Kenansville Lake
Indian River County
Kenansville Lake is a shallow 2,500- acre impoundment with an average water depth of 3 feet. This area was cattle pasture prior to flooding in 1993. Boaters, especially those unfamiliar with this water body, should navigate with caution as there are rows of submerged fence posts throughout the lake. Interior levees are also located at the north, center and south areas of the lake. A single lane concrete boat ramp is the only facility on the site. The town of Kenansville is the closest place to obtain gas, food and bait. Although most anglers fish this area by boat, bank fishing is available along the access canal and north end of the lake for those willing to walk or ride a bicycle to those areas. The most popular fish species include: black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish.
Anglers are reminded that all largemouth bass caught must be released immediately under the special no-harvest regulation.
This remote lake has abundant vegetation and is a bass factory. This quarter fish will be active on the hydrilla flats and near shorelines as the spawn begins. Fishing a live golden shiner under a float is a great way to catch fish and entice a big one to bite. Thick vegetation can make navigation a challenge in Kenansville, but also provides great habitat for panfish and bass. Anglers should target shorelines and shallow weed-edges of internal levees, punching into the plants with a heavy weight can be a great way to find the big ones. The bluegill and redear sunfish bite on this lake should be good this quarter, anglers will want to move around until they find where these panfish are concentrating. Panfish anglers use worms, artificial lures like jigs and beetle-spins, and live minnows. Crappie anglers may want to begin by drifting live minnows slowly under a small float in the deeper waters along the north and east side of the lake but may have luck targeting them in the emergent cattails and bulrushes.
Remember that Kenansville Lake is catch-and-release only 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 Kenansville Lake:
Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 194
Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 27
Hall of Fame Club (13+ pounds): 2