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.
Kenansville Lake is one of the best bass lakes in our area if you’re willing to make the drive (must come in from the west off SR 441/15). There is an abundance of submersed vegetation (e.g. eelgrass, hydrilla, and coontail) in this lake that provides quality habitat, meaning you can have days that produce both a lot of bass and some big fish as well! The perimeter canal along the north and eastern shorelines will always hold fish, and is a good place to start. Live shiners are a common bait for anglers looking for a trophy. Throwing a topwater lure over the shallower flats is also a great way to find fish here. Casting lures (weedless senkos, swim baits, and spinners) along the edge of open water habitat next to dense vegetation or floating tussocks will also be a good tactic. 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): 197
Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 27
Hall of Fame Club (13+ pounds): 2