If you would like additional descriptions of these and other fishing sites listed by county, you can visit the Great Outdoors Recreation Page listing for Florida's Northeast Region. Please note, however, that their site is not routinely updated to reflect current fishing conditions. Check out the Northeast Region fishing guide (PDF, 1.2 mb) for places to fish, tips, accommodations and more. Receive email when this page changes by clicking the icon below:
The Lake Garcia Reservoir is a 3,149-acre section of the Blue Cypress Water Management Area (BCWMA) along the east coast of central Florida in north Indian River County. Water depths range from 1.5 to 6 feet on this impoundment, fluctuating seasonally. Boaters unfamiliar with the BCWMA are advised to operate their crafts cautiously, due to the number of navigational hazards found throughout the area. Facilities include a double lane concrete boat ramp, air boat launch site, paved parking lot, picnic pavilion and restroom. This impoundment is noted for good numbers of smaller largemouth bass, but does produce its share of trophy bass each year. Largemouth, bluegill and black crappie are the sportfish most often targeted by anglers.
Lake Garcia experienced moderately low water conditions
over the summer. However, by late-August water levels had recovered and the lake
resumed its normal appearance. Several reports by anglers of sporadic fish kills
came in during early September, with staff hoping the kill was only minor. We
will have to see how the fishing cranks up as water temperature and conditions
improve this quarter. For more information on daily fishing forecasts and lake
conditions call Middleton’s Stick Marsh Bait and Tackle at (772) 571-9855 and
Palm Bay Fishing Outfitters at (321) 952-4435. LAKE BLUE CYPRESS (Indian River County): Blue Cypress is a 6,555-acre lake located in Indian River County. It is a scenic body of water with a shoreline structure composed of cypress and spatterdock. Several fish attractors have been constructed in open-water areas and are marked with buoys. Lake Blue Cypress has a good population of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, and catfish.
For more
information on daily fishing forecasts and lake conditions, call Middleton’s
Fish Camp at: (772) 778-0150. For more information on daily fishing forecasts and lake conditions call Middleton’s Fish Camp at: (561) 778-0150. CLERMONT CHAIN (Lake County): This 11-lake chain is located in Lake County’s rolling hills near the town of Clermont. There are two public boat ramps and one is on Lake Minneola (fee charged) north of SR 50 in Clermont. The other is a FWC ramp just north of Lake Louisa on Hull Road. Water levels are normal this year, so access should not be a problem at either ramp. For those preferring to fish from shore, there is a fishing pier on Lake Minneola. Most of the chain has tea-colored water, but Lake Minneola (1,888 acres) is relatively clear. All lakes on the Clermont Chain are Fish Management Areas, so a fishing license is required for most anglers. Largemouth bass can be caught
along edges of the grassline on plastic worms and crankbaits. Channel catfish
action is good on live, dead or prepared baits in lakes Minneola, Minnehaha and
Louisa. Crappie fishing is good on minnows drifted in the open-water areas. Due to Tropical
Storm Fay water levels on Crescent Lake will probably be quite high through the
start of this quarter, scattering fish as they move out into flooded areas. As
such, fishing will probably be slow. Docks in deeper waters along the western
shore of the lake are the best bet for bass anglers using either artificial
baits or live shiners. Numerous deadfalls scattered on the eastern shore also
hold bass. Eel grass beds still have not recovered following 2004’s hurricane
season. Remaining patches of vegetation should retain good numbers of bass. Try
the deeper edges of the bulrush and scattered grass patches along the west shore
of the lake. Cooler temperatures mean its time for black crappie (speckled
perch). Anglers should have good luck drifting or trolling minnows or crappie
