 |
Florida Fishing...The Best
|
 |
Our review of Florida's best bass fishing spots will point you in the right direction for outstanding Florida bass fishing,
Let's take a look at some of the current top-rated lakes and rivers known for excitement-filled bass fishing in Florida.
Deer Point Lake, for Florida Fishing at Panama City
A 5,000-acre reservoir, Deer Point Lake has some of the finest fresh water fishing for largemouth bass, available for northwest Florida fishing. Plan your Florida fishing vacation to the panhandle area for spring to early summer, and again in the cooler fall months of October and November, which are the best times to try your luck at Deer Point Lake.
Deer Point Lake is found just a 7-mile drive north from Panama City,off U.S. Hwy 231 and SR 77 at Southport.
In Florida, the fishing for largemouth bass generally is not as exciting during the winter months in Deer Point Lake, but starts to pick up again in mid-February and March. By April and May, the bass fishing is once again excellent!
If you've never fished Deer Point Lake, try fishing for largemouth bass in the old creek channels of Cedar, Econfina, and Bear creeks. Bayou George and the flats area where the waters of Bayou George and Deer Point Lake comingle are also good largemouth bass fishing spots. You may also try fishing around docks and boat houses along the creek channels and at the mouth of Bayou George.
If you're fishing from a boat, be careful because there's a large number of cypress stumps and other snags in Deer Point Lake.
Public boat access is on C2311. To get there from Panama City, take US 231 a mile and a half north, to C2321 West; and then turn right onto C2311. It's about three and a half miles down C2311, and the boat ramp is on the left side.
More lake access is found at two fish camps on Deer Point Lake. Our Panama City fishing page has more information about the fish camps.
Florida Fishing for Bass in the Everglades
Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3
There's so much to tell about these top Florida fresh water fishing spots, there just isn't enough room on this page!
So...to learn all about bass fishing in the Everglades, please check out our Florida Fishing in the Everglades page.
Lake Crescent, Florida Fishing
A tributary of the St Johns River, Lake Crescent is a respectable 15,960 acres. The eelgrass beds that provide cover for bass aren't as abundant as in the time prior to the 2004 hurricanes that caused so much damage to the eelgrasses; still, the vegetation that remains have good numbers of bass remaining.
The deeper edges of bulrush and grass patches along the western lake shore are good bass fishing areas, along with docks in 3 ft or deeper water.. The eastern shore has many deadfalls where bass frequent.
Largemouth bass measuring 20 inches in length are plentiful; 8 pounders are routinely landed, too.
Lake Crescent is found in the northeastern Florida fishing area, near Jacksonville.
Public access to Lake Crescent is found one block east of Highway 17 near downtown Crescent City, on the west shore of the lake. Another public boat ramp is found on the northeastern shore of Crescent Lake off S.R. 20/100. There's also private access to Crescent lake at various fish camps; call the fisheries office located in DeLeon Springs for more information at (386)985-7827.
Lake George: Central Florida Fishing
In the spring, bass fishing hot spots are found on the lake's western shore at Juniper, Silver Glen and Salt. If you're fishing the lake during the winter or early spring months, bass frequent the south end of Lake George at the jetties.
For pier fishing, there's a pier at the end of Nine Mile Point Road on the east side of Lake George. While there are many fish camps on the north and south sides of the lake, as well as on the St Johns river, that allow direct lake access, there's just one public boat ramp at the south end of the lake. It's just north of Highway 40, off Blue Creek Lodge Road.
For nature exploring and hiking, there's the Lake George conservation area on the east side of the lake, where primitive camping is available.
Information on private access to Lake George through one of the fish camps can be obtained through the fisheries office in DeLeon Springs; call (386)985-7827.
Lake Istokpoga, Florida Fishing
Another great Florida fishing destination is found at this often overlooked lake. At nearly 28,000 acres, Lake Istokpoga is the fifth largest natural lake in the state of Florida. Situated between the Kissimmee Chain of lakes on the north, and Okeechobee to the south, this lake's depth averages only six feet. The deepest waters of the lake, about 10 feet, are found at the southwest corner of the lake.
