 Largemouth bass are found in almost every body of freshwater in Florida. With more than 7,500 lakes available, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about where to fish. The following list of Top Bass Fishing Areas aims to help anglers find a quality place to catch either good numbers of bass or to catch a trophy bass. For more information on Florida's freshwater fishing opportunities and fishing forecasts, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC's) Web site at Fishing Sites/Forecasts, and for basic fishing tips. (NOTE: The links to the lakes and rivers below will take you to their current forecast.)
FWC fisheries biologists selected these Florida lakes and rivers (in no specific order) as top black bass fishing destinations for 2009. See also the Department of Health's Florida Fish Consumption Advisories for important information about eating fish. Lake George is one of the premier largemouth bass fishing lakes in central Florida. It is the second largest lake in the state (46,000 acres), and is located 18 miles northwest of Deland and 29 miles east of Ocala.
Lake George is one of the many natural lakes that are part of the St. Johns River System. It has extensive vegetation that provides excellent habitat for bass. Wade fishing in eel grass with plastic worms fished on the surface or with other topwater lures is productive. Fishing with live golden shiners is an excellent method for catching trophy bass during the spring spawning season.
Hot spots on the lake include Juniper, Salt and Silver Glen spring runs on the western shoreline. In winter and early spring, look for bass to congregate at the jetties on the south end of the lake. Casting deep-diving crankbaits near old dock structures along the northeast shore and off Drayton Island can also be productive.
There are many fish camps on the St. Johns River just north and south of Lake George; however, the only one located on the lake itself is Pine Island Fish Camp. There is one public boat ramp with limited parking on the south end of the lake off Blue Creek Lodge Road, located north of Highway 40. A fishing pier is also located along the east side of the lake at the end of Nine Mile Point Road. Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in the St. Johns River from the SR 415 bridge near Enterprise south, including Lake George. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow Department of Health (DOH) guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page Located adjacent to the City of Kissimmee in central Florida, the 18,810-acre West Lake Tohopekaliga is well known in the angling community for producing excellent fishing as well as trophy largemouth bass. Following a habitat enhancement project in 2004, the plant community has flourished providing anglers with numerous opportunities to locate lunker bass. Bass anglers fishing Lake Tohopekaliga in 2009 have reported excellent catches, with numerous fish over ten pounds being caught. In fact, results from angler surveys conducted from August through November indicated bass angler catch success was 0.71 fish/hr, which is well above the average for other water bodies monitored within the state. Based on this estimate and the advent of the spawning season, bass angler success in spring 2010 should be outstanding.
The majority of anglers targeting trophy bass use live golden shiners during early spring. Shiners are fished inshore near native vegetation or topped-out hydrilla. Plastic baits (worms, crawfish and lizards) flipped or pitched along either grass edges, hydrilla or bulrush will account for some quality-sized bass. Spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits and chugging baits can also be very productive. Both Texas- and Carolina-rigged plastic worms and rattling crankbaits are proven lures during warmer months of the year. Also, schooling activity by bass can usually be observed during the warm months and can provide anglers with some fast action on topwater baits and lipless crankbaits.
North Steer Beach, Little Grassy Island and Goblet's Cove are areas that bass anglers frequent and have had good success in the past. Both Shingle Creek and St. Cloud Canal (C-31) hold good concentrations of fish when flow is present through these tributaries. Eight man-made fish attractors located in deeper areas of the lake consistently produce good stringers of bass during the summer.
Two fish camps, one marina, one County park and five public boat ramps are available to anglers. Two fishing piers and numerous access points exist for bank fisherman along Lakeshore Drive and Neptune Road at the north end of the lake.
