F I S H !
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
CANALS
ANGLER'S GUIDE TO
LOXAHATCHEE SLOUGH CANAL
(C-18)
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
801 NW 40th Street
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
DESCRIPTION-Loxahatchee Slough Canal (C-18) originates in unincorporated Palm Beach Gardens in northern Palm Beach County, and provides 12.2 miles of fishing waters. This canal lies in a rural setting and most of it is bordered by woods. Most canals in south Florida flow through highly urbanized areas; the lack of development along the Loxahatchee Slough Canal makes it a quiet and relaxing destination for anglers. This canal has sloping sides with a sandy bottom; ranges in width from 50 to over 130 feet, and averages about eight feet deep.
From the boat ramp heading north, it is 3.1 miles to the intersection of the west fork, and 5.8 miles to the low, non-navigable bridge at the north end of the canal. Traveling south, it is 1.9 miles to the spillway north of the Bee Line Highway. The west fork is 4.5 miles long from its intersection with the main canal to the spillway just east of the Bee Line Highway. Be particularly careful of the low bridge if traveling on the north end of the canal at night. The bridge is not marked with reflectors or warning signs.
The Loxahatchee Slough Canal is in close proximity to the J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, a 60,228 acre public wildlife and recreation area managed by the Fish and Wildlife Consrevation Commission. A variety of outdoor activities are available including hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping. The Everglades Youth Camp is also located here. To reach J. W. Corbett from the boat ramp on the Loxahatchee Slough Canal, go west on PGA Boulevard about 2 miles to the Bee Line Highway. Go south 3.5 miles to Northlake Boulevard, turn west and travel approximately 8 miles to Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Turn north and travel about 2 miles on a dirt road to the entrance which is on the left side.
BOAT RAMP DIRECTIONS-A Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boat ramp provides free launching. It is a single-lane concrete ramp in good condition. This ramp is easily accessed by exiting either I-95 or the Turnpike at PGA Boulevard. Traveling west, it is 4.0 miles from I-95 and 2.1 miles from the Turnpike to the ramp which is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of PGA Boulevard and the canal. There is adequate parking, but no facilities.
GENERAL FISHING INFORMATION-The Loxahatchee Slough Canal provides excellent fishing for largemouth bass and other sportfish such as bluegill and redear sunfish. A few black crappie are also present.
Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap, and shady areas associated with bridges and culverts provide excellent places to fish. If there is a strong current in the main canal, look for protected areas that offer refuge from the current (e.g., cut-outs and bridge pilings). Culverts and spillways with water flowing through or over them into the main canal are especially good places to fish.
The Loxahatchee Slough Canal contains more largemouth bass than most other canals in southeast Florida, although their average size (12.2 inches and 1.0 pounds) is a little smaller. Electrofishing samples indicate that more than 10% of the harvestable largemouth bass are larger than 15 inches and 4% weigh more than 3.0 pounds. Biologists collected and released largemouth bass over 6.5 pounds and 22 inches from this canal.
Fishing for largemouth bass tends to be best during the winter when the water temperatures are cooler and in the evening, night, and early morning during the summer. Plastic worms and crank baits work well for largemouth bass. Live bait fish such as golden shiners are also a popular bait. The bag limit for largemouth bass is five fish per day, only one of which can be greater than 14 inches.
The number and quality of panfish over six inches is similar to other area canals. Live worms and crickets are the choice baits for many panfish anglers, although fresh bread or bread dough works well, is readily available, and it costs less.
Loxahatchee Slough Canal anglers can also catch several exotic species including oscars from South America and spotted tilapia from Africa. These exotic fishes were illegally released and pose a threat to native species. Oscars and spotted tilapia are both bream-shaped fishes. Oscars have a red or orange circle at the base of the tail, and have a thick layer of protective mucus on their bodies. Spotted tilapia are golden with black vertical bars or spots, and some adults have red on them. These exotic fishes are good to eat and you can keep every one you catch.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages anglers to release most, if not all of the largemouth bass they catch. If anglers don't release a majority of the sportfish they catch, these quality fisheries will deteriorate rapidly.
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.
Acrobat PDF files of this and other brochures are available for printing on our fisheries publications site.
