The Ultimate Florida Fishing Experience
Top Rated Florida Destinations
Fl fishing has the world’s #1 reputation among anglers from around the world. Anglers know it as “The Fishing Capital of the World,” which is nothing less than an angler’s paradise for Florida bass fishing and freshwater fishing in general. Florida quite simply has the fisheries with the most trophy bass fishing opportunities. Below are a few of our favorites voted by valid customers.
What part of Florida has the best fishing? and why?
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Top RATED Florida Bass Lakes by CUSTOMER Experience
LAKE tohopekaliga
KISSIMMEE FL
LOCATED ABOUT 15 MINUTES EAST OF DISNEY WORLD ON HIGHWAY 192. VERY EASY TO FIND, BEAUITFUL CITY PARK
RODMAN RESERVOIR
ST AUGUSTINE FL
A great guide for Rodman loves to show the Reservoir’s beauty to those wishing to enjoy its waterscape.
Okeechobee
CLEWISTON FL
FLW and BASS Elite Tour Professional became a full-time guide to show you how to put more bass in a boat.
headwaters lake
PALM BAY FL
The newest lake in Florida, producing many fish over 10lbs and with great numbers, let’s go check it out!
LAKE IDA
Bass Fishing here offer a variety of species, clown knife fish, peacock bass, and largemouth bass, the most famous species
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Top Local Florida Fishing Captains
Capt Mark Rogers
Naples, FL
Capt Mark Shepard
Clewiston, FL
Capt Brett Isackson
Ft Lauderdale, FL
Capt John Leech
Kissimmee, FL
Capt Robert Miley
Miami, FL
Capt Kenneth Walker
Palatka, FL
Top Fish Species in Florida
Other Great Ways to Experience Florida
Fl Gift Cards
Great Gifts
The best fishing gift you can give, pick up a fishing gift certificate for someone you know. They can fish any one of the 240 locations and all can be done online
Fishing Options
Groups, Corporate, Handicapped
Read our lengthy options of service offered for groups, corporate events, handicapped anglers, share a trip with others and so much more.
Fishing Apparel
Hats, Shirts, Buffs
Custom designed by GH, made for anglers by anglers. Feels Cool and comfortable. Visit our store to see all colors and options of shirts, buffs, and hats.
Fishing Packages
Florida Bass Fishing originated in Florida with Lake Okeechobee, the most famous lake in the World. Now over 500 other great lakes are available.
Fishing Reports
140 Locations in FL
FLW and BASS Elite Tour Professional became a full-time bass fishing guide to show you how to catch big bass. Learn more…
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA FLORIDA
Fishing in Florida
Do you love saltwater fishing and freshwater? Whether you prefer to fish from a boat or the shoreline, Fl freshwater has so many options for you, largemouth bass, peacock bass, and more.
Florida serves as the fishing capital of bass when it comes to choosing the ultimate freshwater destination. Why so? Because its geography offers access to over a thousand lakes, canals, and rivers. Add all these together; they afford the chance to fish for everything from Clown Knife fish to Asian Snakehead – all in the same day if desired. Here’s a rundown of these popular angling opportunities and successful techniques for what you might encounter. When it comes to landing a trophy largemouth bass, wild-caught live shiners are the way to go. If you’re are looking to trophycatch bass on artificial lures, the getaway ideas are endless, written up by many travel writers who have written about trophycatch, lunker club activities in destinations all around Florida. The fishing experience is yours, bass anglers, will have the ability to choose from Baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing on each freshwater lake. Use techniques to catch world records, that you can’t read about on Facebook. The secrets to Pitching, Flipping, or chug along a topwater lure to get the explosions. The diversity of trying your luck in North, Central Florida, or South on a lake with water lettuce, eel grass, pepper grass, or lily pads!
What can you fish in Florida?
Where do we start? Over a million people visit Florida the Fishing Capital of the World to fish each year, and every angler is drawn by something different reports FWC wildlife conservation commission. Big trophy largemouth bass in unique places or a lake with colorful hard fighting peacock bass which is mainly caught and release. Maybe, you like the exotics? The ariel Clown Knife fish known for its jumps, Florida’s got something for you. It’s no wonder over 900 IGFA records currently stand in the Sunshine State — that’s around 7% of all records globally.
So it’s all hardcore sportfishing and competitive tournaments? Not at all! Family and friends’ fishing trips are the backbone of most Floridian charter companies, and captains love helping little ones land their first fish. Whatever you’re after, you’ll find experienced guides willing and able to give you that trip of a lifetime.
Opportunities to Fish in Florida
You can wet your lines pretty much anywhere in Florida, and you can head home with a trunkful of fish. If you’re looking to take things to the next level, a few places have earned legendary status for being good even by Florida standards. There’s a lot of ground (or water) to cover, so forgive us if we forgot your favorite chain of lakes.
What part of Florida has the best fishing?
Central Florida
A hub for visit Florida, Orlando, and Kissimmee are the attraction. And the area has some 5000 fisheries, with Lake Toho on top of the trophy bass list, followed closely by Lake Kissimmee. Truly, bass lakes on every corner. Another trophycatch lake is Lake Istokpoga just South of Sebring Fl, not as popular presently, but lake Istokpoga is still producing trophy bass. Visit Florida also considers the Big O “Lake Okeechobee” as a Central Florida lake.
South Fla
South Florida is really known for a couple of things, all the exotic fish like peacock bass in the urban areas and the number one rated everglades water conservation areas with incredible catch ratio. The Big O is so large it touches Central and South Fl.
Why the density of the lakes is not as great, the quality is off the charts. Many think it is the lower water temperature, the lake, the Facebook photo that makes it look 10lbs, but the Visit Florida trophycatch program information proves the area lakes like Rodman Reservoir, Lake Rousseau, Orange Lake, and St Johns River are outstanding and maybe it’s just the water!
