Twin Lakes Park
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Known for its excellent Bass, bream and catfish fishing, this park offers up great bank fishing. The park is located off SR 72, east of I-75. Another park on the lake is located off Fruitville Rd, also just east of I-75.
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| Big Pier 60 - Fishing Pier
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Located on Clearwater Beach
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Alafia River
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A very popular and scenic canoeing waterway that also boasts some excellent bass and bream fishing, Public boating access is located at the ramps of Center Street off Kings ave. and another northeast of Riverview.
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| Bill Evers Reservoir / Ward Lake
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This 400 acre lake is formed by the damming of the Braden River adjacent to Bradenton. While there is limited bank fishing, boat rentals and ramps are located on private fish camp. The lake and river report quality large mouth and sunshine bass as well as hosting good bluegill and crappie fishing.
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Bird Creek Park And Beach
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Located where the Withlacoochee river flows into the gulf of Mexico, this park offers up some good fishing, whether it be Saltwater on the coast or Freshwater on the river. It offers canoeing, swimming, fishing, picnic sites and boat ramps. Take U.S. 40 west from U.S. Highway 19 in Inglis, Bird Creek Park is in Yankeetown at the end of U.S. 40.
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| Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
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13 offshore islands, totalling around 800 acres of land - the smallest being under an acre and the largest being about 165 acres, surrounding the town of Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico. This refuge is only accesible by boat.. The most recognizable island is Seahorse Key, which is home to a huge Sand Dune that is 52 feet high and visible for many miles away. This island is also home to Seahorse Key Lighthouse, once used as a prison for Confederate Soldiers while Cedar Key was occupied by the Union during the Civil War.
In an effort to protect the area, there are very limited public facilities in the area.
The interior of all islands (except Atsena Otie Key) is closed to the public year-round. Seahorse Key and a 300-foot zone around the island is closed to all public entry from March 1 to June 30 every year, but accessible the rest of the year.
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| Crews Lake
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This 700 acre lake is known for good bass and panfish angling. Access to the lake is located in the park off of Shady Hill Road, where on can use the boat ramp or fishing pier.
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Crystal River
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The beautiful clear river is fed from several springs inland, flowing west to the Gulf of Mexico. The crystal clear waters are home to many manatee and therefore tourists alike. Great care should be taken when boating on these waters, which accessible by a ramp on U.S. Hwy 19 and several marinas along the way. In these clear waters, anglers are able to site-fish for small bass, sunfish, bluegill and stumpknockers. Many coastal species such as redfish, mangrove snapper and mullet are also common in the mouth and adjacent waters such as Kings bay.
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| Edward Medard Reservoir
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Located within a park off SR 60 near Turkey Creek, this 600 acre lake was a former Phosphate pit and formally called Pleasent Grove Reservior. This lake is stocked regularly and also has fish feeders that help ease the pressure of the heavily fished banks and dock. Bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie make up the most catches. Look for local regulations on slot size and boating laws, which are in place and change according to the health of the lake. and its fish.
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Hillsborough River
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Born from the headwaters of swampy marshland and running in contrast thru Downtown Tampa, this river can be accessed from multiple locations...Lowry Park off Sligh Avenue, Harney Road, Fowler Avenue, Morris Bridge Road and Hillsborough River State Park off US Hwy. 301...Bank fishing and boating anglers can look for catches consiting of bass, bream and catfish.
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| Homosassa River
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Spring fed headwaters give birth to the "Gateway to the Gulf", this river flows into the gulf of Mexico and like many other rivers in the area, is known for both its freshwater species and coastal species. Good bass, redfish, trout, bream and mangrove snapper catches are common in this river. Caution should be taken by boaters, as Manatee are abundant in the winter months. There are both private and public boat ramps available along the river.
| | Last edited by Mike on 11/29/06 | |
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| Lake Manatee
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A reservoir created by damming the river, this 2,500 acre lake with Fish Management in the state park off of SR 64, near Bradenton, offers up some great fishing for Bass, crappie bluegill and all freshwater species. Feeders bring in the fish, and ramps, pier and shore acces make for a great angling spot. A 10 hp motor is the limit.
