F I S H !
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
CANALS
ANGLER'S GUIDE TO
HILLSBORO CANAL
(G-08)
BROWARD/PALM BEACH COUNTIES
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
801 NW 40th Street
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
DESCRIPTION-The eastern half of the 10.0 miles of navigable Hillsboro Canal (G-08) forms the boundary between Broward and Palm Beach counties, while the remainder runs through southern Palm Beach County. It flows eastward from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge to a water control structure near Military Trail. The western-most section runs parallel to Loxahatchee Road in a rural setting consisting of nurseries and pasture lands. Further east this canal is bordered by housing developments but many shorelines have overhanging trees and bushes which makes one feel as if they are in a much more remote area than they really are.
The main canal is characterized as having steep coral rock banks; ranges in width from 70 to nearly 160 feet, and averages about eight feet deep.
From the boat ramp at Villages of Hillsboro Park, it is 1.9 miles east to the structure at Military Trail and traveling west it is 8.1 miles to the boat barrier near the Water Conservation Area.
BOAT RAMP DIRECTIONS-The ramp at Villages of Hillsboro Park is paved with adequate parking. This ramp is accessed from I-95 by exiting at Hillsboro Boulevard and then following the directions on the map on the opposite page. There are also restrooms, picnic tables, grills and a playground at this park.
Two bait and tackle shops are conveniently located on the main canal. Sawgrass Bait and Tackle (954) 421-5904 and 4 Points Market (954) 752-9400 will provide anglers with all the information and tackle they need for an exciting day of canal fishing.
There is good access for shoreline anglers on the south bank of the Hillsboro Canal from the intersection of Hillsboro Boulevard and Loxahatchee Road west to the water control structure on the south side of the canal. There is also shore access along a dirt road that runs next to a short stretch of the L-36 Canal. The bank is low enough along this road to launch a canoe or small jon boat. There is also good shoreline access on the west side of the E-2W Canal between Glades Road and SW 18th Street.
Additional angling opportunities can be found in the E-series of canals. There is a single-lane, unimproved sand/dirt ramp on the E-2W Canal that can be accessed from Hwy 441 or I-95 and following the directions on the map.
GENERAL FISHING INFORMATION- The Hillsboro and Equalizer Canals provide excellent fishing for largemouth bass. Snook and tarpon swim in the Hillsboro Canal which gives anglers an opportunity to complete a canal 'trifecta'. After a series of warmer than average winters, butterfly peacock also find their way into this canal making a canal 'grand slam' a possibility. Canal intersections and culverts are generally productive areas for catching most species of fish. Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap areas, and shady areas associated with bridges and culverts also provide excellent places to fish. If there is a strong current in the main canal, look for any protected areas that offer refuge from the current (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and the downstream side of non-flowing spillways of lateral canals). Culverts and spillways with water flowing through or over them into the main canal are sometimes especially good places to fish.
There are more largemouth bass in the Hillsboro Canal than most other southeast Florida canals. Harvestable largemouth bass in this system average 13.3 inches (1.4 pounds), and nearly 40% are larger than this. Fishing for largemouth bass tends to be best during the winter when the water temperatures cool are cooler and in the evening, night, and early morning during the summer. The bag limit for largemouth bass is five fish per day, only one of which can be larger than 14 inches.
The number and quality of panfish in these systems 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.
Snook and tarpon roam throughout the Hillsboro Canal but tend to concentrate under bridges, along vegetated shorelines, and below spillways and culverts during periods of heavy water flow. After a heavy rain, look for these fish rolling in the current where lateral canals empty into the main canal. 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 limits - 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.
The butterfly peacock is a world renown gamefish that was successfully introduced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the mid-1980's to eat undesirable exotic fishes, and to provide more sportfishing opportunities for anglers in southeast Florida canals. The bag limit for butterfly peacock is two fish per day, only one of which can be greater than 17 inches. Butterfly peacock are sensitive to water temperatures below 600F which makes the Hillsboro Canal capable of only periodically supporting populations of this species. The intolerance of butterfly peacock to cool water temperature will prevent them establishing permanent populations here and further north.
In addition to largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and butterfly peacock, Hillsboro 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 cichlids are colorful and appear similar to a mangrove snapper 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.
The Hillsboro and associated Equalizer canals receive a great deal of fishing pressure so we encourage anglers to release most, if not all of the largemouth bass, snook, tarpon, and butterfly peacock they catch. If anglers don't release most of the sportfish they catch, these high quality fisheries will deteriorate rapidly.
Anglers 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.
