FISH EATING CREEK ALERT

[cntry141iq]

Just a word of caution in case any of you decide to go to okeechobee and run the marsh up fisheating creek, It is an area that requires a permit sticker on your boat. The sticker is free and easy to get if you go there mon-fri 9 to 5. There are no signs that tell you you need one and it is a first degree misdemeanor which carries a fine of up to 1000 bucks and up to one year in jail I think. I believe they could confiscate your boat. I asked once why there were no signs and they said they put them up and someone tore them down. There are also areas you cant run in there and they are clearly shown on a map they give you at least they think it is clear I am a surveyor and it wasn't clear at all the map is so tiny you have no way of reading it with any chance of being right. Don't worry though they said they put signs up there once also but they are gone now. Now the real kick in the butt is that if I am driving my flats boat or canoe I dont need a sticker just airboats need one. sounds fair huh. No guns, no dogs, no hunting, no trapping and by the way the area starts at the hwy 78 bridge on fisheating creek just look for the signs duh. But it is pretty up there and there is not a lot of traffic and the fishing is excellent and you can camp also, lots of wildlife gators hogs turkeys in flocks of 25 or more. The creek will test your driving skills and your boats ability to manuver. It is a fun place but please get your sticker and map and be ready to have your boat searched from top to boittom when they stop you.

 

[Croc1]

thanks for the info I have fond memorys of camping in there 28 years ago makes me want to go back to see how much its changed

 

[cowboy]

Are you refering to Nicodemus Slough?

Where do you get the permit stickers?
See any frogs in there?

 

[cntry141iq]

You get the stickers at the game wardens compound at the end of bannana road. or you can stop in when you drive up the creek. No nicodemus slough is different they limit the numbe rof people in there on any day. I don't know much about the slough. when the water is up the frogs are pretty good in the marshes adjoining the creek.

 

[SwampMatt]

Bumping this one back to the top since we may be going near there for a group ride....


Questions:

Do they still require a permit?

What is it that makes you say it'll challenge your driving skills?

How long is a permit good for? A day only? Or a year? Forever?

I've had a couple requests to make an aerial map of that area. I may do just that once I compare it to the crappy map the ranger gives ya with the permit. I'm going to get a permit when we're down there for the s/a ride.

Is it a suitable area to go explore for a group ride? Or is that many boats just an accident waiting to happen?

Note to "you know airboatcaptain who" - This 1 3/4 year old thread was found using the "search" feature. LOL

matt.

Here is a shot @ 2 meter rez...

 

[Olf Art]

You know, this kind of 'regulation' is completely uncalled for. If they're too sorry to replace the signs then they shouldn't be allowed to ticket anyone.

I know, I know, ignorance of the law is no excuse, but this borders on entrapment in my opinion and I'd love to see it tested.

olf

 

[Whitebear]

Frawgin and campin huh? Sounds like an adventure, and from the map, looks like it too.

Wait, no dogs? Maybe they think my frawg dawg gives me an unfair advantage.

Scotty :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

....ignorance of the law is no excuse, but this borders on entrapment in my opinion and I'd love to see it tested.

You're absolutely right

Sort of like a mine field, you don't know what you've stepped into til it's too late

 

[Rich Andrews]

EVERY time I go to get a permit nobody is there. Suppossedly 9 to 5 mon through friday. I would bet if we wanted to run the creek, we could get special permission since people are coming from out of town.

BTW, Niccodemus slough was bought by lykes brothers before we had a chance to be heard....a land swap for some river land??Some under the table stuff.. You should see how pretty it is since they came in and mowed it out......SFWMD never did a thing to the property when the state owned it. It was always overgrown.

Just like the Lake, overgrown and mismanaged.

 

[John C]

Mood I called them on the phone. They took my info, hull number, and boat length, and sent me a sticker in the mail. the sticker is good for2 years.

 

[Converted]

BTW, Niccodemus slough was bought by lykes brothers before we had a chance to be heard....a land swap for some river land??Some under the table stuff.. You should see how pretty it is since they came in and mowed it out......SFWMD never did a thing to the property when the state owned it. It was always overgrown.

Just like the Lake, overgrown and mismanaged.

It was interesting how SFWMD justified the swap because there was little public interest in recreation on NS then within a month of Lykes taking over they had sold out their lease. Hmmmmm.

Just an FYI on the FEC regulations. General access and hunting regulations are a result of the settlement aggreement with Lykes that ended the law suit. I've tried to get FWC to allow waterfowling in that marsh under statewide regulations but they may not change the administrative rules without going back to court and getting Lykes to agree.

 

[cntry141iq]

What is it that makes you say it'll challenge your driving skills?

well just close your eyes ... imagine for just a moment 15 to 20 boats going down a creek that makes the st.johns we been runnin lately look like a fourlane highway to a motorcycle.... yep your close. graet place to ride though

 

[Rich Andrews]

CNTRY, is it possible to get out of the river up a bank close to the tree islands?

 

[cntry141iq]

I never had any problem doin it. You need to be careful because you can drive out in one spot and then the next creek bank you come to while runnin the hill will be a 5' drop off to the water. That is not a problem in the daylight but it adds a new dimension to night time runnin for sure.

 

[midnight rider]

The Creek is an awsome place to run. It challenges your driving skills because of the layout. it has a lot of turns and bends followed by more turns and bends. Watch where you are going when it is low, lots of stumps and fallen over trees. It will go from 3-5 ft deep to 2 inches before you can react.
They don't replace the signs because they get torn down almost immediatly following. There is a lot of animosity towards the FWC from the locals beacause of how the creek was taken over. Nevertheless it is a great place to run.

 

[SwampMatt]

There is a lot of animosity towards the FWC from the locals beacause of how the creek was taken over.

I don't blame them!!! If someone (anyone) came in and told me that the same place I had been running for years, and now I had to have a permit, and abide by lines on a map - I'd feel the same too.

Thanks for the tip about calling them. I've already got the crappy map Cntry was talking about. You can't even tell the airboat area!!! My permit is in the snail mail. I'm going to hold off on riding that area till the water is up some though. And when I do, it'll be on a weekday when there are less boats around. (less targets to hit!) :lol: (and I have a stronger boat!)

mean time... I can map it out.
(Someone from here called me on the phone about Fisheating creek - If you are reading this, I'm sorry I lost your number!!! Scott? Steve? I don't remember the name. Call back.

matt.

 

[cntry141iq]

Its not usually crowded, most folks don't like the turns, I love them myself but I wouldn't love the wakes from a bunch of boats at once. There is skinny water galore when the water is up a little and some really neat places to get to that are outside the creek channel. It can go dry in a second and I mean a 2' hill right now, then back to some slick ridin just a hundred feet away. It is a great place but challenging and the fishing is good as well. Okeechobee rules do not apply to the fishing so it is regular state rules to abide by, however once you cross under 78 if you have bass you better go straight to the boat ramp or you will probably be in violation of the laws concerning the slot limit. Lots of catfish, warmouths, specks, bluegills and bass just waitin in the deep holes, I have caught a few grass pike as well and of course the old mudfish/bowfin. Dont stick your finger in his mouth you wont like it.