South Florida Crappie

**KayakCrappie_02** · 01-31-2022, 05:26 PM

Hi everybody. New member here. I've fished for crappies/specks my whole life in the midwest but recently accepted a job in Miami, and I know the warm water makes them a little more rare there. I'm just wondering if there are populations of crappie I can find in the canal systems and Everglades nearby, or if I'll have to make the drive to Okeechobee in order to catch crappie. Thank you!

**Speck Detector** · 01-31-2022, 05:40 PM

Welcome, don't know about crappie in the canals, but the mayans are thick down there & fight X10 the crappie do & Bluegabe has videos that back they are pretty darn good to eat as well.

**skeetbum** · 01-31-2022, 06:39 PM

I’m no help but I want to welcome you to the forum. Enjoy your stay.

**KayakCrappie_02** · 01-31-2022, 08:40 PM

Thanks for the welcome skeetbum. Glad to be here. Speck Detector, are some of the panfish type fish such as oscars and mayans easy to catch? Like would I just throw a bobber and worm or tiny jigs and such?

**Whiskeytrain** · 01-31-2022, 08:55 PM

Yes those things will eat anything! Fun to catch. Fish any canal along alligator alley or us 27 and you can fill coolers with them. Bobbers with crickets is always fun to fish with

**KayakCrappie_02** · 01-31-2022, 09:18 PM

That does sound pretty fun. That’s another question I have- how does one use crickets as bait? I picture opening the container and them all jumping out before I can grab one. Lol.

**Whiskeytrain** · 02-01-2022, 05:06 AM

You buy a cricket basket. It’s a wire basket that has a plastic sleeve hanging down the hole opening so they can’t get out. They are very cheap at any tackle shop