PIER FISHING PRODUCTIVE IN ORANGE AND LOCHLOOSA LAKES

NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

January 21, 2000

CONTACT: Bob Hujik (352) 392-9617

PIER FISHING PRODUCTIVE IN ORANGE AND LOCHLOOSA LAKES

Black crappie fishing from the Orange Lake public fishing pier has been outstanding, according to Biologist Bob Hujik of the Florida Fish and Conservation Commission (FWC). The pier is at the Heagy-Burry boat ramp off U.S. 441 near Gainesville.

"It's frequently a standing-room-only situation on weekends," Hujik said. "On weekdays, it's common to see 12 to 15 people fishing at any given time, and easily double that number on weekends."

The Orange Lake fishing pier opened in October 1998 in a cooperative effort between the FWC and the Marion County Commission. The pier is adjacent to the lake's active sinkhole area. It is handicapped-accessible and has convenient walkways, and ample parking facilities.

"Bank fishing has always been popular near the boat ramp, but the steep bank made it difficult for many people to fish," Hujik said. "During the drought of the early 1990s, when Orange Lake experienced extremely low water levels, the sinkhole was one of the most productive fishing areas on the lake with anglers catching bass up to 10 pounds."

It's been the same story at nearby Lake Lochloosa where, in November 1999, a similar aluminum fishing pier was constructed in a cooperative effort between the FWC, the Alachua County Commission and the St. Johns River Water Management District. The Lochloosa pier is off U.S. 301 south of Hawthorne on Burnt Island. There are ample parking and covered picnic tables near the pier.

Similar public fishing piers have been constructed at a limited number of lake sites throughout Florida in recent years. The FWC hopes to expand its public, handicapped- accessible fishing pier program statewide. The agency is currently seeking funding from the Legislature that would enable construction of an additional 36 fishing piers throughout the state. More information about current FWC boat ramps and fishing piers is available elsewhere on this Web site.