For more information about the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes visit www.floridakiss.com
Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Tohopekaliga. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH gudelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass per month. All others are advised t limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page  Covering roughly 35,000 acres, Lake Kissimmee is the largest of five main water bodies on the famous Kissimmee River in central Florida. Nationally renowned for consistently producing high quality fishing, Lake Kissimmee continues to be a favorite fishing destination of anglers visiting Florida. As a result of aggressive habitat management, anglers fishing the lake will find a diverse and expansive plant community at their disposal, providing numerous areas to try their luck and enjoy their time on the water. Based on results from angler surveys conducted in spring 2009, bass fishing continued to be very good as anglers experienced a catch success rate of 0.53 fish/hr, double the average across the state, with numerous reports of bass ten pounds and larger being caught.
Native grasses, bulrush, hydrilla and lily pads at Philadelphia Point, North Cove, Brahma Island and the Pig Trail provide anglers with excellent cover to pitch or flip plastic baits or slow-troll golden shiners for spawning bass during the winter and spring. Rattling crankbaits, soft jerkbaits and Texas- or Carolina-rigged plastic worms and minnow imitations fished in open-water or along edges of vegetation are productive during summer and fall. Fly fishermen have access to some outstanding areas to wade fish and consistently have good success with popping bugs during the spring and summer.
Three fish camps, one state park and two public boat ramps are available to anglers.
For more information about the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes visit www.floridakiss.com
Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Kissimmee. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass per month. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka, covers 9,500 acres of prime largemouth bass habitat. Since its creation in 1968, Rodman Reservoir has been known for trophy largemouth bass. Much of the fishery's success is attributed to abundant habitat in the form of stumps and submersed aquatic vegetation, and periodic drawdowns occurring every three years. Although drawdowns on Rodman are used primarily to control invasive aquatic vegetation, biologists have demonstrated a relationship between strong largemouth bass year-class production and reservoir drawdowns. These year classes provide “pulses” to the fishery at three-year intervals that provide the majority of the angler catch.
Generally, largemouth bass on Rodman Reservoir are most active during cooler months. Anglers targeting trophy largemouth bass use live golden shiners, either floated under a cork or free-lined. Most big bass are caught in the pool area, known as the “stump fields,” along the river channel. However, many trophy bass come from the area between Cypress Bayou and Kenwood Landing. Successful anglers also use artificial baits, such as deep-diving and lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastics.
During normal water levels, boat ramps can be found near the town of Interlachen off C.R. 315 in Orange Springs and Kenwood. Additional boat ramps are located at the Rodman Recreational Area off Hwy 19 and at Eureka off C.R. 316.
Consumption Advisory: Very low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Rodman Reservoir. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to eight 6 oz. meals per month (or two per Week). Lake Tarpon is a 2,500-acre lake near Tampa/St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. This lake has consistently produced high quality largemouth bass fishing for years. Most fish range from 12 to 16 inches long; however, quality and trophy fish are also present in good numbers. Biologists have observed individual anglers catching upwards of 20 fish, including an occasional ten-pounder.
Anglers are most successful flipping or pitching plastic worms along canal and bulrush edges. Offshore bass fishing is productive for anglers who fish around ledges, humps, coontail, and eel grass beds. Popular lures offshore include shad-imitating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater baits. Fishing with live wild shiners and live shad is also effective.
There are two public boat ramps within county parks. Anderson Park boat ramp is on the west shore, off U.S. 19. Chestnut Park boat ramp is on the east side of the lake, off C.R. 611. Some bank access is available in both parks. Boardwalks and piers serve as excellent fishing locations.
Consumption Advisory: Very low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Tarpon. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to eight 6 oz. meals per month (or two per Week). top of page  Lake Weohyakapka, commonly known as Lake Walk–in-Water, is a 7,500-acre water body. The lake is located south of Orlando and east of Lake Wales, and is just south of S.R. 60. Lake Walk-in-Water has a national reputation as an outstanding spot to catch largemouth bass. Individual anglers frequently land up to 25 bass a day, with the catch often including several ranging from four to eight pounds. The lake also produces many trophy bass exceeding ten pounds each year. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit regulation and a three-bass daily bag limit are in place to help maintain quality bass fishing. Anglers may keep three bass per day, either under or over the protected slot range, of which only one bass greater than or equal to 24 inches is allowed.
