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Lloyd's Bait & Tackle Open
• Margate is known for its freshwater fishing
Friday,
May 22, 2009
For all you freshwater fishing fanatics out there, Lloyd Fox recently moved his bait shop from Southgate Boulevard to the Margate City Center in the Ace Hardware plaza. His rods and reels are priced competitively and the majority of his tackle cost less than Bass Pro Shops. Lloyd doesn't have much competition, as the nearest two bait shops are at Andrews and Prospect, and Flamingo and 595.
Lloyd’s been fishing Margate canals going on twelve years. Pictures on the wall in his store reveal huge Snook and Tarpin fished from Margate canals and amazingly large Peacock Bass.
With roughly 23 miles of navigable waterway, fishermen come from all over South Florida to fish Margate canals.
Although many eat the fish they catch, says Lloyd, most fisherman throw them back because they understand the importance of a balanced ecosystem.
"But snakeheads are a delicacy and good eating," says the bait and tackle pro.
Health officials say Margate fish are safe to eat once a week, as the body can handle the relatively low levels of mercury, toxins and PCBs which make their way into the canals from rainwater runoff.
So far, Lloyd likes his new location, but says there’s a parking problem in the Ace Hardware plaza – there just aren’t enough spaces for all the stores. He recommends parking along the street just outside the entrance to his store. Lloyd also hopes that one day the city will set up some type of boat tie-up at Legacy Park, so that fishermen coming for bait can dock and walk to his store.
A fishing license is required to fish Margate canals , which can be obtained from Broward’s Revenue Collection Division.
Whatever you do, says Lloyd, pay close attention to the Peacock Bass bag limit and length. The species is protected and the larger they are the more eggs they lay, which is good for maintaining their population.
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