Fishing at the Fort

[Claire&TheBoys]

Hello, Fort Lovers! I can't seem to find any information about whether you can still fish in the canals at FW. When I was a little girl and stayed at the Fort with my family, we often took our rods along and fished on our off-park days. I was just wondering if that's still allowed, or not.

I know about the paid fishing excursions and we're not interested in that. But, if you rent one of the big pontoon boats in Bay Lake, can you fish from it?

Thanks for any information you can pass along. We're staying at POFQ and I know we can fish over at POR, but I think my husband would like fishing at the Fort if it's allowed.

PS- We also know it's all catch & release, and that's fine.

Thanks!

 

[peg110]

When we were there last Month there were people fishing in the canals. They haven't blocked them (all) off but they now do have the Aligator/snake warning signs, so I imagine it's "At your own risk".

Not a fisherman so I cannot speak otherwise to the activities (allowed or otherwise)

 

[bama_ed]

I know about the paid fishing excursions and we're not interested in that. But, if you rent one of the big pontoon boats in Bay Lake, can you fish from it?

Thanks!

To answer the pontoon boat question, no, fishing is not allowed from those. Disney thinks you're booking a cheap pontoon to avoid paying for the high-priced fishing excursion.

With the sad event last year of the young child dragged under water by an alligator at the Grand Floridian, Disney has instituted new rules and security around lakes and canals. At the Fort, the only official fishing place is in the pond in the middle of the Fort between the Bike Barn and the Meadow Trading Post near the movie/campfire arena. If your DH fishes anywhere else, he might be told to stop and move to the official area. Some loops have sites that literally back up to a canal (1500, 1600, 1800) and I don't know how firmly they have enforced fishing from your site.

One of our Fort campers is an avid fisherman so they update a thread here on the Camping Board about the fishing conditions for each day (updated daily).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/bay-lake-fishing-weather-report.2392149/page-147

I think it would be cool, though, to also fish at POFQ or PORS. More so at Riverside since it has a few canals and water holes to check out.

Bama Ed

PS - also FYI fishing from the shore or docks into Bay Lake at the Fort beach is also prohibited.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Thank you both for your replies.

Bama Ed- I thought that might be the case (that the fishing had been curtailed by the tragic death of that child), but hadn't been able to determine that for sure. I'm not surprised that fishing isn't allowed from the pontoon boats, but thought I'd ask anyway. We probably won't want to drag fishing gear with us, anyway, and can rent at POR. I have fond memories of the Fort and was thinking it would be fun to spend the day there fishing, maybe renting canoes, and such, but I'll see what the rest of the family wants to do.

 

[2goofycampers]

Actually they are back to allowing fishing on the canals. We did in Jan, after we asked a Fort Ranger. There were several other guys fishing also. A hint, the Fort fish love hot dogs.

 

[KristinU]

So just yesterday DH was fishing along the canals, and for the second time this trip a guided boat pulled right in front of him on the shore. Like literally, so he would be casting into the boat. No "hello" or call out from the captain/guide or anything. He went to the marina to complain about the rudeness and he was told that shore fishing isn't allowed. The only signs are the alligator and snake signs, not "no fishing" (except that little area right by the dog park). I think the no fishing thing is pretty arbitrary. Fishing only from an expensive guided boat excursion kind of flies in the face of the takemefishing.org initiative to increase participation in angling, which is clearly one of the sponsors here. An excursion experience isn't the ideal fishing experience for everyone...I know DH prefers to just be by himself casting from shore and not having to talk to anyone. That's his zen place. He'd pay for a permit if Disney needs their profit from fishing.

 

[2goofycampers]

You can fish the canals, not the lake where the guided excursions fish. You can catch some nice fish. Check out the Dec/Jan TR thread.

 

[KristinU]

You can fish the canals, not the lake where the guided excursions fish. You can catch some nice fish. Check out the Dec/Jan TR thread.

DH was over by the spillway where the canals dump into the lake. Definitely not out in the lake, but obviously in their territory.

 

[tiggerdad]

DH was over by the spillway where the canals dump into the lake. Definitely not out in the lake, but obviously in their territory.

Actually that corner near the old cabin is a popular location for the fishing excursions to come through. They like to fish along the tall grass and shallows there. In future reference, they don't usually fish near there in the late evening.