Airboat Adventures
The Dog Days of Summer….
Summer - It is hot and muggy and even when it rains, it’s still hot! When it gets this hot the fishing gets slow. So what to do? Let’s jump in the airboat during the full moon and go for real Florida adventure…frog gigging.
When the water is high in the swamp, like the last two or three summers, it’s a blast to jump in the airboat and get on the water just before dark. We usually ride Lake Kississimmee, Lake Cypress and Lake Hatcheniha. Unfortuantely, due to the drought in Florida, there isn’t enough water in the swamp to go frogging right now….maybe things will be better after the rainy season.
There are several stopping points along the many trails where other boats stop to let their engines cool down or just hang out to talk about frogs, gators and airboats. Every now then we will stop and listen, and when the big frogs start croakin, we grab our headlights and gigs and go searching for them. If you have never tried frog legs, check your local grocery store and pick up a pound. Dredge them in any good fish frying mixture, deep fry at 350 degrees till they float and enjoy. They have a very mild, sweet meat…a great flavor…nothing like you would imagine.
The frogs are just one part of a night in the swamp. You can see many alligators in the open water and the swamp as well as whitetail deer on land. Oh yes, you will see a few bugs! The bugs really love to fly into the lights, so when running at speed, we wear safety glasses. When the boat is running in open water you can turn your headlight out and enjoy the full moon and cool night air.
If you are not into the frog gigging thing, I also love taking customers for day airboat rides. There are so many intersting things to see, birds, alligators, turtles, flowers, etc., in the many beautiful lakes, marshes, canals, and rivers here in West Central Florida. Come and go for a ride, it’s a blast.
Check out my “Exciting Stuff” page, on alligator hunting, for another way to have fun on an airboat.