The largemouth bass fishing maintains its abundant supply of nice bass due to bag limits and size restrictions. Similiar to other lakes, Lake Istokpoga has a protected length for bass of fifteen to twenty-four inches, and a daily bag limit of three fish. Only one of the three keepers can be 24 inches or more in length; the other two must be less than 15 inches.
For anglers with boats, there are six fish camps on the lake, with varying levels of accommodations. There are also public boat ramps situated at the north shore off of U.S. 98; the northeast side of the lake off Cow House Road at Lake Boulevard; and the southwest shore off C.R. 621 at Highland Lake Drive.
For those without a boat, you can wade fish off of the boat ramp on Cow House Road. Excellent bank fishing for bass is found from the banks at the Istokpoga Canal - when the gates are open, that is! The mouths of the Arbuckle and Josephine Creeks are also good fishing areas when there is flow.
Florida Fishing at Lake Kissimmee
The biggest of five lakes on the well-knows Kissimmee River in central Florida, fishing the 34,948-acre Lake Kissimmee is an easy addition to Florida vacation plans. Lake Kissimmee is situated about 40 miles south of Orlando, or 18 miles east of Lake Wales. If you're bringing your family to see The Mouse and Friends in Orlando, be sure to take time out and fish at one of the best bass fishing lakes in Florida.
10-pounders and bigger largemouth bass are caught regularly at this lake! Popular fishing spots at Kissimmee are Brahma Island, Philadelphia Point, and North Cove, where plenty of grasses, bulrush, lily pads and hydrilla give cover for anglers to try their luck at flipping plastic baits.
Fly fishing is also excellent at Lake Kissimmee; bass are caught consistently during the spring and summe on popping bugs from one of the nice wade fishing areas.
Several fish camps and two public boat ramps are available to anglers to access Kissimmee Lake. Lake Kissimmee State Park is found off S.R. 60, about 15 miles east of Lake Wales, at 14248 Camp Mack Road. The state park has a boat ramp for direct lake access, and bank fishing from the dam is available for those preferring boatless Florida fishing. Call the park for details at 863-696-1112.
Nice fishing at Lake Kissimmee State Park's bridge (photo credit - Florida Parks)
Lake Tarpon, Florida Fishing
Locals know Lake Tarpon as The Jewel of Pinellas County, chiefly because of the lake's well-earned reputation for excellent Florida fishing for black bass.
If your Florida fishing vacations bring you to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, don't forget to try Lake Tarpon's bass fishing. Typically, the bass in this 2,500-acre lake range in length from 12 - 16 inches, but trophy bass are also caught in nice quantities at Tarpon, too.
Public boat ramps accessing Lake Tarpon are found at two country parks. Anderson Park is just a half-mile south of Tarpon Springs, and the boat ramp is on the west shore at Salmon Bay. The park entrance is on U.S. 19. The other public boat ramp is at on the lake's east side, in Chestnut Park, off C.R. 611 at East Lake Road.
For those sampling Florida fishing without a boat (and many anglers don't own a boat!), there's a bit of bank fishing available at both parks, but the best fishing is done from the two parks' piers and boardwalks.
Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk-in-Water)
Florida fishing at Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk-in-Water)
This is an outstanding Florida fishing lake, known nationwide as a great place to catch plenty of largemouth bass. It is common for a bass angler to land 25 bass - or more! - in a day; and typical for a few of the day's catch to weigh in the 4 - 8 pound range. Lake Walk-in-Water yields up many 10-pounders annually.
This is another great bass fishing lake with plentiful fishing for all, largely due to careful management by Florida's conservation agencies. Bass between 15 and 24 inches are protected, which means bass with a length falling within that range are catch and release only.
However, anglers have a bag limit of 3 bass a day, whether under or over the protected size range. Only one bass equal to or greater than 24 inches can be kept as one of the three keepers a day. This means that you can keep one bass that is 24 inches or longer, and 2 bass that are less than 15 inches; all other bass must be released immediately.
