Apalachicola Bay (Franklin)
The bay plays host to a variety of seafood, including oysters, shrimp and finfish. King mackerel, cobia and grouper prefer the deep end, while sheepshead and flounder typically stick to the shallow grass beds. Those who fish early in the morning using minnows and shrimp will have the most luck.
Nearby, off the mouth of the Apalachicola River, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge offers anglers a peaceful location. This undeveloped barrier island has lakes open for fishing boats with electric motors, except during eagle nesting season. Surf fishing is allowed all year, expect in closed areas. The nearest public boat ramp lies at the end of C.R. 30-B, 22 miles west of Apalachicola.
Apalachicola River (Jackson, Gadsden, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty & Franklin)
The Apalachicola River has the most water flow of any river in Florida. The two ends offer the best fishing opportunities—its beginning at Lake Seminole on the Georgia boarder and its stopping point in the Gulf. Bass can be found in the upper rivers, and the lower part is typically stocked with striped and sunshine bass.
Ramps can be found at Ocheesee landing and Red’s Landing within 10 miles of Bloutstown in Calhoun County, or at Iola Landing, Wayside Park and Land’s Landing minutes from the Wewahitchka in Gulf County.
Bear Lake (Santa Rosa)
Bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish can all be found in Bear Lake. Bass are best baited with plastic worms and lizards, and catfish love chicken livers and earthworms. Crappie move to deeper waters as temperatures rise, so night fishing is a smart options. A boat ramp is located within the lake’s campground.
Blackwater River (Santa Rosa & Okaloosa)
For those interested in catching bluegill and sunfish, the Blackwater River, especially the lower section, is the place to be. Fish tend to bite when beetle spins, earthworms or crickets are used as bait. Depending on water levels, anglers can get upstream in a canoe or jon-boat and cast for longear and readbreast sunfish, or largemouth and spotted bass. Milton’s Carpenters and Russell Harbor parks offer boat ramps, as does Highway 191 in Bagdad.
Chipola River (Calhoun & Jackson)
Chipola River is the largest tributary of the Apalachicola River and contains 63 freshwater springs. With 95-miles, the river is home to redear, bluegill and the rare shoal bass. Beetle spins, worms and crickets work well as bite for most fish, but for shoal bass, try crankbaits that look like shiners or crayfish. Boaters should be careful during low water, as the shoals can get quite shallow.
Boat ramps can be found at Chipola Estates Landing and John Boy Landing, both west of Altha in Calhoun County. Jackson County offers Magnolia Landing, Peacock Bridge and Yancey Bridge, near Marianna.
Choctawhatchee Bay (Okaloosa & Walton)
A 27-mile-long estuary, Choctawhatchee Bay is home to almost 20 different species of fish. Red fish, Spanish mackerel, spotted sea trout, sheepshead and sea trout, to name a few, are common catches. The Destin area yields amberjack, triggerfish, dolphin, wahoo and marlin in its open waters.
Choctawhatchee River (Walton, Washington & Holmes)
As Florida’s third largest river system, the Choctawhatchee River runs from Alabama and flows into the Gulf at Choctawhatchee Bay. Bluegill and redear can be lured with crickets and wigglers, as well as the catalpa worm, which, locals say, can be frozen in corn syrup and used all year. Sunshine and striped bass are annually stocked and finger mullet, live shad and shad-like lures will produce the best results. The out-going tide at dusk or dawn offers the largest catches. Holmes Creek, the spring-fed tributary, holds bream species such as longear sunfish, stumpknockers and warmouth.
Boat ramps can be found off of C179 in Holmes County. Curry Ferry, Old Warehouse Landing and Ward Landing provide single-lane ramps with plenty of parking. Another boat ramp can be found off C.R. 181A in Walton County. Washington County’s Boynton Cutoff and Hinson Crossroads offer boat ramps near Caryville. Bank fishing is allowed at most locations.
