Farm 13

Farm 13 fishing centers on the mapped structure of the 6,500-acre St. Johns Water Management Area near Fellsmere, Florida. FWC refers to the combined fishery as Farm 13/Stick Marsh. Anglers use the Farm 13 name when discussing its grid of drainage ditches, submerged levees, current-producing cuts and open-water structure. This page focuses on the Farm 13 map, access and fishing layout; our Stick Marsh guide provides the broader trip-planning overview.

Farm 13 Fishing Map

The map below shows the Stick Marsh and Farm 13 impoundment and helps anglers understand the access route and large-scale layout. Map study matters here because much of the useful structure is underwater. FWC specifically identifies Ditch 7, Ditch 13, secondary drainage ditches, perimeter levees, central ditches and water-control outflows as important fishing features.

Open the Farm 13 and Stick Marsh map in a larger view.

How Farm 13 Relates to Stick Marsh

Farm 13 and Stick Marsh are parts of the same managed impoundment and are commonly named together. The adjacent Fellsmere Reservoir, also called Headwaters Lake, is a separate 10,000-acre waterbody with its own access and fishing information. Keeping those names straight helps anglers choose the correct ramp, map and guide trip.

The St. Johns River Water Management District constructed the 6,500-acre St. Johns Water Management Area in 1987 for water storage and treatment. FWC reports general water depths of 4 to 8 feet. Submerged timber, old agricultural features and changing water levels create hazards, so boaters unfamiliar with the system should navigate carefully.

Farm 13 Bass Structure and Tactics

Farm 13 rewards anglers who fish the structure shown on the map rather than treating it as featureless open water. Productive areas can include the tops and edges of submerged levees, drainage-ditch intersections, vegetation near the south end, woody cover beside deeper water and narrow cuts where moving water gathers baitfish.

• Vegetation and levees: Try weedless soft plastics, topwater lures and shallow-running crankbaits around eelgrass, bullrush, cattails and submerged berms.
• Ditches and drop-offs: Work plastic worms, swimbaits or deeper-running crankbaits along the central drainage system and secondary ditch edges.
• Moving water: When control structures or cuts create current, look for schooling fish feeding on shad.
• Live bait: Golden shiners remain an option for anglers targeting largemouth bass, especially when a slower natural presentation is useful.

Other Farm 13 Sportfish

FWC lists bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish alongside largemouth bass. Crappie anglers can probe Ditch 7, Ditch 13, drainage drop-offs, grass edges and fish-attractor areas with small jigs or minnows. Bluegill and redear often use perimeter levees, open-water ditches and shallow sand or shell areas. Traditional natural baits can produce catfish in deeper or open-water features.

Farm 13 Access and Facilities

The access area on Fellsmere Grade Road includes a double-lane concrete boat ramp, an airboat launch, restrooms and paved parking. FWC states that fuel, food and bait are not available on site. Fellsmere is the closest primary community, with Sebastian, Vero Beach, Palm Bay and Melbourne also serving visitors to the area.

Bring supplies before reaching the ramp and use caution around submerged and floating timber. Conditions and water levels can change, so review the current FWC forecast and access information before traveling.

Farm 13 Guided Fishing Trips

The verified booking options are a four-hour trip with morning and afternoon sessions and a six-hour morning trip. Both products list rods, reels, tackle, artificial lures, a cooler, ice, bottled water and instruction. A Florida freshwater fishing license, transportation and optional live bait are not included. Check the booking cards for current dates, session times and pricing.

Farm 13 Bass Regulations

FWC states that largemouth bass at Farm 13/Stick Marsh are catch-and-release. Bass must be returned to the water. Anglers age 16 and older generally need a Florida freshwater fishing license unless an exemption applies. Always verify the linked FWC rules before fishing because regulations can change.

Historic Farm 13 Fishing Note

Angler surveys conducted from January through April 2007 recorded lower fishing effort, catch and success across sportfish during that specific period. The old report also noted shad as important bass forage and recommended shad-imitating topwater lures and crankbaits. This is historical field evidence, not a current fishing forecast.