Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves (Charlotte)
Five Charlotte Harbor aquatic preserves can be explored through their tidal creeks and bay backs whether via kayak, canoe, or a shallow draft flat-bottomed power boat. Thanks to many Gulf passes and tributaries Lemon Bay, though the smallest, holds 200 species of fish. Seagrass shallow, artificial reefs, and mangrove fringes are lucrative fishing spots in Gasparilla Sound, the deepest and most diverse. Near Boca Grande Pass, Tarpon and goliath grouper can be caught. Also open for exploring are Cape Haze, Matlacha Pass, and Pine Island Sound.
Clearwater & St. Petersburg Beaches (Pinellas)
The beaches and shallow flats provide excellent spaces for catching tarpon, whereas larger and fully matured fish are harbored by the open waters.
Lake Istokpoga (Highlands)
Lake Istokpoga features top black crappie fishing and offers one of the highest largemouth bass catch rates in the state. Crappie fishing is best in winter, particularly over open water. Bass fishing is quite successful around the Istokpoga Canal when the gates are open, and the deep, southwest corner of the lake should be another good spot. Keep in mind that bass between 15 and 24 inches need to be released.
Public boat ramps are located off Route 98, Lake Boulevard and Highland Drive Lake on the north, northwest and southwest shorelines, respectively. Six fish camps around the lake provide accommodation and wade fishing is permitted off the Lake Boulevard ramp.
Lake Parker (Polk)
This 2,000-acre Fish Management Area connects through a canal to Lake Crago. Both bodies of water offer largemouth bass, especially during winter and spring. Also popular are bluegill, crappie and catfish.
A boat ramp and city park are located on the west shore, and Sertoma Park offers a boat ramp as well. Both allow bank fishing. Another public ramp is available on the eastern shore.
Lake Tarpon (Pinellas)
One of the Top 10 Bass Lakes in Florida according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lake Tarpon has live wild shiners drifting in the vegetation around the shoreline bring in the best catches and offers a large amount of good-sized bass. Crickets and grass shrimp used as bait in this area should bring up plenty of bluegill. Redear sunfish are another good catch; stick to the shell bars and use crickets as bait.
There are also other public boat ramps and fishing piers in two county parks off U.S. Route 19 and C.R. 611.
Lake Walk-in-Water (Polk)
Large numbers of trophy-sized bass flourish in this popular spot, located about 10 miles east of Lake Wales. Drifting live shiners in vegetated areas is an angler’s best bet, but topwater lures work as well. Bluegill and redear can be caught near the vegetation-lined shore. Bass fishing is catch-and-release only for fish between 15 and 24 inches, at a limit of three fish per day (only one of which may be more than 24 inches). A county boat ramp sits on the western shore at the end of Boat Landing Road.
Manatee River and Lake Manatee (Manatee)
Catfish, largemouth bass, snook, and bream all call Manatee River home. Catfish, sunshine bass and crappie live in Lake Manatee, and can be caught using Lake Manatee State Park’s fishing dock or boat ramp. A small canoe launch is available for canoes, kayaks and low-horsepower boats within Little Manatee River State Park. Please note that motors are restricted to 20 horsepower or less.
Medard Reservoir (Hillsborough)
This 770-acre reservoir within Edward Medard Park is a fertile—and popular—destination. Approximately 250,000 guests visit the park a year for its variety of vegetation and irregular bottom, yielding a good catch of catfish and bass. The ledges and bars are thick with all kinds of fish, but stick to the grassy shoreline during winter and spring for largemouth bass. Live wild shiners are best as bait.
The park has facilities for boating, picnicking, camping, canoe rentals, swimming, and hiking. However, boaters should be reminded that there is a no wake restriction for safety purposes and only idle speed is appropriate.
Myakka River (Sarasota & Manatee)
Catfish, bass and panfish are popular year-round. Access to the river is available at Upper Myakka Lake in Myakka River State Park. Colder months see an influx of snook in the lower portion of the river. A semi-roofed fishing pier offers fishing as well as an interactive alligator display.
New Port Richey Flats (Pasco)
The saltwater flats of New Port Richey harbor game fish like tarpon, redfish and trout. Redfish stick to shallow water areas. Try spoons, shrimp and jigs as bait.
Snook can be caught with pinfish, crab and sardines.
Peace River (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee & Polk)
Snook have been known to migrate up to Fort Meade; stick to bridges and docks and bait your hooks with live mullet. Bass, bream and catfish are all extremely popular here, especially around the fallen trees in slow sections of the river.
Boat ramps are available near Fort Ogden and Wauchula, with some smaller access points open only under certain conditions.
Saddle Creek Park (Polk)
Regulations on catfish and bass plus regular stocking prevent the fishing from getting too slim. Catfish and bluegill should be abundant around a number of fish feeders near the bank fishing sites. Crickets are peerless for luring bluegill, while largemouth bass prefer live plastic worms or wild shiners.
Saddle Creek Park Road offers several boat ramps.
Sanibel Island (Lee)
Sanibel Island is the perfect habitat for snook with its mangrove forests and warm waters. Also common are sea trout and snapper, preferring pinfish, shrimp and live sardines. Stick to the mangrove areas. Tarpon and redfish inhabit the island’s various inlets, while grouper live in the coquina ledges off the coast. Shallow waters harbor shark, cobia, tripletail, crevalle jack, and king mackerel.
Tampa Bay (Pinellas & Hillsborough)
Redfish, sea trout and snook are popular, but summer is prime time for tarpon fishing. Black drum can be lured with shrimp and fiddler crab as bait, also good for catching Spanish mackerel, lady fish or jack from a pier.
Tenoroc Fish Management Area (Polk)
A former phosphate mine, these 14 lakes range in size from 7 to 227 acres. A use fee and access quotas should lessen the number of anglers, ensuring a good catch. The lakes vary in depth. Some offer picnic facilities and restrooms. Tenoroc is renowned for bluegill, bass, redear sunfish, black crappie and catfish. Bass will respond well to junebug- and red shad-colored plastic worms. Target bluegill and redear at the shoreline with crickets and red wigglers below a bobber.
Picnic Lake, Lake 2 and Lake 3 each have a boat ramp with floating courtesy dock. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Webb Lake (Charlotte)
Located on the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area, fish feeders encourage catches in this nearly 400-acre lake. Snook, bluegill, bass, tilapia, and catfish are popular with some unusual baits. Catfish like chicken livers and dough balls, while small bits of hot dog will catch tilapia. Dough balls and hot dogs will attract bluegill (as will the more traditional crickets), while snook prefer MirrOLures.
A Wildlife Management Area stamp or a Daily Use permit is required. In March 2009, the lake was drawn down to the main channels. Fishing is still available, but boat ramps might
be closed.
Winter Haven Chain (Polk)
This 6,000-acre, 9-lake chain is a popular spot for both fishing and boating. However, low water levels are currently making navigation between lakes difficult. Warmer weather should make for decent bluegill catches near the shoreline. Fish attractors are located at Summit, Cannon, Winterset, Haines, and Smart lakes.
