Created in 1985 by flooding 6,550 acres of farmland, Fellsmere Resevior is a highly productive system containing an outstanding catch-and-release bass fishery. Harvest of other species is allowed, with excellent bream, crappie and catfish populations abounding. This reservoir is accessed by taking the Fellsmere exit off 1-95, then proceeding west on CR 512 into Fellsmere, north on CR 507, before going west on the Fellsmere Grade which parallels the C-54 Canal. The launch area roughly six miles west of the Grade. All largemouth bass caught must be immediately released unharmed.
St. Lucie County
Fort Pierce Inlet provides a great opportunity for some of the best lobstering in the state. In-shore reefs ranging from depths of 12 to 35 feet afford great trapping chances. The season runs August through March.
The shallow Indian River Lagoon’s brackish waters are a haven for sea grass beds, which provide habitat for snook, redfish and spotted sea trout.
Freshwater fisherman can look for bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass swimming through grasses and under lily pads at the Savannahs, a 550-acre chain of lakes and marshlands. The area is fished from banks or small boats with electric motors.No gasoline-powered motors are allowed on the Savannahs.
Volusia County
Lake George is a 46,000-acre natural impoundment of the St. Johns River. While most of the lake is less than 10 feet in depth, there is a deep natural canal. It was named one of Florida’s top 10 largemouth bass fishing lakes by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Use live shiners and artificial baits to catch largemouth bass. Look for the Florida black bass, king of fish in the St. Johns River, all year long, but prime seasons run November through February and April through June.
Striped bass up to 12 pounds are found during fall and winter in Lake George. Live shad or shiners, jigs and shad-imitating crankbaits are excellent to use around jetties.
Brevard County
Two smaller natural lakes along the St. Johns River, Sawgrass (407 acres) and Hellen Blazes (381 acres) have suffered from nearly total hydrilla coverage in recent years. Restoration efforts are under consideration that may improve aquatic plants and water quality problems, which have plagued sportfish populations in these lakes.
Okeechobee County
Known as the “Crappie Capital of the World,” Lake Okeechobee is far and away the county’s most famous waterway. Crappie is caught effectively with minnows and jigs cast into open
water. Redear sunfish, catfish, largemouth
bass and bluegill are found in the
area. Largemouth bass are caught best using spinnerbaits, crankbait and
golden shiners.
Martin County
More than 20 marinas and a dozen fishing charters and boat companies call Martin County home, making the area an angler’s paradise. Bait and tackle shops are found throughout the “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper and wahoo are found in the nearby Gulf Stream. Florida’s only cross-state canal is accessed in Martin County, via the St. Lucie Locks and Okeechobee Waterway system.
Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon begins north of Merritt Island in Brevard County and travels down the coast to south of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County. With more than 1,350 plant species, 310 bird species and 700 fish species—both saltwater and freshwater—the estuary system is a fishing enthusiast’s dream come true. Barrier islands protect the lagoon from tidal variations affecting fish movement.
The river stretches for 155 miles, composed of Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, Indian River and contains five ocean inlets. Large schools of jack crevalle appear in the lagoon and coastal waters in the spring. Common to both inshore waters and the open sea, jack crevalle feed on baitfish near the surface, causing a commotion that can be seen from a long distance, making them an easy target for anglers.
Sea bass, weakfish, ocean whiting and sheepshead are found all year long in Indian River Lagoon. Sheepshead caught offshore may commonly weigh up to eight pounds. The black-striped sheepshead can be found swimming near seawalls, oyster bars and in inshore tidal creeks, where shrimp and fiddler crabs abound. They spawn near the shore late winter through early spring.
Sebastian Inlet
The premier saltwater fishing spot on the East Coast of Florida, Sebastian Inlet is home to spotted sea trout and ladyfish. Near sea grass beds, spotted sea trout spawn between March and November. They are found inshore and near the shore over grass, sand and mud bottoms. Sea trout will move into deeper, still waters during the winter. Snook, redfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel are found fishing from the two handicap accessible jetties at Sebastian Inlet State Park.
The town of Sebastian in Indian River County is known as a fishing hot spot and remains a vacation retreat for many fishing enthusiasts. Available boat slips offer easy access to offshore fishing grounds. Massive wahoo, dorado, blue marlin, grouper and amberjack are found in the warm waters off the coast.
Florida’s East Coast
Koi are colorful, playful fish. The Japanese name for Koi is Nishikigoi. Nishikigoi were developed by the Japanese over 200 years ago. They are found everywhere, especially on Florida’s east coast.
