F I S H !
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
CANALS
ANGLER'S GUIDE TO
SOUTH NEW RIVER
(C-11)
BROWARD COUNTY
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
801 NW 40th Street
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
DESCRIPTION-The South New River Canal (C-11) in southern Broward County is sometimes referred to as the Griffin Road Canal. It originates at the edge of Water Conservation Area 3 and flows eastward along Griffin Road through the cities of Weston, Cooper City, and Davie. The main canal is 15.7 miles long, but a water control structure at Nob Hill Road divides the canal into two sections. The distance from the water control structure at Hwy 441 to Nob Hill Road is 5.0 miles and from Nob Hill Road to Water Conservation Area 3 is 10.7 miles. The C-11 lateral canal provides boat anglers with an additional 2.7 miles of fishable waters. The South New River Canal ranges in width from 50 to more than 120 feet with an average depth of six feet except for the stretch of canal from the structure near US 27 to SW 148th Avenue which averages about 12 feet deep.
The South New River Canal is one of the most shoreline accessible canals in south Florida. Griffin Road and Orange Drive parallel either side of the canal, where there are wide, grassy areas along both where anglers can park and access the canal. There are no boat ramps, but canoes and small jon boats can be hand-launched from the bank in many areas. There are several covered picnic tables, benches, and fishing piers along the main canal between Davie Road and University Drive that offer recreational opportunities for the entire family.
Two bait and tackle shops are conveniently located right on the main canal. Everglades Pro-Bass Center (954) 434-4495 and Hinkle Bait and Tackle (954) 583-2189 will provide anglers with all the information and tackle they need for an exciting day of canal fishing.
To reach South New River Canal, take the Turnpike, I-95, I-75, or US 27 to Griffin Road. From I-95, one must travel west to Hwy 441 before reaching the freshwater section of this canal. Orange Drive parallels the north side of the canal, and is connected to Griffin Road by several crossover bridges.
GENERAL FISHING INFORMATION- South New River Canal provides excellent fishing for a variety of sportfishes. In addition to largemouth bass and butterfly peacock, snook and tarpon cruise these waters giving anglers an opportunity to complete a canal 'trifecta' or 'grand slam'.
Fallen trees, culverts, canal intersections, and dead ends are generally productive areas for catching most sport fish. Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap areas, residential seawalls, and shady areas associated with bridges also provide excellent places to fish. If there is a strong current in the main canal, spend more time fishing areas that offer refuge from the current (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and lateral canals). Culverts with water flowing through them into the main canal sometimes provide excellent spots to catch fish.
The butterfly peacock is a world renown gamefish that was successfully introduced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 1984 to eat undesirable exotic fishes and to provide more sportfishing opportunities for anglers.
South New River butterfly peacock and largemouth bass average about 13 inches which is similar to area canals. However, electrofishing samples indicate more than 40% of the harvestable butterfly peacock and largemouth bass are bigger than this. The bag limit for butterfly peacock is two fish per day, only one of which can be greater than 17 inches. Up to five largemouth bass per day can be kept, but only one of these can be larger than 14 inches
Fishing for butterfly peacock is best from March through May, but they are caught consistently throughout the year. Butterfly peacock feed only during daylight and normally close to shore, although schooling peacocks sometimes feed aggressively in open water.
Most butterfly peacock are caught on live bait or fast moving artificial lures and flies that imitate small fish. Butterfly peacock are much more likely to be caught using live fish such as small golden shiners for bait than are largemouth bass which makes them an excellent fish for younger anglers, as well as those just learning to bass fish. It is illegal to use goldfish or any other non-native fish for bait, except those legally caught from and used immediately in the same 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 work well for largemouth bass, but they rarely catch butterfly peacock.
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.
Freshwater anglers wishing to fish for snook or tarpon must have a freshwater license and the appropriate tag/permit for these species. SNOOK REGULATIONS: Size limit - Not less than 26" or more than 34". Closed Season: Dec.15 - Jan 31, June, July, August. Daily Limit: 2 per person per day. TARPON REGULATIONS: Requires a $50.00 tag to possess or harvest. Daily Limit: 2 per person per day.
South New River Canal anglers can also catch several exotic species including oscars from South America, spotted tilapia from Africa, and Mayan cichlids from Central America. These exotic fishes were illegally released and pose a threat to native species. Oscars, spotted tilapia, and Mayan cichlids are all 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 have red on them. Mayan cichlid are colorful and are snapper-like in appearance with a turquoise ring around a black spot at the base of their tail. These exotic fishes are good to eat and you can keep every one you catch.
South New River and other area canals receive a great deal of fishing pressure so we encourage anglers to release most, if not all of the butterfly peacock, largemouth bass, snook, and tarpon they catch. If anglers don't release most of the sportfish they catch, these high 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.
