although schooling peacock sometimes feed aggressively in open water. Butterfly peacock are more likely to be caught using live fish such as small golden shiners for bait than are largemouth bass, which makes them an excellent fish for younger anglers, as well as those just learning to bass fish. Snapper Creek and other area canals receive a great deal of fishing pressure so we encourage anglers to release most, if not all the butterfly peacock they catch.

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