The hurricanes in 2004 removed almost all of the hydrilla from the lake. Angling techniques need to be altered since the hydrilla has not returned as expected, with only a few small patches being found. However, if you can find them, these few hydrilla patches should hold good numbers of bass.
Pitching live wild shiners and flipping soft plastic baits in the bulrush (“buggy whips” or “round rush”) in the northern, eastern, and southern areas of the lake should be successful through the spring. Spinnerbaits should also produce bass in the bulrush and cattail stands. Bass have also been found in maidencane grass and knotgrass (Kissimmee grass) stands along the shoreline during spring and fall sampling on the lake. Soft jerkbaits are a must when fishing these areas.
Topwater lures are also productive, particularly chuggers or walk-the-dog types of baits. Although topwater baits catch fish throughout the year, summer months offer the best action when schools of bass roam deep-water areas. Bass will move offshore when the shallow water temperature heats up through the summer.
A public ramp is located on Boat Landing Road, which runs east off of Walk-in-the-Water Road, just a few miles south of S.R. 60. There is little access for bank fishing on the lake.
Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Walk-in-Water. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass per month. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page Largemouth bass anglers who fish the Kissimmee Chain of lakes to the north and Lake Okeechobee to the south often overlook 28,000-acre Lake Istokpoga. Situated in Highlands County between U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 south of Sebring, Istokpoga is the fifth largest natural lake in Florida and has an average depth of only six feet. Past angler surveys have estimated more than 1,000 bass over 8 pounds being caught in less than a year's time. Bass angler catch rates were relatively slow last year, but have increased quite a bit this year.
Although bass fishing is excellent throughout the year, April and October are the best months for anglers looking for cooler weather and lots of bass. From January through April, bass can be found spawning in bulrush, cattail, and other vegetation over sandy lake bottom areas that were enhanced during the 2001 drawdown. Spawning bass can also be found around the lake's two islands: Big Island and Bumblebee Island. Flipping dark-colored, soft plastics in bulrush patches and in pockets of submerged vegetation can be productive during this time of year. Red shad and Junebug colors seem to be the most successful when fishing with soft plastics.
In spring and summer, topwater lures and jerkbaits worked over the top of hydrilla and pondweed in the south half of the lake are often successful. Weedless spoons tipped with grub tails and spinnerbaits fished over pondweed south of Bumblebee Island are deadly on bass during early morning. Rattling lures (silver, gold and “Tennessee shad” are excellent colors) can also be effective during summer and fall as baitfish school in open water areas along the north end of the lake. A live shiner fished a few feet under a popping cork is the most reliable bait for catching trophy bass.
Lake Istokpoga has a 15- to 24-inch protected (no-harvest) slot limit for bass with a three fish daily bag limit, of which only one bass may be 24 inches or longer. All residents between 16 and 65 years of age and all non-residents are required to have a fishing license.
Several fish camps and four public boat ramps provide access to the lake. For more information about lodging and other amenities around Lake Istokpoga, contact the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce at (863) 385-8448.
Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Istokpoga. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page Anglers should be aware that a drawdown of Deer Point Lake is scheduled sometime between January and March 2010 so access during the winter months may be limited. Deer Point Lake is a popular largemouth bass fishing destination in Florida's panhandle area near Panama City. This 5,000-acre impoundment is located 7 miles north of Panama City off US 231 and SR 77 at Southport. Deer Point Lake is fed by natural freshwater streams and supplies more than 760 million gallons of fresh water daily to Panama City and the surrounding areas.
Although largemouth bass fishing typically slows down during the winter months in Deer Point Lake, it picks up again in mid-February and March, and becomes red hot in April and May.