jigs, particularly in the southern end of the lake. The St. Johns Water Management Area (SJWMA), known to most anglers as the Farm 13/Stick Marsh, is a 6,500-acre impoundment located along the east coast of central Florida in northwest Indian River County. Water depths range from 4 to 8 feet. Boaters unfamiliar with the SJWMA are advised to navigate to fishing locations with extreme caution due to the number of man-made and natural hazards present. Facilities include a double lane concrete boat ramp, air boat launch site, restroom and paved parking lot. Closest towns/cities are Melbourne, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere. No gas, food or bait available on site. Popular sportfish include largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and several catfish species. This water body is noted for its excellent bass fishing due to the special no harvest regulation on largemouth bass. The SJWMA is one of the top 10 trophy bass spots in the state. Reduced water temperature in the early fall is typically associated with increased bass activity throughout this reservoir. As the water cools through December, bass can be expected to begin their pre-spawning phase, staging near channels and submerged drainage ditches that are protected from heavy wave action. Anglers will have to continue relying on their electronics to locate fish-holding habitat, because the hydrilla was eradicated by the 2004 hurricanes and has yet to show signs of returning. Similar conditions should exist as seen in previous years, when concentrations of spawning bass were found in the flow-way on the north end of the Stick Marsh and the stump-fields on the southern end of the Farm 13 reservoir. If no late-season tropical weather systems affect the region, conditions should be right for an outstanding fishing season. Early in the quarter, anglers should look for feeding activity around the inflows and outflows of water control structures and other areas generating current such as the channelized areas at the northwest and northeast ends of the Stick Marsh. Water temperature and clarity will dictate lure selection. If the water is still warm in the early fall, top-water lures such as chuggers or propeller plugs may be effective. During the cooler months, golden shiners are the most popular bait for anglers seeking trophy bass. For those who prefer artificial lures, likely choices are shallow-running and deep-diving shad imitations, plastic worms (June bug, tequila sunrise, and red shad colors) and light-colored spinnerbaits.
Significant numbers of black crappie should
be found along Ditch 7, Ditch 13 and other secondary submerged ditches
throughout the system. Successful techniques for tasty specks include live
minnows under a float, or small jigs (1/32 – 1/8 oz) in curlytail or tube
styles. Jigs in chartreuse or green seem to be among the more productive colors.
The key to catching crappie and bluegill this time of year is to locate a
good-sized school, because the schools will tend to be scattered. They can often
be found along a drop-off or ledge or suspended in the deep canals. Again, the
lack of hydrilla for visual orientation necessitates the use of electronics to
locate fish and structure. A map in PDF format is available courtesy of the St. Johns Water Management District , it is referred to by them as the Blue Cypress management area. For more information on daily fishing forecasts and lake conditions call Middleton’s Fish Camp at: (561) 778-0150. LAKE GEORGE (Putnam & Volusia counties): This lake is a 46,000-acre natural impoundment of the St. Johns River with extensive vegetation that provides an excellent habitat for fish. There are jetties located on the south end of the lake where the St. Johns River enters the lake. Most of the lake is less than 10 feet deep but a natural channel provides navigation for boats as large as oil barges. Public access can be obtained from Blue Creek Road to Lake George Road off of Highway 40, (See Central Region Boat Ramps for more detail). Private access to Lake George can be obtained from Pine Island fish camp (386-749-2818), or Georgetown Marina & Lodge (386-467-2002). For additional listings of fish camps or further information, please contact our fisheries office in DeLeon Springs at 386-985-7827. Due to flooding from
Tropical Storm Fay, the St. Johns River is idle speed only from Lake George
south to Lake Monroe. Concurrent with the idle speed zone, public boat ramps
along the St. Johns River are closed. Access is still available through private
ramps. The idle speed zone will remain in effect until flood waters recede. High
waters and the associated flushing of local marshes and swamps will cause
