Fishing Forecasts for 2010

	(Click on photo for larger image.) Florida's renowned black bass can be found in virtually any fishable freshwater body in the state. (Photo courtesy of TakeMeFishing.org)

Fish Busters' Bulletin

February 2010
Bob Wattendorf

It is that time of year again. Freshwater anglers are taking advantage of the last of the winter crappie action and really looking forward to the spring spawn of bass and bream. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists have completed their analyses of the 2009 fishing data to come up with a list of top fishing sites for 2010.

Information, along with fishing tips, is available to improve your fishing success at MyFWC.com/Fishing (click on "fishing sites and forecasts").

January's cold snap set several records and caused significant fish kills in freshwater areas. Fortunately for the resource and most users, those kills were primarily limited to nonnative fishes such as tilapia and suckermouth catfish. Thus, with the possible exception of peacock bass in Southeast Florida, the cold snap should not have harmed the overall freshwater fishing prognosis for 2010.

Site	Size	County	Featured species
Apalachicola River/Lake Seminole	106 miles; 37,500 acres	Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Jackson, Gadsden, Calhoun	Striped bass, channel, flathead and blue catfish
Lake Apopka	30,600 acres	Orange	Sunshine
Lake Arbuckle	3,800 acres	Highlands	Crappie
Blackwater/Yellow rivers	58/ miles	Okaloosa, Santa Rosa	Striped bass, flathead catfish
Lake Bryant	767 acres	Marion	Bream
Choctawhatchee River	96 miles	Bay, Holmes, Walton, Washington	Striped bass, sunshine, bream, channel and flathead catfish
Clermont Chain of Lakes	11 lakes totaling 8,692 acres	Lake	Channel and white catfish
Deer Point Lake	5,000 acres	Bay	Bass
Eagle Lake	541 acres	Polk	Sunshine bass
Escambia River	231 miles	Escambia	Striped bass, sunshine, channel, flathead and blue catfish
Everglades Conservation Areas 2 and 3	210 square miles	Palm Beach, Broward, Dade	Bass
Haines (Haynes) Creek	6 miles	Lake	Channel and white catfish, bullheads
Lake George	46,000 acres	Putnam, Volusia	Bass
Lake Harris	13,800 acres	Lake	Bream
Lake Istokpoga	28,000 acres	Highlands	Bass, crappie, bream
Lake Kissimmee	35,000 acres	Osceola	Bass, crappie, bream, channel and white catfish, bullheads
Lake Marian	5,700 acres	Osceola	Crappie, bream
Lake Marion	2,990 acres	Polk	Crappie
Lake Monroe	9,400 acres	Seminole, Volusia	Bass
Ochlockonee River	300 miles	Leon, Liberty, Franklin, Gadsden, Wakulla	Striped bass, white bass, channel, flathead and white catfish, bullheads
Orange Lake/Lochloosa Lake	12,550/5,700 acres	Alachua	Crappie, bream
Lake Osborne/Ida Chain of Lakes	356 acres	Palm Beach	Sunshine bass
Lake Panasoffkee	4,460 acres	Sumter	Bream
Lake Talquin	8,800 acres	Gadsden, Leon	Striped bass, white bass, crappie, bream
Lake Trafford	1,500 acres	Collier	Crappie
Lake Tarpon	2,500 acres	Pinellas	Bass
Lake Weohyakapka	7,500 acres	Polk	Bass, crappie
Mosaic Fish Management Area	1,000 acres	Polk	Bass, bream, crappie, channel catfish, bullheads
Rodman Reservoir	9,500 acres	Putnam	Bass
St. Johns River	310 miles	Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Volusia	Striped bass, sunshine bass, channel and white catfish, bullheads
St. Mary's/Nassau River	90 miles	Baker, Nassau	Striped bass
Suwannee River	213 miles	Suwannee	Bass, bream
Tenoroc Fish Management Area	7,300 acres	Polk	Bass, crappie
West Lake Tohopekaliga	18,810 acres	Osceola	Bass, crappie, bream

In Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World, with more than 7,700 named lakes and 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals, you're never far from an opportunity to relax and wet a line. Your recreational time spent on the water communing with nature and relaxing is time well used. Studies have shown that both children and adults who take time out to enjoy active nature-based recreation lead healthier, happier and smarter lives (www.GetOutdoorsFlorida.org).

Remember, if you catch a big fish, it may be eligible for recognition in the "Big Catch" Angler Recognition Program. The FWC recognizes 33 different species of freshwater sportfish in the program, and has extra incentives for catching a variety of species. If you submit a photo with the application, you may also see yourself published in the Fish Busters' Bulletin one day. Check out a copy of the Florida Fishing Regulations (2009-2010) - Freshwater Edition for a copy of a "Big Catch" application or go online to MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn all the details.

Also, be on the lookout for the 5-Year Freshwater Fishing License bonus program. The first 3,000 anglers to purchase a 5-year or lifetime license after March 1 automatically receive a free bonus package in the mail. Not only do we have you covered "hook, line and sinker," but we also have sample lures, other bonus gifts, coupons (including a free spincast reel worth more than $100 with purchase of a bait casting reel) and literature. The value of the freebies and coupons is more than enough to offset the cost of your 5-year license. Plus, you don't have to worry about renewing your license or any price increases for the next five years.

Top of page

Have news releases sent directly to your desktop.

Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.