Anglers unfamiliar with Deer Point Lake should try fishing for largemouth bass in the old creek channels of Bear, Cedar and Econfina creeks with plastic worms, diving crankbaits or Rat-L-Traps. Bayou George and the flats area at the confluence of Bayou George and Deer Point Lake are also popular largemouth spots. Also, try targeting docks and boathouses along the creek channels and at the mouth of Bayou George. Anglers should exercise extreme caution during boat operation due to the tremendous amount of flooded cypress stumps and snags found in the lake.
The lake can be accessed by taking US 231 north to Panama City (6 miles) to C2321 west (1.5 miles) and then turning right on C2311 for 3.5 miles; the ramp is on the left. There are two fish camps located on the Lake:
Cherokee Landing on County Road 2301 at the bridge crossing (10035 County Road; Youngstown, FL 32466; (850) 722-4902.)
Tharp's Camp off Resota Beach Road (4405 Huckleberry Lane; Panama City, FL 32409; (850) 265-2330.)
Consumption Advisory: Elevated mercury levels have been found to occur in largemouth bas in Deerpoint Lake. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and not consume any bass from Deerpoint lake. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to one 6 oz. meal per month (or one per month). top of page The Suwannee River is a pristine, black-water stream which flows 213 miles within Florida from a swampy region near the Georgia border to salt-marsh tidal creeks where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Rocky bluffs and shoal areas occur in the upper reaches of the river. Floodplain cypress tree/hardwood swamp borders, lined with lily pads, are found throughout the middle reaches of the Suwannee River. The Santa Fe River, a major tributary of the Suwannee, is influenced by the input of many natural springs which makes the water clearer, yet more productive for submersed vegetation and invertebrate fish food organisms.
Although the Suwannee River is not known for trophy largemouth bass, good numbers of bass can be expected, and quality-sized largemouth bass are frequently caught by anglers. The smaller, but feisty, Suwannee bass species also occurs throughout much of the river system. Suwannee bass over 16 inches (two pounds) can be caught by anglers in the Santa Fe River, which qualify as a “Big Catch” in FWC's Big Catch Angler Recognition Program.
Crawfish are the main food item for bass throughout the entire river system, so anglers should fish accordingly. Plastic worms, lizards and crawfish; jigs with orange skirts and pork rinds; and metallic crankbaits are all standard fare that catch fish in the river. While the scenery may change every 20 or 30 miles, the key to catching bass is the same. Anglers should always look for deep structure, or shallow structure that has deep water nearby. Suwannee bass, which are more common in the Santa Fe River, prefer moderate to fast current flowing around cypress trees. When water levels are low, the mid-river is a better bet for catching Suwannee bass, particularly in vegetated areas or other structure.
The lower Suwannee River moves more slowly, and bass utilize shoreline cover such as fallen trees and cypress trees on the outer bends of the river. Plastic baits, rigged weedless, can also catch bass on the inside shallow banks where lily pads are present. Live shiners can be fished into brush piles from upstream areas by letting them float downstream. Small bass will hit a fly or a small floater-diver fished along the bank in the Suwannee.
The estuary is also productive. Fishing can be outstanding during the fall when shrimp migrate into the river. Tidal creeks provide a unique fishing experience near the Gulf of Mexico.
Boat ramps are located along the entire river, but fish camps are few and far between.
Consumption Advisory: Relatively low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in the Suwannee River drainage, including the Suwannee, Santa Fe, Withlachoochee, and Alapaha Rivers. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page The Everglades Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) are south Florida marshlands intersected with over 200 miles of canals. WCA 2 has 210 square miles of marsh, and WCA 3 covers approximately 915 square miles of marsh. Originally designed for flood control and water supply, the area provides some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the country. Daily catches of 50 or more bass are not uncommon during the peak season.
