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Alligator Free Kayaking? In search of...

drunkkenartist avatar
drunkkenartistBeach Fanatic
23,976 views
Hey gang. I'm in search of Alligator Free Kayaking. My own lake is "infested". I have about 5-6 that 'hang out' at the edge of property in my back yard.😱

I drove to Tyndall AFB on a couple of weeks ago, saw a trail of bubbles around me NOT caused by my oars, only to see a sign that read, WARNING -Alligator habitat. :bang:

Having been victim to undertow 3 times in two summers, I'm not fond of the Gulf either. If an accident can happen it will happen to me.:shark:

I have lived around the corner from Econfina and didn't really know it, have never been there and am looking for more info.:doh:

I wouldn't mind driving an hour or two if I make a day or overnight trip of it. I believe in safety in numbers...open to invites!😀

Short of a swimming pool, any suggestions?:idontno:

dka:drink:

Replies

39
drunkkenartist avatar
drunkkenartistBeach FanaticAuthor
#3
No, you are my hero! The definition of true good sportsmanship. How do you like my picture tribute to ya?

After I did it, I thought of "Starry Night" by Van Gogh, and Voila', it created a life of its own.

I call it "Kitty Van Gogh"


OK, I'm finally going to bed!

dka and fellow night owl!
Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#4
:clap_1: ...I don't like it, I love it!!!! I :wub: Van Gogh, so it is an awesome tribute. I asked elsewhere though...does she have both ears?

Sweet dreams!
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#5
Realistically, the way you're going to find truly gator-free kayaking is to drive to central or northern Alabama or some other place where it gets cooler in the winter than it does here.

Short of that, open water in Choctaw Bay isn't too bad. They have trapped in Boggy Bayou in the past when the gators got too close to a couple of swimming areas, though it's been a while, but on the flip side, I've never seen gators in the stretch of Turkey Creek south of Colleve Blvd.
Lady D avatar
Lady DSoWal Insider
#6
Hey gang. I'm in search of Alligator Free Kayaking. My own lake is "infested". I have about 5-6 that 'hang out' at the edge of property in my back yard.😱

I drove to Tyndall AFB on a couple of weeks ago, saw a trail of bubbles around me NOT caused by my oars, only to see a sign that read, WARNING -Alligator habitat. :bang:

Having been victim to undertow 3 times in two summers, I'm not fond of the Gulf either. If an accident can happen it will happen to me.:shark:

I have lived around the corner from Econfina and didn't really know it, have never been there and am looking for more info.:doh:

I wouldn't mind driving an hour or two if I make a day or overnight trip of it. I believe in safety in numbers...open to invites!😀

Short of a swimming pool, any suggestions?:idontno:

dka:drink:

Try the Econfina Creek Canoe Livery in Youngstown, FL. We went there and canoed two years ago. Nice canoe trip. You stop at the first bridge, which is 7 miles. There are 6 or 7 springs off to the side for viewing. Two older women came down to where we were being picked up on kayaks. They had their truck parked at the pick up point. Calm water, have to maneuver around a tree or two which is challenging. Great place.


Here is their website: www.CanoeEconfinaCreek.com

Edited

30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#7
We grew up swimming with gators Drunken, don't be too worried about them.
Mermaidpicky
#8
SmileyJ told me all you need to do is hit it on the snout with your paddle and it will go away. I've been on Western Lakes dozens of times and I've never had the opportunity, though. I think alligators must run at the sight of the pink paddles. Durn! :blush:

Edited

30gAy avatar
30gAyBeach Fanatic
#9
Hey gang. I'm in search of Alligator Free Kayaking. My own lake is "infested". I have about 5-6 that 'hang out' at the edge of property in my back yard.😱

Oh DA, I feel for ya.

You know, several years back I had similar run ins with alligators and other creatures.

I set out on what was to be a leisurely day on the water, outfitted only for a short camping trip, when I found myself pursued by alligators and was forced to canoe deeper into the Choctawhatchee swamps. Soon, all measure of strange creatures were chasing me, including dangerous encounters with dinosaurs, particularly a Tyrannosaurus rex I nickname "Grumpy". I also had to tangle with menacing Sleestak and ambiguous "cave-men" called Pakuni -one of whom, Cha-Ka, I befriended.

It was only thanks to the help of Cha-Ka is was able to find my way home.

Be careful out there- it?s a weird, weird world.



Look out for Sleestaks in the swamps of South Walton
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#10
Just stay out of the way of the big ones, especially during mating season. Otherwise, most of the ones around here don't want anything to do with a man in a kayak. As someone else wrote, the only way to escape them is to head way north to central/north Alabama or Georgia. My suggestion is to just go where ever you want and learn to appreciate being able to paddle in the same water where they live. Do remember to respect any animal with a mouth larger than your head. ;-)
Franny avatar
FrannyBeach Fanatic
#11
Try the Econfina Creek Canoe Livery in Youngstown, FL. We went there and canoed two years ago. Nice canoe trip. You stop at the first bridge, which is 7 miles. There are 6 or 7 springs off to the side for viewing. Two older women came down to where we were being picked up on kayaks. They had their truck parked at the pick up point. Calm water, have to maneuver around a tree or two which is challenging. Great place.


