Yes, you can still go frogging near Orlando, and it is one of the most fun nights on the water. Frogging means catching bullfrogs and pig frogs after dark, and it ends with a batch of fresh frog legs for the fryer. At Switchgrass Outfitters, we run guided frogging trips on the St. Johns River marsh, so you get the real thing without owning a lick of gear.
Ready to give it a shot? Call (321) 900-2494 or reach out to our team to book a night.
What happens on a frogging trip?
We ease the airboat through the marsh with a bright light, catch the shine of a frog's eyes in the grass, and slip in close to take it by hand or with a gig. A frog freezes when the beam hits its eyes, which gives you the few seconds you need to reach in and grab it.
We chase bullfrogs and pig frogs, the big ones that carry real meat on the back legs. The airboat is what makes it work, because frogs sit up in shallow, grassy water no regular boat can reach. Captain Seth runs quiet and slow so you can hear the pig frogs calling before you ever see them. A guided frogging trip runs about four hours, and the light and gigs come with it.
It is easier than it sounds and harder than it looks, which is what makes it fun. Some frogs sit tight and let you reach right in. Others dive the second the light finds them, and you learn to read which is which. By the halfway point most guests have the timing down and are calling their own shots.
Are frog legs actually worth it?
Ask anyone who grew up out here. Fresh frog legs, dredged in seasoned flour and dropped in hot oil, are some of the best eating in Florida. They taste clean and mild, closer to a tender piece of chicken than to fish.
There is nothing like frying up legs you caught with your own hands a few hours earlier. Bring a cooler and something to hold the frogs, and we handle the boat, the light, and putting you on the good spots. Most guests are surprised how quickly a slow, quiet night turns into a full cooler.
If you have never cleaned frogs, that is no problem. We can walk you through it, or you can take the whole catch home and handle it there. Either way the reward is the same: a plate of legs you earned yourself on a Florida marsh, which beats anything you will order off a menu.
Who is frogging good for, and when?
It is a small, hands on trip for up to two people, so it suits a couple, a parent and a kid, or two buddies who want something different. There is no casting or shooting to learn. If you can spot a frog in a beam of light and reach for it, you can frog.
Warm, rainy months are frog months, once the summer storms have the marsh full and the pig frogs get loud. A trip is $800 for up to two people and runs about four hours, launching from Christmas, Florida, about 30 minutes east of Orlando. Want a bigger group night on the water? A bow fishing trip fits up to four.
Because the group is capped at two, this is one of the more personal trips we run. You are right up front with the light and the captain the whole time, not sitting in the back waiting your turn. Pick a warm, dark night after a good rain and you will have frogs calling all around you.
If frog legs and a wild Florida night sound like your kind of fun, we are ready when you are. Call (321) 900-2494 or book your frogging trip.