localized dissolved oxygen depletions on the south end of the lake at the start
of the quarter. LAKE HARRIS (Lake County): Lake Harris is an 13,788 acre lake located south and east of the City of Leesburg. Access to the lake is from Singletary Park on the outskirts of Leesburg on U.S. Hwy 27, at a City of Leesburg boat ramp in Venetian Gardens off of SR 44 (Dixie Avenue), at the Hickory Point recreational area ($2.00 fee per vehicle) on SR 19 south of Tavares, and in Astatula at a ramp on Florida Avenue west of C.R. 561. Lake Harris Lodge (352-343-4111) is a fish camp located on Lake Harris off of US Hwy 19 south of Tavares, and Palm Gardens (352-343-2024) is located on US Hwy 441 near Tavares. Largemouth bass fishing is productive along deepwater edges of vegetation and in canals. Bass are hitting topwater plugs, plastic worms and crankbaits. Black crappie are biting well on minnows below the Highway 19 bridge and while drifting the open water areas of the lake. KENANSVILLE LAKE-formerly Blue Cypress Reservoir (Indian River County): Kenansville Lake is a shallow 2,500- acre impoundment with an average water depth of 3 feet. This area was cattle pasture prior to flooding in 1993. Boaters, especially those unfamiliar with this water body, should navigate with caution as there are rows of submerged fence posts throughout the lake. Interior levees are also located at the north, center and south areas of the lake. A single lane concrete boat ramp is the only facility on the site. The town of Kenansville is the closest place to obtain gas, food and bait. Although most anglers fish this area by boat, bank fishing is available along the access canal and north end of the lake for those willing to walk or ride a bicycle to those areas. The most popular fish species include: black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. All largemouth bass are protected by a special no harvest regulation. Black crappie have endured a long,
hot summer in this shallow reservoir and fishing usually turns on after water
temperatures begin to cool during this quarter. Last year anglers reported a
drastic decline in crappie catches, blaming unusually low water levels as a
factor. Last year’s sampling results also indicated the crappie population may
actually be down from past years. Crappie anglers coming to the lake can expect
to find fish around the submerged drainage canals running along the northern,
eastern and southern shorelines of the reservoir and in the center canal that
bisects the northern and southern pools. Many anglers use a cane pole or
telescoping pole to deliver a jig or minnow to specks that are holding tight in
the bulrushes. However, if water levels remain low in the reservoir, the fish
will be forced out of the vegetation and into the deeper adjacent canals. Also
look for occasional patches of floating aquatic vegetation that may hold food
items that would attract specks. Traditional jigging techniques often work well
in the deeper canals, but some anglers have better success with live minnows
slow-trolled along the canal or fished under a small float. Keep adjusting the
depth of the minnow beneath the float until fish are located. Bluegill, redear
sunfish and catfish are less active during this time of year but are caught
regularly by anglers targeting black crappie.
Anglers should be aware that they can
no longer access Kenansville Lake through the Big M Canal from Blue Cypress
Lake. Anglers are also reminded that all largemouth bass
caught must be released immediately under the special no-harvest regulation. LAKE KISSIMMEE (Osceola County): Lake
Kissimmee is a 34,948-acre lake located 40 miles south of Orlando and 18
miles east of Lake Wales.
LAKE MONROE (Seminole & Volusia counties): The St. Johns River flows through this 9,406-acre lake. The city of Sanford borders on the southern shoreline. Public access can be utilized off the Seminole County side of the intersection of Highway 17/92 and I-4; north side of the lake off of Enterprise Road; and at Monroe Harbor Marina in downtown Sanford. Private access and more recent fishing information can be obtained form Lake Monroe Inn Bait & Tackle (407/322-3108), Highbanks Marina and Camp Resort (386/668-4491), or Best Western Marina (407/323-1910) For further information please contact our fisheries office in DeLeon Springs at 386-985-7827.
Due to flooding from Tropical Storm Fay,
Lake Monroe is currently closed to vessel traffic.
