NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

December 1, 1998

CONTACT: TIM COUGHLIN (941) 648-3202

SUNSHINE BASS FISHING RED HOT AT MEDARD RESERVOIR

The hottest freshwater fishing spot in Florida might very well be located at Edward Medard Reservoir just south of State Road 60 near Plant City (See here for interactive map). The 770-acre lake was stocked by Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists with 78,000 sunshine bass in April of this year.

"The number of anglers catching their limit of 20 sunshine bass in Medard Reservoir is extraordinary," said FWC Fisheries Biologist Tim Coughlin. It seems to make no difference whether anglers fish from the public fishing piers, the bank, or from a boat, the results are generally the same; many sportsman are catching limits of the feisty fish in incredibly short order. Fish are averaging about 12 inches with some larger fish from previous stockings also being caught. The fish should continue their rapid growth and by spring, average a pound or more.

The sunshine bass was developed by FWC biologists and is a hybrid cross between native white bass and striped bass. This crossbred game fish is a notoriously vicious fighter with a voracious appetite. The aggressive nature of the fish accounts for its fast growth and readiness to hit live or artificial baits.

"Fish are biting everything from minnows and chicken livers, to small deep diving crank baits. The keys to success are fishing the artificial baits near the bottom or dangling live bait or chicken livers on a bobber," Coughlin observed.

Anglers can access the reservoir through Edward Medard Park, located just one mile south of State Road 60, off Turkey Creek Road. Facilities at the park include a public boat ramp, fishing piers, bathrooms, picnic areas, horseback trails, campsites and a swimming beach. A brochure, which contains valuable fishing information and a map of the lake, is available by contacting the FWC*s regional fisheries office in Lakeland at (941) 648-3202.