Where do you kayak? (Sarasota, Fort Myers: home, to live, moving to)

[Marcia_M]

Here in PA my husband and I sometimes go kayaking on a lake. We're not into extreme sports (no white water or sea-going kayaking) so I was interested in hearing where we might find similar conditions to kayak in the North Port area. And are alligators a problem--I'm not interested in any close encounters!
Marcia

[Racelady88]

We used to live on a tidal canal in North Port and my husband would go right out in the canal. It fed into the Myakka-Hatchee River. Friends would go to the Peace River and spend all day kayaking. There are plenty of rivers in the area. Myakka State Park has a nice area as well http://www.myakkariver.org/canoe.html

There is always the possibility of coming across an alligator. For the most part they will either ignore you or slide away. During mating season they can get a little aggressive, but I never came across an angry gator in the 20+ years I lived down there.

[ECBS]

We are moving to a home that is on a canal that feeds into Peace River. I was thinking about Kayaking also but am also nervous about what I may run into? I have only went kayaking once on one of those guided tours in Mexico, but I enjoyed it...

I thought if the canal was salt water, then that would keep Gators away?

I would love to hear more feedback on this topic

[Big House]

Originally Posted by ECBS

We are moving to a home that is on a canal that feeds into Peace River. I was thinking about Kayaking also but am also nervous about what I may run into? I have only went kayaking once on one of those guided tours in Mexico, but I enjoyed it...

I thought if the canal was salt water, then that would keep Gators away?

I would love to hear more feedback on this topic

I live on a canal home in PGI, 5 minutes from Port Charlotte Harbor, near Bass inlet. The canals are salt water, and do not attract alligators. They are very calm even on windy days when the harbor is choppy. There are a lot of birds and wildlife, and all kinds of fish. I'm getting a couple kayaks as soon as I get my floating dock installed. The floating dock is going to be delivered on Friday! I should have it installed this weekend.

[Racelady88]

The canal that I lived on was brackish water and there were most definitely alligators present. They never bothered anyone, but they were there none the less.

[AnotherDayInParadise]

If you are in the area, stop by the local chamber office. If you are not, please write to info@northportareachamber.com and ask for the Sarasota County Paddling Guide (they'll mail it to you). It's a great book, with at least a year's worth of paddling. Kayaking on the gulf is fantastic, especially in the summer time... water's so warm, you can just jump right in and swim. I have kayaked brackish water & have never seen an alligator. Kayaking in the intercoastal and on the gulf, I have seen sea turtles, dolphins, fish (of course), rays... birds of all sorts... it's wonderful.

We have sit-on-tops... much less fuss than traditionals.

[billncarol]

Well, not near North Port, but worth the trip is the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge at Sanibel Island. You will see aligators, but they won't bother you. I don't think there's a more scenic spot to canoe or kayak. Here's a link to the park:
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

[FLBob]

There are a number of kayak clubs that boat the Myakka River. Access to the Myakka is near to North Port, you can launch at snook haven just off I75 and River Road.

There are a lot of people that kayak the Peace River, the public ramp in Harbour Heights is a good location to put in.

Yes there are alligators where ever you find brackish or fresh water. I fish around aligators all the time and find them shy. My Flats boat has about 6" of free board so while not the same as being in a kayak, I'm right on the gators level.

The more salt content the fewer alligators so the Peace river by Harbour Heights will be very salty until the summer rains start.

If you want to avoid alligators all together stick to saltwater.

I spend a lot of time on the intracoastal waters, the flats are domain of the flats boat and kayak. Most of the flats from little Gasparilla sound to Sarasota Bay are no wake zones. There are launches by Turtle beach on Siesta Key, on Blackburn road (where the Sarasota scullers keep their boats) on the north end of Casey Key, on Albee Rd at the south end of Casey Key, at Blind Pass on Manasota Key, and on the causeway to Gasparilla Island. All the the launch points I mention will put you west of the intracoastal channel on the side where the flats are the widest. Indian Mounds in Englewood will put you to the east of the channel but the flats are very wide there.

The beauty of the local waters can not be adequately described with words or pictures. Enjoy your days on the water.

[Marcia_M]

Thanks so much for the great information. I'm starting a "want to move to Florida" notebook and will add your replies to my notes.

We have traditional kayaks here, but maybe sit-on-tops would be better for multi-purpose use there. However, I don't think the temperature of the gulf water in the winter will convince me to jump in to swim. We spent a couple weeks at Fort Myers Beach this winter and I didn't want to get any part of my body above my ankles wet!
Marcia

[Big House]

Originally Posted by AnotherDayInParadise

If you are in the area, stop by the local chamber office. If you are not, please write to info@northportareachamber.com and ask for the Sarasota County Paddling Guide (they'll mail it to you). It's a great book, with at least a year's worth of paddling. Kayaking on the gulf is fantastic, especially in the summer time... water's so warm, you can just jump right in and swim. I have kayaked brackish water & have never seen an alligator. Kayaking in the intercoastal and on the gulf, I have seen sea turtles, dolphins, fish (of course), rays... birds of all sorts... it's wonderful.

We have sit-on-tops... much less fuss than traditionals.

Thanks AIDP!
I think I will run by and get one of those books. My floating dock arrived yesterday, and I went out and got all the decking materials for the surface. After I finish catching up with some of my CD friends I'm going to install it. I am thinking about changing my mind and get the ocean kayaks (as you call 'em sit on tops). I was going to get the other types, but a lot of people prefer the openness of the ocean kayaks. I was surprised. I am really looking forward to being out there, and doing some exploring - all over, not just here at my home, but getting moving and being out there you'll see a whole lot more. ;-)