Farm 13/Stick Marsh
Indian River County
(Note that a new boat ramp was recently opened on the adjacent Fellsmere Reservoir, also known as Headwaters Lake. For more information on that separate location see the Fellsmere Fishing Forecast page.)
The St. Johns Water Management Area (SJWMA), known to most anglers as the Farm 13/Stick Marsh, is a 6,500-acre impoundment located along the east coast of central Florida in northwest Indian River County. Water depths range from 4 to 8 feet. Boaters unfamiliar with the SJWMA are advised to navigate to fishing locations with extreme caution due to the number of man-made and natural hazards present. Facilities include a double lane concrete boat ramp, air boat launch site, restroom and paved parking lot. Closest towns/cities are Melbourne, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere. No gas, food or bait available on site. Popular sportfish include largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and several catfish species. This water body is noted for its excellent bass fishing due to the special no harvest regulation on largemouth bass. The SJWMA is one of the top 10 trophy bass spots in the state.
Anglers are reminded to exercise caution when boating due to submerged and floating timber in the Stick Marsh/Farm13 impoundment and that they are legally obligated to adhere to catch-and-release regulations for largemouth bass.
For more information on daily fishing forecasts and lake conditions for Stick Marsh/Farm 13, call Stick Marsh Bait & Tackle Shop at (772) 571-9855.
Submersed vegetation returns! In August, a vegetation survey of the lake found abundant eelgrass growing in the southern part of lake. In 2022, FWC and SJRWMD planted a line of bulrush and spatterdock across a shallow flat in the southern end of the reservoir to reduce the effects of wind-related turbidity and facilitate growth of submersed aquatic vegetation in that area.
As water temperatures begin to cool in October and November, bass should become more active throughout the reservoir. Flowing water at the water control structures are great places to fish and when the water’s moving, can produce good numbers all day. Bass should go into their pre-spawning during December and can be targeted in shallow water near shorelines and submerged humps. Golden shiners are a popular bait, along with soft plastics (especially senkos), rattletraps, spinner-baits, and top-water lures.
Fair numbers of black crappie can be found in the submerged ditches during this quarter. Best baits are minnows and/or small jigs (1/32 – 1/8 oz.) with a twister tail or tube. Bream anglers should target the abundance of submerged woody structure, fish attractors, and emergent vegetation near the internal levees.
Shore fisherman may have luck fishing for bluegill and redear sunfish from exposed dikes near the boat ramp.
Anglers are reminded that Stick Marsh/Farm13 is catch-and-release for largemouth bass.
Popular Species
Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.
More species information is available for:
Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Channel catfish, 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 Farm 13/Stick Marsh:
Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 138
Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 28
Hall of Fame (13+ pounds): 1