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Lake Rousseau
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Lake Rousseau was formed in the 1920's by the construction of a dam on the Withlacoochee River near Inglis. Although not a physically large body of water, Rousseau takes on a relatively larger dimension due to the boating restrictions one must observe to safely navigate its timber-infested waters.The large population of timber residue also presents extreme boating hazards. There is no location in the lake where it is safe to run above an idle speed. Although the deeper, submerged Withlacoochee River channel is marked and void of standing timber, it contains a significant number of free-floating drift items, many of which are found to be very large and just below the surface. The marked boat-runs found in certain areas off the main river channel are even more dangerous than the main channel, in that the majority of the marker floats have drifted out of position and the supposedly cleared zones are normally clogged with drift. For your safety DO NOT run a boat fast in this lake. There are a few residential canals that were totally man-made and have no timber remains; but, unless you know the area and where it is clear, run your boat accordingly. Despite the hazards in the water, Lake Rousseau is popular to angler's because of its reputation of providing very large bass. The fishing has been very tough for the past couple of months but should return to it's former self when the vegetation grows back.
This 4,163 acre dammed resivior of the Withlacoochee River, supports excellent fishing for bass, shellcracker, warmouth and speckled perch amongst its heavily vegetated banks and waters, which can prove tricky for navigation. If you choose to fish from the bank, areas in the northwest corner on the bypass channel and the area in the southwest sorner by the dam are most productive. The lake is accessible to boaters by either the Withlacoochee river at U.S. Hwy 41 at the bridge or the GFC boat ramp south of C.R. 40 on Bass Lane for access to the western portion of the lake.
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| Lake Seminole
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Lots of good fishing around these areas anything from trout to sharks to stingrays.
If you're getting bored just throw some squid under the bridge and hope a stragler comes by. I did this once and caught a 4 foot wide stingray.
This 700 acre Fish Management area has poor water quality and alot of vegetation, but also supports some monster bass, look for this lake to be constantly improving as efforts made by a task force to improve the quality of the lake move forward, Public access is located within the county park, which has both a ramp for boaters and many bank fishing oppurtunities as well as 3 smaller fishing holes to try your luck out.
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Lake Tarpon
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The "Jewel of Pinellas County"is a trophy bass and bluegill heaven. Practically all of this 2,500 acre Fish Management area boasts excellent fishing, with feeders and attractors spread thru-out the area to try and condense the fish population in this large lake. Boat ramps, bank fishing and piers are located at the two county parks on the perimeter. one off US hwy 19 and the other off of C.R. 611
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| Lake Thonotosassa
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Located off Thonotosassa Rd, west of MacIntosh, this 819 acre lake has poor water quality and lots of vegetation, The public ramp is sometimes too shallow for launching boats, but a fish camp on the lake also provides access to the bass found within, sunshine bass are regularly stocked and fished for during the winter or spring.
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Little Manatee River
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A very scenic river, boasting good bass and bream fishing, with the occasional snook encounter near the mouth. This canoeing and small boat river is accesible via a public boat ramp east of Ruskin, at the end of 24th street off C.R. 674.
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| Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
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This Refuge is 26 miles of unspoiled ocean front lands extending inland for quite a distant, It is split in two by the Suwanne river and has many natural trails and sights for the nature lover as well as ample fishing oppurtunitites for the angler along the coast, coastal waters and fresh water bodies. Hunting is permitted during seasonal windows and anglers should be careful when venturing off the beaten path.
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Manatee River
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Once past lake Manatee, this beautiful river supports bass, bream catfish and snook fishing. Boat access is located near Parish, at the end of Fort Hammer Rd off U.S. Hwy 301.
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| Middle Lake
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Middle lake is a good spot when targeting bass, bluegill or crappie and can be accessed by both bank fishing and a boat ramp located about 5 miles west of Dade City on US hwy 41 off Townsend House Road, south of Ban Brown Rd.
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Moon Lake
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Just over 6 miles S.E. of New Port Richey on C.R. 587, this 100 acre lake boasts good bass and bluegill fishing. Bank fishing is not allowed , but a public Ramp is located within the park for boaters.