Dead Lake (Calhoun & Gulf)
This 6,700-acre lake in the middle of the Chipola River offers dark waters and plenty of fish. Hand paint bream can commonly be found near stumps and snags, and bass can be caught by using artificial worms, lizards, spinnerbaits or live shiners. Boaters should be extra careful around the cypress stumps
and snags.
Deerpoint Lake (Bay)
Fed by natural freshwater streams, Deerpoint Lake is a 5,000-acre impoundment that’s home to bass, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie. Bluegill are especially partial to crickets and earthworms, while bass are best caught with plastic worms and crankbaits. Fish camps are open to the public in Youngstown and Panama City.
Bank fishing is permitted along the lake and boaters should be careful of the vegetation around the ramps.
East Pass (Franklin)
Located between St. George Island and Dog Island, the East Pass is full of Spanish mackerel, whiting, flounder, redfish and sea trout. An occasional pompano can be seen during migration. St. George Island State Park offers two boat ramps.
Econfina Creek (Washington)
Econfina supplies most of the country’s drinking water, flowing from just north of Panama City through the Floridian Aquifer and Bay County into Deer Point Lake Reservoir. Paddlers can explore the steep gradients as they pass waterfalls, rock outcrops and plenty of wildlife.
Escambia River (Escambia)
As the state’s fourth largest river, the Escambia River is home to 85 species of freshwater fish, the state’s biggest variety. To the river, bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie and catfish are common. There have been record-sized catches of both the blue and flathead catfish in these areas.
The McDavid Ramp is located 7.5 miles south of Century on U.S. 29. A public fishing pier is open along Highway 90, west of Pace, while to the north, Quintette Landing off of Highway 184 is a good starting point to reach upper and lower river spots.
Hurricane Lake (Okaloosa)
Hurricane Lake is a 318-acre man-made oasis of bass, bluegill, shellcracker and catfish. Shellcrackers typically prefer earthworms or crickets, while bass anglers should try plastic worms.
The Blackwater State Forest has concrete boat ramps and docks for visitors to the lake. A handicapped accessible fishing pier and information kiosk are near the north campground ramp. Restroom, picnic areas and campsites are
also available.
Juniper Lake (Walton)
Juniper Lake is part of an earthen dam across Juniper Bay Creek. Regularly featured fish include catfish and bream. As for lures, bass fishers should try shiners or dark-colored plastic worms. Bream prefer crickets and worms.
Juniper Lake has two boat ramps, one on Catts Island and the other at Juniper Lake Dam. Bank fishing is offered, and restroom and picnic areas are available.
Karick Lake (Okaloosa)
Karick Lake proves to be a habitat for bass, bluegill, catfish and shellcracker due to its 18 feet depth and 65-acres of blue water. Plastic worms and lizards rigged Carolina or Texas style are best for bass fishing. Try earthworms or crickets for bluegill, concentrating on the oyster shell and gravel beds, both popular spawning sites for bluegill and shellcracker.
Concrete boat ramps are available at the north and south sides of the lake, as well as restrooms, showers and picnic areas. Bank fishing is permitted at both locations.
Lake Jackson (Leon)
During the spring, bass fish can easily be found within the shallow, 4,000-acre Lake Jackson offers. During hotter days, however, night fishing is more preferable. Minnows, worms and small artificial baits work best. The lake offers a large variety of vegetation, which provides excellent habitats, as well as a natural sink-hole. The lake dries up around every 25 years, so water levels are subject to change. Launch spots should be open at Highway 27, Millers Landing and Jackson Cove Road.
Lake Talquin (Gadsden & Leon)
Lake Talquin offers 8,000 acres, where crappie fishing is quite favorable. The best crappie are caught during the winter and early spring. Live minnows and jigs work best as bait. Also popular are largemouth bass, bluegill and redear. Plenty of tree stumps and logs are excellent fish habitats, and plastic worms work well to catch the bass.
Gadsden County offers three public boat ramps and two public piers, while Leon County has seven public ramps and five public piers. Several fish camps are open to visitors around the lake as well.