Concurrent with the closure, public boat ramps around Lake Monroe are also
closed. Access is still available through private ramps. The closure will remain
in effect until flood waters recede. High waters will also cause fish to scatter
into the flood plain. As such, fishing will probably be slow, at best. OCALA FOREST LAKES (Lakes & Marion counties): There are approximately 600 natural lakes in the Ocala National Forest with lakes Bryant, Mill Dam, Kerr, Crooked, Wildcat, Lou Echo, Grasshopper, Eaton and Quarry Fish Pond being the most popular. A booklet titles "Fishing Opportunities in the Ocala National Forest" by the Ocala National Forest Interpretive Association is available at the Visitors Welcome Center at the intersection of S.R. 40 and C.R. 315. This booklet describes sport fishing locations, with recommendations for fishing methods and accessibility, as well as a topographic map. Recent tropical
rainfall has improved boat access to most lakes. Largemouth bass fishing is good
on live shiners, surface lures and plastic worms along grasslines. Black crappie
fishing is good on minnows while drifting offshore areas. OKLAWAHA RIVER (Marion & Putnam counties): The Oklawaha River originates at the north end of Lake Griffin in Lake County. The upper reach is largely channelized but is in a natural condition for most of its length. Rodman Reservoir is a 16 mile impoundment lying between Highway 316 near Ft. McCoy to Highway 19 near Palatka. The river is again natural from the Rodman Dam to its confluence with the St. Johns River near Welaka. Largemouth bass action
is good using live shiners and plastic worms around deepwater structures, while
topwater lures and plastic worms are productive near vegetation and brush.
Channel and white catfish are active downstream of Rodman Dam in deep holes
along bends of the river and are being taken on worms and chicken livers. Some
crappie are being caught on minnows around submerged brush. LAKE PANASOFFKEE (Sumter County): This is a 4,460-acre Fish Management Area located by the town of Lake Panasoffkee. Panasoffkee is unusual; a true spring-fed lake, water depths seldom exceed four feet. I-75 runs along the eastern edge and C.R. 470 along the southern and western shore. A public ramp is available on the Outlet River, west of the lake on C.R. 470.
Bluegill and redear sunfish are still providing good
action on crickets, live worms and grass shrimp. Largemouth bass action is good
on plastic worms and topwater lures fished in and around grass beds. Water
levels have improved but still remain lower than normal. Larger boats can access
the lake at Tracy’s Point Fish Camp, while small jon boats can also launch at
Pana Vista Lodge. RODMAN RESERVOIR (Putnam County): A premier largemouth bass fishery located in north Northeast Florida, covers 9,500 acres and is about 15 miles long. It is located south of Palatka off of Hwy 19. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. A four-gate spillway (Kirkpatrick Dam) controls the water levels of the reservoir. The reservoir from its headwaters at Eureka Dam to Paynes Landing consists of flooded woodlands. The transition section from Paynes Landing to Orange Springs consists of flooded standing timber and areas of floating vegetation. The pool section from Orange Springs to Kirkpatrick Dam, including the river channel and the Cross Florida Barge Canal, consists of floating and submersed vegetation, dead standing timber and submersed and partially submersed trees and stumps. The Barge Canal and river channel have water depths up to 30 feet deep. Submersed vegetation (hydrilla, coontail and eel grass) is common in the pool section of the reservoir. Drawdowns are conducted every three to four years on the reservoir for aquatic plant control and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement. Largemouth bass anglers should have success fishing the river channel with live shiners, deep-diving crank baits and Carolina-rigged worms. Deep bends are good places to start and are holding largemouth bass from Orange Springs to Eureka. Early morning and evening top-water action should be good along the flats adjacent to the river channel from Orange Springs to Kirkpatrick Dam. Bluegill and redear sunfish action has slowed in the vegetation mats along the Kenwood area; however, redbreast sunfish action will be fair upstream of Orange Springs in deep holes. Grass shrimp and live worms are your best baits. * Special note: Look out for floating logs. Use caution when boating in the river channel, Barge Canal and stump fields. For updated information: Due to flooding
from Tropical Storm Fay, the St. Johns River is idle speed only from Lake George
south to Lake Monroe, and closed to vessel traffic from Lake Monroe south to SR
50. Concurrent with the idle speed zones and closures, public boat ramps