What to Know about Fl Fishing?
Fla charters have had a long time to perfect their service, equipment, and gear. Usually provides all the essential things for a charter. On saltwater charters, you don’t need to buy fishing licenses. However, you will need to purchase one for freshwater as it has different fishing license requirements in Florida. All tackle and bait are normally provided, but you may need to bring your fly fishing gear and get great fishing tips. The most important things for you to pack are sunscreen, a hat, shades, and several clothing layers, just in case. Many species have strictly closed seasons, which can change year on year. Fishing with a guide on a charter is the easiest way to stay within the rules while also catching a fish boatload. The seasons also vary depending on whether you’re in the Gulf or the Atlantic and fishing in state or federal waters.
There’s so much going on in Florida Saltwater fishing; it’s impossible to cover it all. We’ve done our best to highlight some of our favorite parts of Florida’s fishing scene, and you can find a month by month breakdown below. The truth is that the entire state has incredible angling, and each town can offer something unique. Discovering every aspect of Florida sport fishing would take a lifetime, but it would be a life well spent. There’s no time like the present, so come on down to the Sunshine State and start your fishing adventure!
Frequent Asked Question of Fishing in Florida
Where is the best bass fishing in Florida?
1. Lake Okeechobee
That three of the biggest bass tours fish Lake Okeechobee says volumes about how well Lake Okeechobee is fishing. You can also find accommodations for fishing packages and fishing captains based on Lake Okeechobee.
2. Rodman Reservoir
Recently, an angler reeled in a 17.2-pound bass from this freshwater fishing reservoir, nearly tying the state record. Located southwest of Palatka and is a navigation hazard. It has enhanced critical habitats, and water levels that concentrate bass. The biggest fish are commonly caught with local fishing guides. One that has a reputation for trophy size bass is rodmanreservoirfishing.com.
3. Harris Chain of Lakes
The Harris Chain of Lakes, in Central Florida, is the home lake for “The Villages” and a great fishing spot that links to Lake Apopka. This chain amounts to some of the greatest fishing in the state. It consistently produces 8 to 12lb largemouth bass.
4. Florida Everglades
More than 1,100 acres of Everglades marsh and 200 miles of canals offer urban anglers launching out of Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami to explore. April estimated a whopping 4.1 bass per hour average and is one of the prime months. It a favorite area for many because of the alligators and abundant wildlife you see why catching bass. Because of the maze of canals, most hire a local fishing guide for navigation and techniques.
What is the best time to fish for bass in Florida?
Late winter-early spring is the best time of year to catch largemouth bass. This is when fish move shallow to start spawning. Spawning may occur as early as December in South Florida and as late May for locations in the panhandle of Florida. Without a douth, March and April are peak months for all freshwater species in Florida.
How do you fish for bass in Florida?
Bass in Florida always feeds early morning, especially when the water is coolest and almost exclusively in the summertime. The two most common techniques to catch bass are artificial lures or live-bait, both effectively work around underwater vegetation or moving water. Common artificial lures are, topwater baits like poppers, swimbaits, and buzz-baits can be particularly successful. In breezy conditions, cast and quickly retrieve lures such as spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and lipless crankbaits which are all popular on lakes like Okeechobee, Lake Kissimmee, and the entire chain of lakes.
What time of day are bass most active?
The prime time to catch bass is during their pre-spawn in spring when water temperatures are around 55 to 65 degrees. The best time of day for bass fishing is either early morning or later in the evening, at times when the sun isn’t too bright. Bass do not have eyelids, so low light conditions are a must to see the bait.
Can you catch bass mid day?
Largemouth bass must feed every 3 days, and there is no set time when to do so. Why morning and evening are the easiest for them to catch prey. The good news is that bass can still be caught well during the middle of the day. The keep is they are less active, so the angler needs to slow down and fish deeper in cooler water.
Where is the best largemouth bass fishing?
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The Top 8 Lakes To Catch A Trophy Bass This Year
- Rodman Reservoir
- Lake Toho
- Harris Chain of Lakes
- Lake Kissimmee
- Kenansville Lake
- Fellsmere Lake
- Lake Okeechobee
- Lake Tarpon
Do you need a Florida fishing license to fish from the shore?
If you are planning on freshwater fishing in Florida, for largemouth bass, panfish, or any other freshwater species you will need to get an Fl permit.
Permit Cost
Everyone over 16 Years of age is required by law to have this permit. A three(3) and seven(7) day Non-Resident Fishing permit is available. The costs $17.00 per person for 3-day, $30.00 per person for the 7-day, they also offer a Non-resident yearly license for $47.00.
All of these options can be purchased in several different ways.
Option 1. Online Purchase – You can click on the picture of the 5-year permit above and go to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Tallahassee Fl and get your permit online for whatever date you will be fishing. (note: The actual paper permit is not needed, just bring a printout of the approval number from the website is all that is needed.)
Option 2. Toll Free – You can call the toll FREE number at any time, even the morning you go fishing to get your license. The Number is 1 888-347-4356, you can also check your Florida statutes if unsure.
Is a 4 pound largemouth bass big?
For most of the country, a 4-pound bass is big. A bass that size has struggled to survive in order to reach this size. In Florida you commonly see big 5 pounds plus bass eating smaller 2 to 4-pound bass. In Florida, we have many species of fish, but the black bass dominant. In most ponds and small lakes, newborn bass fry has a small chance of surviving to adulthood. This is why a 3 to 4 years old bass, 17″ to 19″ inches long and weighing somewhere around four pounds generally grows up to become a trophy-size bass.
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Where is the best bass fishing in Florida?
Apalachicola, FL
DeLand, FL
Miami, FL