Here is their website: www.CanoeEconfinaCreek.com

We did this several years ago and it was beautiful, did not see any gators dka! chomp chomp!! But I agree with SJ and Mermaid, that don't want to eat ya!!😀 I have only known of problem gators on Eastern Lake and they were 2-3 feet, aggressive teenagers!!:roll:
Mango avatar
MangoSoWal Insider
#12
Oh DA, I feel for ya.

You know, several years back I had similar run ins with alligators and other creatures.

I set out on what was to be a leisurely day on the water, outfitted only for a short camping trip, when I found myself pursued by alligators and was forced to canoe deeper into the Choctawhatchee swamps. Soon, all measure of strange creatures were chasing me, including dangerous encounters with dinosaurs, particularly a Tyrannosaurus rex I nickname "Grumpy". I also had to tangle with menacing Sleestak and ambiguous "cave-men" called Pakuni -one of whom, Cha-Ka, I befriended.

It was only thanks to the help of Cha-Ka is was able to find my way home.

Be careful out there- it?s a weird, weird world.



Look out for Sleestaks in the swamps of South Walton

:lolabove: :floor: But they look so cute with those big eyes and all. :rofl:

Just stay out of the way of the big ones, especially during mating season. Otherwise, most of the ones around here don't want anything to do with a man in a kayak. ;-)

DKA and I want to know when mating season is? :twisted:

Edited

Lady D avatar
Lady DSoWal Insider
#13
We did this several years ago and it was beautiful, did not see any gators dka! chomp chomp!! But I agree with SJ and Mermaid, that don't want to eat ya!!😀 I have only known of problem gators on Eastern Lake and they were 2-3 feet, aggressive teenagers!!:roll:

Since we got done with our trip in about 3 1/2 hours, didn't canoe up into the clear water springs, wish we had, will next time, we had to hang out for about two hours at the pick up point, which just happened to be a swimming hole for the college crowd. We spent a couple of hours swimming there. Was nice and relaxing. Did encounter a couple of groups of college kids that showed up to swim, they were jumping off the bridge into the water. I wasn't that brave though. 😀
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#14


Alligators love the spring water. ;-)

May is the peak Alligator mating season. They will be seen moving across land, as they go from one waterhole to another. After a dormant winter season, they try to eat quite a bit of food, so keep the pooches at the house.
Lady D avatar
Lady DSoWal Insider
#15


Alligators love the spring water. ;-)

May is the peak Alligator mating season. They will be seen moving across land, as they go from one waterhole to another. After a dormant winter season, they try to eat quite a bit of food, so keep the pooches at the house.

We went canoeing the end of August. We didn't go up in the springs. And anyway, I assumed the actual springs at Econfina Creek are deep water springs, but since we didn't go up in them, I don't know. There were a few people up in the springs in boats. I wouldn't swim in one. I do believe the water is quite cold in a spring, but the creek water was perfect.

Edited

Unplugged avatar
UnpluggedBeach Fanatic
#16
Hey gang. I'm in search of Alligator Free Kayaking. My own lake is "infested". I have about 5-6 that 'hang out' at the edge of property in my back yard.😱

I drove to Tyndall AFB on a couple of weeks ago, saw a trail of bubbles around me NOT caused by my oars, only to see a sign that read, WARNING -Alligator habitat. :bang:

Having been victim to undertow 3 times in two summers, I'm not fond of the Gulf either. If an accident can happen it will happen to me.:shark:

I have lived around the corner from Econfina and didn't really know it, have never been there and am looking for more info.:doh:

I wouldn't mind driving an hour or two if I make a day or overnight trip of it. I believe in safety in numbers...open to invites!😀

Short of a swimming pool, any suggestions?:idontno:

dka:drink:
Got any pics? :idontno:
____________________________
jessifunn avatar
jessifunnsuperJfunn
#17
How about the pool at Seacrest. It is really big :idontno:
Lady D avatar
Lady DSoWal Insider
#18
Got any pics? :idontno:
____________________________

It took us about 30 to 35 minutes to get to Econfina Creek from Inlet Beach. BTW, watch out for rope swingers if you go. You feel like you are canoeing in a scene from Deliverance. Rope swings hanging everywhere above. The guy that owns the place said Bay County police had to be called several times because of people swinging out on the ropes and landing in your canoes turning you over. We didn't see anyone but a man sitting up on his little deck above the creek reading, or pretending to be anyway. 😀
Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#19
dka...I must come clean. Before you knew me, I was not the go to person for kayaking that I am today. On my first attempt in Western Lake, I fell in...not once, but twice.
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#20
How about the pool at Seacrest. It is really big :idontno:
Or maybe you can talk Josh into getting you access to the even larger pool at Cypress Breeze. You could even try white water kayaking down the 13 waterfalls. :idontno:

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