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| Myakka River
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This scenic water sytem boasts a lake created by damming the river and the river itself. The river and lake support good bass and panfish fishing, especially near the dam. The lake can be accessed from the state park on SR 72 off I-75, to the east of Sarasota. The park offers canoe rentals, bridge fishing and good bank fishing, while the river is accessible to boaters form private fish camps down river of the Dam.
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Parrish Lake
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This 6,000 acre lake is owned and maintained by Florida Light and Power and hosts some very excellent fishing for bass, bream, catfish and blue gill.
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| Suwannee River
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Born from the waters of the Okefenokee Swamp along the Florida / Georgia border, its large volume flow is attributed to its 197 freshwater springs and numerous creeks and tributaries. The Suwannee River is considered to be a natural divider of the states more southernly tropical environment and the norths more conventional weather patterns. The river offers up excellent Catfish, Largemouth bass and Red belly fishing. It is Managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District and offers numerous, varying activities, such as fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and overnight camping.
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Tampa Bypass Canal
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A 14 mile waterway provided and maintained by the South West Florida Water Management District with alot of bank access, No boat ramps are provided, but carried boats powered with less than 10 hp are allowed. Catches included bass, sunshine bass, bream and catfish.
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| Tsala/APOPKA CHAIN OF LAKES
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This 19,111 acre lake is comprised of three distinct deep pools, named after adjacent cities (Hernando, Floral City and Inverness) all connected by vast shallow, heavily vegetated marshes. The lake produces good numbers of and quality bass, black crapie and bluegills. Public Ramps are located: Hernando Pool- 1/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Hwy 41 and S.R. 200 ;Inverness Pool- off S.R. 44, 1/2-mile east of U.S. Hwy 41 ;Floral City Pool- and on Duval Island Rd. off C.R. 48, one mile east of U.S. Hwy 41 .
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Waccasassa River
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This river, by boat, is the only way to access the 32,00 acre Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park which harbors most of the remaining intact Gulf Hammock, where on can canoe, fish, boat and view nature. Further down the river you will find the Devil's Hammock Wildlife Management Area which has many public points of access off of State Road 24. This river depends on rainfall and runoff for a good portion of its runs, somtimes being so low that it becomes unnavigatable with portages in order to continue your journey. The Wild Hog Canoe and Kayak Race takes place in springtime along the river.
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| Weeki Wachee River
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This 7 mile long run of spring fed water, begins at a tourist attraction and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Bass and spotted sunfish are the most common fish targeted and caught, with cooler months bringing in Grey Snapper to deeper holes. A boat launch is located off C.R. 595 in Rogers Park.
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Withlacoochee River
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This very expansive flows thru numerous counties within our region, but as for the stretch thru Hernando, the river is mostly clean and accessible, without as much vegetation as there is in other areas, easing navigation. Boat ramps and some shore fishing spots are located of U.S. hwy 98, just north of Trilby.
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| Withlacoochee River
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To the east of Dade City, at the end of River Road, one can access this regions piece of the river via a fishing pier and canoe launch. Heavy vegetation sometimes hampers navigation, but the bass, panfish and catfish fishing and the rivers beauty make it worth the hassle.
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Withlacoochee River
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This section of river covers about 9 miles of run beyond Lake Rousseau, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico at C.R. 40 adjacent to Yankeetown. This portion of the river is known for both its freshwater species and, during cooler months, its coastal species. Good numbers of bass, stumpknockers, bluegill and shellcracker are taken when targeting fresh water species while trout, redfish, mangrove snapper and the rare tarpon are sought when targeting the coastal species that venture into these waters. A public ramp is located at the mouth of the river near C.R. 40 as well as being a good spot for bank fishing.
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| Withlacoochee River
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Flowing to the Gulf of Mexico at Inglis Island this river has a dam upstream and inland from the coast, forming the 4,686 acre Lake Rousseau in southern Levy County. There are very many public access points along this 100 mile stretch of river and at Lake Rosseau. The fishing at Lake Rousseau is considered to be one of the best places to fish for trophy bass, a nearly 18 pound bass at 32 inches in length was taken from the river on a plastic worm, making one of the largest catches for bass in our regions waters.
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