Over 25 public boat ramps provide access to the different segments of canals surrounding and intersecting the WCAs. The L-67A, L-35B and Alligator Alley (I-75) are three of the most popular canals in the area for fishing. View a listing of FWC access points. The best fishing usually occurs in the spring when declining water levels concentrate fish in the canals. April is the peak fishing month when angler catch rates can be as high a 4.1 bass per hour in the L-67A Canal. This past year in the L-67A Canal a peak season creel survey recorded an average catch rate of 1.8 bass per hour, with more than 20% of those fish 14 inches or longer. Catch rates for bass have also been excellent in the L-35B and L-38E canals.
Most anglers fish in the canals rather than in the marsh. Anglers work canal edges with plastic worms, soft jerkbaits and minnow imitations. Flipping the vegetation is also a popular technique. During high water, some anglers will enter the marsh areas where bass can be found in the open slough areas. The L-67A and Alligator Alley canals have access trails off them that are specifically cut to provide boat access to adjacent marsh areas.
The L-67A Canal has access at the north end at Everglades Holiday Park off U.S. 27, where camping and boat rentals are available. At the south end, it can be accessed via a FWC boat ramp at the S-333 water control structure off Tamiami Trail (S.R. 41). The L-67C Canal may also be accessed from a FWC boat ramp and parking area adjacent to this site. One access point to the L-35B Canal is at Sawgrass Recreation Area off of U.S. 27, which has boat ramps and boat rentals. Ample access to the Alligator Alley Canal is available via a string of recreation areas and boat ramps along I-75.
A special bass fishing regulation is in effect in south Florida, including the Everglades Water Conservation Areas, where only one bass of the five-bass daily bag limit may be 14 inches or longer. This gives anglers the opportunity to harvest smaller bass, but still prevents over-harvest of fish over 14 inches in total length.
FWC publishes a brochure specific to this area which provides additional information. It is available from the regional office (561-625-5122) or online. Consumption advisory: Mercury health advisories correspond to current length limits established for largemouth bass caught in the Water Conservation Areas with recommendations made based on bass length. For largemouth bass less than 14 inches, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). No one should consume largemouth bass exceeding 14 inches in length. Special recommendations have been made for waters immediately adjacent to Alligator Alley (Interstate-75), which runs through Water Conservation Area 3. In the borrow canals immediately north and south of Alligator Alley, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and consume no largemouth bass. All others should limit consumption of bass less than 14 inches to one 6 oz. meal of cooked bass in a month's time. No largemouth bass exceeding14 inches in length should be consumed. FWC is monitoring largemouth bass from the canals near Alligator Alley and the rest of Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 to determine why concentrations were elevated in waters along Alligator Alley. top of page This shallow 9,400-acre lake is located on the north side of Sanford near Orlando. In spring 2008 electrofishing samples for largemouth bass, biologists reported catch rates higher than any other lake sampled on the St. John's River. Largemouth bass up to 20 inches long were well represented in the sample, and good numbers of larger fish (eight pounds or better) were collected. Preferred artificial baits include plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Live golden shiners are always a popular bait. Several boat ramps provide access to the lake, including two near I-4. Although bank access is extensive on the southern end of the lake, water depth and habitat is variable and not always conducive to bass fishing. Consumption advisory: Low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Lake Monroe. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to four 6 oz. meals per month (or one per week). top of page The 7,300-acre Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland provides a special opportunity to bass fish in Florida's famous phosphate pits. These 7- to 227-acre lakes were created years ago by draglines during phosphate surface mining operations. As a result, lake bottoms have irregular contours with depths ranging to 35 feet.
The bass fishing experience in these phosphate pits can rival any natural lake when the bass are biting well. Bass fishing is best from mid-November through March. Lake 3, Shop Lake, Hydrilla Lake, Butterfly Lake, Fish Hook Lake, Half Moon Lake and Lost Lake West offer some of the best bass fishing opportunities on the property.