There isn't much bank fishing at Lake Walk-in-Water, but there is a a fishing pier at Lake Walk-in-Water Park, as well as a public boat ramp. You'll find the boat ramp a few miles south of S.R. 60, on Boat Landing Road. There's also a restroom, a few picnic tables, and canoe access to the lake.
Mosaic Fish Management Area
A lesser known Florida fishing area due to its relative newness, the recently opened lakes were created by surface phosphate mining. The resulting 12 lakes vary in size from 10 to 200 acres, and have a total of about 1,000 acres, with depths of up to 30 feet.
Popular bass fishing spots are Lake SP11, Lake Coulter, and Lake LP2 West (who names these lakes??). Try to get there before word gets out about this new Florida fishing area!
Like Tenoroc, Mosiac is open only 4 days a week to the public from Friday through Monday. However, lake fishing permits are issued on a first-come-first-serve policy, as reservations aren't accepted at Mosiac. Get there early!
Mosaic Lakes are east of Tampa, located near Fort Meade off Highway 17. Call (863)499-2421, ext 104 for more information and directions.
Rodman Reservoir
The Barge Canal and the river channel waters can be as deep as 30 feet; underwater vegetation is common in the deeper waters, too, providing bass plenty of cover. During the spring spawning season, you'll find the bass moving up into more shallow waters.
If your Florida fishing trip to Rodman is in the fall, try the stump fields downstream, where the bass congregate to feed.
Many trophy bass are also caught from the area between Cypress Bayou and Kenwood Landing. Boat ramps are found near the town of Interlachen, off C.R. 315 in Orange Springs and Kenwood. Another boat ramp is at the Rodman Recreational Area off Hwy 19, and also at Eureka, off C.R. 316.
Rodman Reservoir is found east of Gainesville and south of Palatka in northeast Florida.
Fresh Water Fishing in Northeast Florida (photo credit:SJRWMD)
Florida Fishing for Bass: Stick Marsh, or Farm 13, Reservoir
The 6,500-acre Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Reservoir has been one of the hottest Florida fishing lakes for years. It's found west of Vero Beachin northwest Indian River County, and was once farmland. Flooding in 1987 created the reservoir.
The lake is part of the St Johns River Water Managment Area; according to Florida's Fish & Wildlife Commission, anglers caught an estimated 42,000 bass from January through April 2005! Of those, over 700 bass weighed 8 pounds or more!
The Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Reservoir has exceptional trophy bass fishing, for good reason: there's a special catch and release regulation of largemouth bass (also known as black bass) for this lake! Please honor this policy - this way, at least some of the largemouth bass in Florida, and the fishing for trophies at this lake, remain (and grow bigger!) for the enjoyment of future anglers, too.
If you like to have your catch for dinner, you're better off to fish for bass in another location. However, today's taxidermists can recreate a very realistic-looking trophy bass from a quality photograph, so don't forget to bring your camera!
There's a concrete, double-lane boat ramp, as well as an airboat launch. There are rest rooms and picnic areas at the boat ramps, but there's no other facilities theres. If you're passing through Sebastian, Fellsmere, Melbourne, Palm Bay, or Vero Beach, better stop to gass up and buy bait and other supplies on your way in to the lake.
If you want to call first to check on local Florida fishing conditions before your Florida fishing trip, call either Palm Bay Fishing Outfitters at (321) 952-4435 or Middleton’s Stick Marsh Bait & Tackle at (772) 571-9855.
Florida Fishing on the Suwannee River
If you like kayak or canoe fishing, try the Suwannee River! While not well known for trophy-sized bass, there are respectable quantities of largemouth bass in this river; still, there are frequent catches of nice bass.
Another perk to fishing the Suwannee River, besides the scenery and the largemouth bass angling, is a smaller bass found in the river, appropriately named after the river. The Suwannee bass may not be as big as its largemouth bass cousin, but what the Suwannee bass lacks in size is made up for in fighting capacity!
