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This is an up-to-date summary of Florida's freshwater fishing rules and regulations. Most browsers can search a web page for particular text (Control-F will often initiate this service). This feature is normally found under the edit menu. It provides a convenient way to search for a particular water body (e.g., Okeechobee), species (e.g., striped bass) or technique (e.g., trotlines). A complete printable version (1.1meg PDF file) of this summary is available [Instructions for using PDF files]. INDEXCommissioners ADDITIONAL REGULATORY RESOURCESThis summary refers to freshwater sportfishing only, for other regulations see the following:
Saltwater regulations COMMISSIONERS
Chairman--H. A. Herky Huffman,
Deltona
Executive Director: Kenneth Haddad
_______________________________________________________________________ GENERAL STATEWIDE
|
Northwest | North Central | Northeast | Southwest | South |
General Regulations for Fish Management Areas
Effective July 1, 2004
1. A fishing license is required for residents from 16 to 64 years of age, and
for nonresidents 16 or more years of age, to fish by any method, including cane
poles, on a Fish Management Area. Refer to Fishing
License Fees for exemptions.
2. The possession of fishing tackle is prohibited on any Fish Management Area
that is closed to fishing.
3. Daily bag limits and methods of taking freshwater fish apply except as
provided for
a particular Fish Management Area.
4. The possession of nets (other than legal minnow seines, cast nets or dip
nets), fish traps, trotlines or setlines is prohibited unless specifically
authorized by rules established for a particular Fish Management Area.
5. Persons entering or leaving Fish Management Areas that have designated entry
points shall enter or leave only at such designated points.
6. Any vehicle, boat or other transportation device may be searched while in,
entering or leaving a Fish Management Area.
7. Fish Management Areas may be temporarily closed to accommodate management
projects (e.g., drawdowns), or if unsafe conditions exist, or as otherwise
specified in a specific Fish Management Area rule.
8. Intentional release of wildlife or freshwater fish on Fish Management Areas
is prohibited.
Northwest Region
(see map for regions)
Juniper Bay Lake, Walton County: open to fishing.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Piney Z, Leon County: open to fishing.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Watercraft shall be allowed only as authorized by the City of Tallahassee.
Access is prohibited from sunset until sunrise.
Lake Victor, Holmes County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Merritts Mill Pond, Jackson County: open to fishing.
No rifles or gigs.
Trotlines may be used.
Redear sunfish (shellcracker) daily bag limit: 10
Redear sunfish less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Hurricane Lake, Okaloosa County: open to fishing.
Black bass less than 18 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Karick Lake, Okaloosa County: open to fishing.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Lake Stone, Escambia County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Bear Lake, Santa Rosa County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Joe Budd Pond, Gadsden County: Closed to fishing: The Tuesday following
Labor Day until the first Saturday of July (unless authorized by permit issued
by the FWC for agency-sanctioned events).
Open to fishing: On weekends from the first Saturday in July through the Labor
Day
weekend, including the Labor Day holiday.
(The FWC may authorize by permit, agency sanctioned events on weekdays from the
Tuesday following Labor Day until the first Saturday in July for educational or
outreach programs.)
No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and fishing fingers.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Panfish daily limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 10
Black bass less than 16 inches in total length must be released immediately.
North Central Region
(see map for regions)
Oceanway Pond, Duval County: open to
fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise to
30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Swimming, possession of firearms or
alcoholic beverages, and use of cast nets
are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Hanna Park ponds, Duval County: open
to fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise
until 30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Possession of firearms or alcoholic
beverages, and use of cast nets are
prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Pope Duval East and West ponds, Duval
County: open to fishing from 30 minutes
before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Swimming, possession of firearms or
alcoholic beverages, and use of cast nets
are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Bethesda Pond, Duval County: open to
fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise until
30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Swimming, possession of firearms or
alcoholic beverages, and use of cast nets
are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Huguenot Pond, Duval County: open to
fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise until
30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Swimming, possession of firearms or
alcoholic beverages, and use of cast nets
are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Crystal Springs Park, Duval County: open
to fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise
until 30 minutes after sunset.
No person between ages of 16 years and
64 years shall fish unless accompanied by
an angler less than 16 years of age or by an
angler 65 years of age or older, by a disabled
angler or by an angler who is a client of the
Florida Department of Health.
Swimming, possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages, and use of cast nets
are prohibited.
Boats are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 16 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Camp Blanding area, Clay County:
Indefinitely closed by the Army National Guard for security reasons. If the area
is reopened, the following rules are in effect.