Probing deeper waters with chrome-colored rattling lures and chartreuse (“Firetiger” color) diving crankbaits is a good bet in phosphate pits. Plastic worms are often the best all around lure for fishing in these lakes. Red shad and junebug colors are good plastic worm colors for bass in these lakes. Anglers that can find submersed islands or sandbars off points will find concentrations of bass. During the spring, flipping worms or soft plastic baits in thick brush will produce largemouth bass.
Tenoroc lakes are managed with a variety of catch-and-release harvest regulations; including total catch and release (no harvest) and 15-inch maximum size limits, in which anglers must immediately release all bass larger than 15 inches in total length.
Tenoroc is located just two miles northeast of Lakeland on Highway 659, which can be accessed from Highway 33 just south of Intestate I-4. Call the Tenoroc Headquarters at (863) 499-2422 for more information or to make reservations, because these lakes are only open to the public four days a week. All anglers must check in and out at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area Headquarters, deposit their valid fishing license and pay $3 for a daily fishing permit.
Consumption advisory: Very low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Tenoroc lakes. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to eight 6 oz. meals per month (or two per Week). top of page Mosaic Fish Management AreaA bass fishing trip on the 1,000-acre Mosaic Fish Management Area in southwest Florida is definitely worth planning. There are 12 phosphate pits (i.e., lakes created by surface mining) that range in size from 10 to 200 acres, and have depths that range down to 30 feet. This Fish Management Area (FMA) is not very well known because it just recently opened. As a result, the fishing pressure is low and the bass fishing can turn on at a moment's notice. These lakes offer a special opportunity to fish Florida's famous phosphate pit bass fisheries.
Topwater baits around dawn and dusk, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits, plastic worms and chrome or “Firetiger” (chartreuse and orange) colored crankbaits can all be successful. Fishing shoreline brush and vegetation works well in the spring. Anglers that can find submerged islands or sandbars off points will find concentrations of bass, particularly during warmer months of the year. Lakes LP2 West, SP11, SP12 North and SP12 South offer some of the best bass fishing opportunities on the property.
Mosaic lakes are managed with a variety of catch-and-release harvest regulations, including total catch and release (no harvest) and 15-inch maximum size limits, in which anglers must immediately release all bass larger than 15 inches in total length.
Mosaic Fish Management Area is located near Ft. Meade in Polk County. The FMA is only open to public fishing four days a week from Friday through Monday. No reservations can be made, so lake permits are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please call (863) 499-2421 ext. 104 for more information about fishing at Mosaic Fish Management Area. Consumption advisory: Very low levels of mercury in largemouth bass have been found to occur in Mosaic lakes. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and children should follow DOH guidelines and eat no more than 6 oz. of cooked bass in a month's time. All others are advised to limit consumption of largemouth bass to eight 6 oz. meals per month (or two per Week). NOTE: Many of Florida's best black bass fisheries produce consistently year after year. Notably missing for 2009, however, is 450,000-acre Lake Okeechobee. Recently revered by largemouth bass and crappie anglers nationwide, the “Big O” is currently imperiled by environmental consequences of runoff from dairy farms and sugarcane fields, and 2004 and 2005 hurricanes that wreaked havoc on Okeechobee's aquatic plant communities. FWC biologists continue to assist the South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and others in restoring the lake and its fishery to its glory days. Contact local marinas and tackle stores for current conditions. top of page NOTE: For more information about these lakes, contact the following FWC biologists: Lake George and Lake Monroe – Jay Holder 386-985-7827
Lakes Weohyakapka and Tarpon – 863-648-3202
Rodman Reservoir – Eric Nagid 352-392-9617
Lake Istokpoga – Steve Gornack 863-462-5190
West Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Kissimmee – Kevin McDaniel 407-846-5300
Everglades Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 – Melvin Burnside 561-625-5122
Deer Point Lake – Katie Woodside 850-265-3676
Suwannee River – Dan Dorosheff 386-758-0525
Tenoroc and Mosaic Fish Management Areas – Eric Johnson 863-648-3200
 Go Fishing! |
