Florida Freshwater Fish Hatcheries
How to stock a private waterbody
The FWC only stocks fish in carefully selected public waterbodies. If you are looking for information on how to stock private waterbodies, please view the list of Suppliers of Fish for Private Stocking. Check out this Guide for more information on designing and managing ponds for recreational fishing.
The FWC operates two freshwater fish hatcheries for all of Florida.
The Florida Bass Conservation Center is the larger, more modern facility located on Withlacoochee State Forest, in Sumter County. It has a visitor's observation area with informative displays, conducts research, and produces the majority of freshwater fish that are stocked in public freshwaters throughout the peninsula. They are also equipped to do fish health analyses and to provide samples for genetic analyses.
The Blackwater Hatchery is located in Santa Rosa County and is primarily responsible for bass stockings in the panhandle, and production of striped bass and sunshine bass.
Average Yearly Total Numbers of Primary Species Stocked In-State:
The list below includes yearly averages of the primary species stocked across the state, from Florida's two freshwater hatcheries.
| Species | No. Stocked |
|---|---|
| Florida largemouth bass | 790192 |
| Gulf striped bass | 353820 |
| Sunshine bass | 924449 |
| Bluegill | 414944 |
| Redear Sunfish | 120657 |
| Channel Catfish | 421637 |
| Black Crappie | 53253 |
| TOTAL PRODUCTION | 3078953 |
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Completed Stocking Summaries
The documents below show recent stocking histories and provide articles about hatchery operations.
Additional Resources
The hatchery program plays a key role in implementation of the Florida Black Bass Management Plan, especially the Fish Management action steps. The following articles seek to provide insights into hatchery operations:
YouTube Overview of the FBCC
REC Media Group travels to Withlacoochee State Forest to speak with the FWC about the Florida Bass Conservation Center at the Richloam State Fish Hatchery. Join us for a tour of the hatchery and learn more about Largemouth Bass, one of the most popular freshwater fish species.