along the St. Johns River are closed. Access is still available through private
ramps. The closures and idle speed zones will remain in effect until flood
waters recede. High waters and the associated flushing of local marshes and
swamps will cause a depletion in dissolved oxygen levels on the river, probably
leading to fish kills. As such, fishing will probably be slow, at best. Water levels should be
higher than last year due to the abundance of rainfall this August, making
navigation easier for boaters. Anglers will likely find bass and panfish catches
improving as temperatures begin to drop. With adequate rainfall, the current
found around the entrances and exits of lakes usually stimulates feeding
activity. Bass anglers can expect to find fish hiding in shoreline habitat along
banks, sharp bends, and drop-offs near shallow bars. If water levels have
normalized by December, bass will move up into protected areas near vegetation
as they prepare to spawn. Bass fishing should be good on lakes Washington,
Winder, and Poinsett and the riverine sections north of SR 520. The middle river
section between Winder and Poinsett is also known to be highly productive. Most
traditional methods for taking bass will work including swimming plastic worms
or soft jerkbaits and twitching diving-minnow imitations. As long as the water
remains warm in the early fall, fly fishing with a surface popper can be a very
productive way to catch both bass and panfish in these sections of the river. For listings of fish camps or for further information please contact our fisheries office in DeLeon Springs at 386-985-7827. For lakes Washington, Poinsett and Winder please contact or East coast Fisheries office in Melbourne at 407-752-3115. LAKE TOHOPEKALIGA (Osceola County): Lake Tohopekaliga known to the locals as Lake Toho is an 18,810-acre lake located southeast of the city of Kissimmee. The lakes Commission made fish attractors are especially popular fishing areas, for a map with lat-long coordinates, click here. A gradual cooling of
air and water temperatures will benefit bass anglers as conditions will become
more comfortable and, in turn, fish will become more active. For those bass
anglers who want a chance at some good fishing opportunities, vegetative
communities (knotgrass, maidencane and hydrilla) associated with Little Grassy
Island, Lanier Point, North Steer Beach and Goblet’s Cove should be high on the
list of likely locations. Also, offshore hydrilla near channel marker 24 should
be holding good numbers of bass. Both live and artificial baits should be very
effective utilized within these areas. Golden shiners will be the live bait of
choice, although many anglers will opt to using spinnerbaits (white or
white/chartreuse skirted), crankbaits (shad imitation), top-water propeller
baits and Carolina- or Texas-rigged plastic worms (black grape, black/blue and
Junebug colored). Both live and artificial baits should account for some
outstanding action. LAKE YALE (Lake County): Lake Yale is a 4,042-acre lake located northwest of the City of Eustis. Access to the lake is from C.R. 452 in Marsh Park on the outskirts of Eustis and off C.R. 450 west of the City of Umatilla. Black crappie action will be good for anglers drifting minnows in offshore areas of the lake. Largemouth bass fishing will be good using shiners, plastic worms, topwater plugs and spinnerbaits near vegetation. There are no fish camps on the lake, but you can get bait and supplies from Owens Marine on S.R. 19 in Eustis or from Umatilla Bait and Tackle on S.R. 19 just south of Umatilla. For more information on how fishing has been lately, contact the Eustis Field Office at 352-742-6438.     The Division of Freshwater Fisheries Mission and Goal [ FISHING RULES | FISHING LICENSES | FISH IDENTIFICATION | FISHING TIPS | FISHING SITES & FORECASTS | | FBCC | BOAT RAMPS | PIERS | FISHING LINKS | FISHING MAPS | | FISHERIES PUBLICATIONS | FISH BUSTER COLUMN | FISHERIES NEWS | FISHERIES OFFICES-PROJECTS | | FISHERIES PERMITS | BIG CATCH PROGRAM | SPORT FISH RESTORATION | BASS TAG FOR CARS | | DIVING/PHOTOGRAPHY | JOE BUDD AEC | WOMEN'S OWN | FISHING CALENDAR | | FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS | FUNSTUFF & GAMES | RECORD FISH | FISH ORLANDO! | | SPONSOR OPTIONS | FISH MANAGEMENT AREAS | MULTIMEDIA SHOWS AND PHOTOS | | SITE MAP | LINK TO US | CUSTOMER SURVEY | ASK FWC ] NOTE: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records; request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. MyFWC.com • Copyright © 1999-2008 State of Florida • Privacy Statement • EEO/AA/ADA Advertising Statement & Disclaimer | |||||
definition television show about the St. Johns River that will air in October on
PBS. Meanwhile their Web site provides some excellent information about
the river.