The Santa Fe River is a main tributary of the Suwannee, and is spring-fed from many natural springs; this makes the water clearer and is nice for submerged vegation, too. The Suwannee bass is found more often in the Santa Fe River, in moderate to fast-moving current flowing around cypress trees. The slower-moving waters of the lower Suwannee River provide bass with cover like fallen trees and cypress trees on the outer bends, with lily pads providing cover on inside banks.
Whatever bass you're after, keep in mind that the preferred food is crawfish, and you'll do well enough using live crawfish, or crawfish-imitating lures.
There are many boat ramps along the river; there's one at the Suwannee River State Park, which also offers bank fishing, along with canoe rentals and full-facility camping, too. The park is found off U.S. 90, just 13 miles west of Live Oak, Florida.
Tenoroc Fishing Management Area Lakes
These are man-made lakes, created years ago by surface mining for phosphate; this kind of artifical lakes are sometimes known as "strip pits". Ranging in size from 7 to 227 acres, the depth can be as deep as 35 feet, with a total acreage of about 7,300 acres.
Tenoroc lakes have excellent bass fishing due to careful management. The lakes are open to the public only 4 days a week, so you'll have to call and make reservations to make sure you get to fish these lakes. Try planning your Florida fishing trip anytime from the middle of November through March, when largemouth bass fishing is most rewarding.
Try Shop Lake, Hydrilla Lake, Lake G, and Lakes 2-5 for the best bass fishing. If you can find underwater islands or sandbars off points, you'll most likely find good numbers of nice bass.
As mentioned, these are managed lakes, and it's catch-and-release only in some spots; there's a 15-inch size limit, too. Anything over 15 inches has to be let go immediately. When you visit Tenoroc, you'll have to check in at the Fish Management Area Headquarters, leave your fishing license as a deposit, and pay a daily fishing permit fee of $3. To make reservations, you'll need to call the Tenoroc Headquarters at (863) 499-2422.
Tenoroc Lakes are found off Highway 659, about 2 miles northeast of Lakeland. Just take Highway 33 south from I-4, which is the main interstate running between Tampa and Orlando.
Lake Toho, Florida Fishing (West Lake Tohopekaliga)
If you're taking a trip to Orlando, plan to do a little Florida fishing at this great bass fishing lake!
Trophy-sized bass are regularly caught from the over 18,810-acre Lake Toho by amateurs, too. A few well-like fishing spots on the lake are Little Grassy Island, Goblet's Cove, and North Steer Beach. When water flow is sufficient at St Cloud Canal and Shingle Creek, you'll find a nice amount of bass in these two tributaries. If you're fishing Lake Toho in the summer, there's eight, man-made fish attractors at deeper areas of the lake that should reward you with a nice catch.
For boatless fishing at Lake Toho, there's two public fishing piers, a county park, and lots of bank access on the north shore of the lake.
The city of Kissimmee is located on the north shore of Lake Toho. For even more Florida bass fishing opportunities, access nearby Lake Kissimmee from Lake Toho via water locks between the two lakes.
A nice six-lane boat ramp, complete with floating dock, is situated on Lakeshore Blvd. In Kissimmee, at the intersection of Highway 441/17-92 and Highway 192, drive south on Main Street a little over a half-mile to Monument Ave; where you'll turn left. Follow Monument Avenue to Lakeshore Boulevard and turn right. Drive another third of a mile and you'll see the ramp on the left. There's also a marina about a quarter-mile north of the ramp.
More Pages on Our Site About Florida Fishing for Bass...
Ever heard of an exotic import to Florida called the butterfly peacock bass? NO? You can learn all about these wild fighters on our peacock bass page.
Just beginning to experience Florida fresh water fishing? Wondering what the excitement is all about over largemouth bass? Learn about bass and Florida fishing for largemouth bass!
Yes, we mentioned this earlier, but in case you've overlooked it... we've devoted an entire page just to the bass fishing in Florida's Everglades. Go to the Everglades fishing page.
Finished learning about top Florida fresh water fishing spots? Return to the Florida bass fishing main page.