Lake Seminole (Jackson & Gadsden)
Located at the intersection of Florida, Georgia and Alabama, Lake Seminole is a 37,500-acre haven for freshwater fishing. Catfish, bream and black crappie are popular catches, and the lake is annually stocked with bass. Earthworms, crickets, plastic worms and top-water lures work well as bait.
A boat ramp is available off C.R. 271.
Lake Stone (Escambia)
Lake Stone is a 130-acre man-made area where catching crappie, largemouth bass, redear sunfish and catfish is quite common. Bass are best lured in using plastic worms or top-water lures, while chicken liver and earthworms are effective when catching catfish. Bank anglers can enjoy the earthen fishing fingers built around the lake.
A single-lane ramp with plenty of parking is available just south of Century. Gasoline motors may not be used, but electric trolling motors are allowed.
Lake Victor (Holmes)
With timber reaching deep to the depths, Lake Victor is home to bass, bluegill and redear sunfish. Every five years or so crappies come by and catfish are abundant during the summer months.
Two boat ramps with parking are available on the east and west sides of the lake, but the west ramp is only accessible by small boats, as the water is very shallow.
Merritt’s Mill Pond (Jackson)
Merritt’s Mill Pond is famous for trophy redears with its crystal-clear waters and 202 acres. Cloudy and rainy days seem to be the most successful on such a clear water pond. In hotter weather, look deeper or under vegetation for bass, which should respond to plastic worms, spinner baits or live shiners. A single-lane boat ramp is available off Hunter Fish Camp Road.
Ocheesee Pond (Jackson)
With 2,225-acres covered with cypress trees, Ocheesee Pond is a great spot for bluegill. The bluegill are best caught with crickets and grass shrimp. Redear sunfish and largemouth bass are best found with worms or live shiners. Due to stumps and snags, boaters should tread slowly and carefully. The Shady Grove Ramp off of C.R. 69A provides boat access to the pond.
Ochlockonee River (Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Franklin & Liberty)
Flowing from Georgia into the Gulf of Mexico, the upper Ochlockonee River is known for its snags and deep water holes. During the Spring and Summer when water levels are low, fishing is most prosperous. Catfish, crappie and sunfish are all popular catches. Worms or crickets will lure sunfish, while crappie prefer minnows and jigs.
The river is a great spot for canoeing, and about a dozen boat ramps are available along the river’s shores.
Panama City Beach (Bay)
Panama City Beach is a great play for fishing, with its abundant amount of black drum, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano and whiting. The bays typically harbor grouper and flounder, while the open waters offer red snapper, black sea bass, sailfish and king mackerel.
Pensacola Bay (Escambia)
Pensacola, Navarre Beach, Gulf Breeze and Perdido Key are all great places for saltwater fishing. Red snapper and grouper can be found in the off-shore reef, however large game fish like tuna, sailfish, wahoo and marlin, which can also be found within the waters, are the trophy catches.
Perdido River (Escambia)
Marking Florida’s northwest border, the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area includes 15 miles along the river and plenty of fishing opportunities. The public is welcome all year for fishing
and frogging.
St. Josephs Bay (Gulf)
Located near Port St. Joe, the bay’s shallow waters and seagrass beds harbor plenty of fish. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, sheepshead, redfish and sea trout are popular catches. For these, stick to live bait and jigs to bring them in. Skin divers can expect to find sweet scallops.
Yellow River (Santa Rosa & Okaloosa)
Bass and bream are popular catches along the Yellow River. Plastic worms and floater-diver minnows work best to catch bass, while the bream can be hauled in with live worms and crickets. Towards the upper part of the river high water levels may make fishing difficult and lower water levels limit navigation, so always check on river levels before setting sail.
Upper river ramps are available in Milligan and at Highway 2. Additional access points include two fish camps on the lower river, as well as landings along the river in Holt, Crestview and a Highway 87 crossing southeast
of Milton.
