Lochloosa Lake
Alachua County
Lochloosa Lake (5700 acres) is designated as a Fish Management Area and located 5 miles south of Hawthorne near the town of Lochloosa. Most of the shoreline is bordered by old-growth cypress trees, and knotgrass and spatterdock (bonnets) are the predominant aquatic plants in the lake. A public boat ramp provides access to the lake from U.S. Highway 301 in the town of Lochloosa, and at Lochloosa Harbor Fish Camp just north of the town of Lochloosa, also accessed from U.S. 301. In addition, a public pier is located south of the town of Lochloosa on Burnt Island and is a popular fishing site for those without a boat. Lochloosa Lake offers good bluegill, redear sunfish and warmouth (bream) fishing during April through September; however, some bream can be caught year-round. Anglers targeting bream should fish with grass shrimp in deep-water spatterdock or deeper grass patches. Black crappie fishing is best from January through April in the spatterdock with grass shrimp and minnows. During summer and fall, crappie anglers should drift open water with grass shrimp and minnows.
For more information on FWC management activities at Lochloosa Lake, visit the Orange Creek Basin Working Group webpage.
FWC maintains fish attractors at Lochloosa Lake; visit the Fish Attractor webpage for locations.
Shore and Pier Fishing Opportunities/Boat Ramp Locations:
Lochloosa Lake Park: 16204 SE 207 St, Lochloosa, FL 32640
Burnt Island Fishing Pier in Lochloosa WMA: End of Burnt Island Road. Turn west off of 301. Road is south of Lochloosa/north of Island Grove, FL.
For more and updated information please call:
Lochloosa Harbor Fish Camp 352-481-2114
Fall has arrived, and that means that Lochloosa Lake is just waiting for anglers to get on the water and fill their coolers with black crappie (specks). During the early part of the season, try fishing offshore, drifting, or trolling minnows and jigs. As the season goes on, try getting up in the large pad fields on the North and Southeast ends of the lake, especially after that first big cold front. You might just get onto some bluegill or redear sunfish (shellcracker) while up near shore, and Lochloosa Lake has some of the biggest in the area, typically caught with grass shrimp or crickets under a cork. Anglers should keep a lookout for tagged crappie; there is a reward for submitting the tag. If you catch a tagged crappie, keep the tag, and call the number below to receive information on how to claim your reward.
There is also a good number of healthy bass on Lochloosa Lake for anglers to catch. Pay attention to the creeks on the north side of the lake. If they are flowing after a big rain event, you may want to try and hook a fish near flowing water. Try targeting bass around plants with soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and topwater baits. If you catch a bass over 8 lbs., take a photo showing the entire fish on a scale with the weight clearly visible, release the fish, and submit it to the TrophyCatch program for a chance to win prizes! Anglers should be aware that the Lochloosa Lake, Florida bass regulations changed in April 2024 as part of the Florida Trophy Bass Project, and currently, no bass greater than 20” in length may be possessed. (CLICK HERE for details and check the bass regulation signs at the ramp.) For information on best handling practices to help ensure large bass survive after release, see the TrophyCare page.
Steve Beck, FWC fisheries biologist: 352-415-6958
For more information on FWC management activities at Lochloosa Lake, visit the Orange Creek Basin Working Group webpage.
FWC maintains fish attractors at Lochloosa Lake, visit the FWC Fish Attractor webpage for locations.
Popular Species
Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.
More species information is available for:
Florida/Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Black crappie
TrophyCatch Tracker
TrophyCatch is FWC's citizen-science program that rewards anglers for documenting and releasing trophy bass 8 pounds or larger. The following TrophyCatch bass have been submitted from Lochloosa Lake:
Lunker Club (8 - 9.9 pounds): 40
Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 16
Hall of Fame Club (13+ pounds): 1