Hi all. I'm planning a collecting trip to South Florida and am hoping to collect some exotics. Cichlids would be nice, but, really, I'm not fussy, and the weirder the better.

Please PM me if you don't mind passing on a location or two.

Thanks.

Here's a location for you:

Anywhere south of Alligator Alley.

I thought you'd get more response to this.
Maybe you're answers are coming via PM.
My own personal experience with SEEING [not collecting] exotics was on the Loop road in the Everglades. In the dry season there is a series of pools that run along the loop road that I saw at least 3 different species of cichlids. Not getting any in hand, I don't know for sure what species but I'm pretty sure I saw oscars and maybe convicts. I also saw a few interesting natives including flag fish.
Everybody's gonna jump in here to point out the Everglades is a national park and full of rules. True, but some research is needed to decide for sure what is allowed. Freshwater fishing is allowed with a few clearly defined closed areas. There is no bag or size limits on exotics. Theoretically, a licensed fisherman should be able to fish for and keep exotic cichlids in the non-restricted waters of the Glades. The $10,000 question is can you use a dipnet? A limited search on Google did not reveal the answer to me however I did learn that LIVE BAIT IS PROHIBITED in the Everglades. That implies to me that nets and buckets are likely to draw unwanted attention from the warden.
Somebody needs to do the footwork to determine what really is allowed within the park.
Having said all that, my impression is that there is no need to enter the ENP to collect exotics [it's just a much cooler place to visit]. Supposedly, the canals around Miami are loaded with all kinds of exotics and there's plenty of access. Having no personal experience, I can't vouch for it, but it sounds like that's where you wanta go if collecting exotics is your main goal.
Here's a link to a fishing sight which gives some details on angling for oscars and peacock bass. It should be safe to assume where there are oscars and peacocks, there would be other exotics as well.
http://209.85.207.10...H...;cd=5&gl=us
Good luck and post a report when you get back. I'm very interested to hear how you do.

Hey Bob -

Ask the guys at GWAPA, I think they went down there last year and had at least some Cichlids and Plecos. My understanding is that the canals around Miami are loaded with exotics.

If you haven't already seen it a list of the more common Florida exotics is found at Non-native

Hey Bob -

Ask the guys at GWAPA, I think they went down there last year and had at least some Cichlids and Plecos. My understanding is that the canals around Miami are loaded with exotics.

If you haven't already seen it a list of the more common Florida exotics is found at Non-native

I'm surprised how few species are in that guide. I'd have thought there were many more. The list of exotic herps from the same area would fill a small book with more found every day. Maybe herps are more successful.
I'm surprised there aren't some livebearers on that list. I always thought swordtails and platties would be found in Fl. Maybe there are too many preditory fish to contend with.

Mike -

A more complete list can be found at Click Here

I'm sure there's way more than are shown on the list. There's a ton of water in Florida.

Depends on where you are going in south Florida:

Most exotics exist south of a line running roughly from the Tampa area across to the Cape Canavaral area. Good (or bad, depends on perspective) areas include canals in the Tampa area (especially six-mile creek), canals in the Cape Coral-Ft.Myers area, canals around Lake Okeechobee, the Tamiami trail, and all canals and ponds in the West Palm Beach-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area.

The most common things include blue tilapia, spotted tilapia, Mayan cichlid, black acara, oscar, pike killifish, walking catfish, and armoured catfish. There are some others found mainly in the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area including peacock bass, midas cichlids, jewel cichlids, and jaguar guapote. Hit any water down there and you will find exotics, just locate the nearest canal. Happy Fishing!

Marcus

Hey, Thanks, Patrick. I asked Kris W., but he didn't have any specifics.

Hey Bob -

Ask the guys at GWAPA, I think they went down there last year and had at least some Cichlids and Plecos. My understanding is that the canals around Miami are loaded with exotics.

If you haven't already seen it a list of the more common Florida exotics is found at Non-native

Thanks, gentlmen. I'll let you know what I find.

Depends on where you are going in south Florida:

Most exotics exist south of a line running roughly from the Tampa area across to the Cape Canavaral area. Good (or bad, depends on perspective) areas include canals in the Tampa area (especially six-mile creek), canals in the Cape Coral-Ft.Myers area, canals around Lake Okeechobee, the Tamiami trail, and all canals and ponds in the West Palm Beach-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area.

The most common things include blue tilapia, spotted tilapia, Mayan cichlid, black acara, oscar, pike killifish, walking catfish, and armoured catfish. There are some others found mainly in the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area including peacock bass, midas cichlids, jewel cichlids, and jaguar guapote. Hit any water down there and you will find exotics, just locate the nearest canal. Happy Fishing!

Marcus