Magnolia and Lowery lakes are open to fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise
until 30 minutes after sunset, except during National Guard training
encampments.
No guns are allowed except during designated hunting seasons for Camp Blanding
Wildlife Management Area.
Picnicking and boat launching are permitted only at designated areas.
Camping is prohibited.
During periods closed to hunting, vehicles may be operated only on roads to
designated access areas.
During periods closed to hunting, the use of three-wheeled vehicles and
motorcycles is prohibited.
All watercraft shall be operated at idle speed only.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Alligator Lake, Columbia County: open to fishing.
Fishing is prohibited in Ponderosa Pond except for authorized groups permitted
by FWC.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Eagle Lake, Hamilton County: open to fishing from 30 minutes before
sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Swimming and possession of firearms are prohibited.
Ronnie Vanzant Park, Clay County: open to fishing from 30 minutes
before sunrise
until 30 minutes after sunset.
Boats or any floating vessel apparatus are prohibited.
No swimming or camping.
No person between ages of 16 years and 64 years shall fish unless accompanied
by
an angler less than 16 years of age.
Fishing permitted only with hook and line or rod and reel.
Nets are prohibited, except for dip nets.
Black bass less than 16 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Lochloosa, including Tadpole and Lochloosa creeks; Orange Lake,
including Orange Lake proper, and waters south and east of CR 346, and west of
U.S. Highway 301; and Cross Creek; Alachua and Marion counties:
open to fishing.
Black bass 15 inches or more total length and less than 24 inches must be
released
immediately.
Black bass daily bag limit: 3
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Trotlines having a gallon-sized plastic float at each end may be used,
provided that such lines are sunk to the bottom or to a minimum depth of 4 feet.
Newnans Lake, Alachua County: open to fishing.
Trotlines having a gallon-sized plastic float at each end may be used,
provided that such lines are sunk to the bottom or to a minimum depth of 4 feet.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Suwannee Lake, Suwannee County: open to fishing.
No camping.
No motor vehicles on dam and fishing fingers.
Possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
Access to the area from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before
sunrise for any use other than fishing and launching and loading of boats is
prohibited.
Black bass less than 18 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
No daily bag limit on channel catfish.
Koon Lake, Lafayette County: open to fishing.
Possession of firearms is prohibited.
No daily bag limit on channel catfish.
Montgomery Lake, Columbia County: open to fishing.
Black bass less than 16 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Boats are restricted to idle speed - no wake.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Watertown Lake, Columbia County: open to fishing.
Possession of firearms is prohibited.
Watercraft shall be operated only at idle speed before 10 a.m. and after 4
p.m. daily.
Black bass less than 16 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lang Lake, Hamilton County: open to fishing from 30 minutes before
sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass less than 18 inches in total length must be released immediately.
All black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Firearms are prohibited, except by written permission of the landowner.
Lake Rachel, Madison County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Possession of firearms is prohibited.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Northeast Region
(see map for regions)
East Lake Tohopekaliga, Osceola County: open to fishing.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Minnow lift nets and trotlines may be used.
Lake Jackson, Osceola County: open
to fishing.
Cast nets, minnow lift nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Black crappie less than 12 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Lake Marian, Osceola County: open to fishing.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Minnow lift nets, fish traps and trotlines may be used.
Lakes Tohopekaliga (West Lake
Tohopekaliga), Cypress, Hatchineha, and
Kissimmee, Osceola and Polk counties:open to fishing.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Minnow lift nets, fish traps and trotlines may be used.
Lake Panasoffkee, Sumter County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Chain of Lakes, Lake County (Cook, Winona, Palatlakaha, Crescent, Louisa,
Minnehaha, Hiawatha, Minneola, Wilson, Susan and Cherry): open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m.
No daily bag limit on channel catfish.
Lake Griffin, Lake County: open to fishing.
Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. Friday until one hour before sunset on
Sunday.
Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. until one hour before sunset Monday
through
Thursday from May 1 through October 31.
No trotline may be secured to or fished within 50 yards of a private pier or
dock.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Pellicer Pond, Flagler County: open to fishing.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Dias, Volusia County: open to fishing.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Fox Lake, Brevard County: open to
fishing.
No airboats for fishing or frogging.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
South Lake, Brevard County: open to fishing.
No airboats for fishing or frogging.
Trotlines may be used.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Lake Lorna Doone, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Boats are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Richmond, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Boats are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Ivanhoe, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Santiago in Demetree Park, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Boats are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Hal-Scott Lake, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Bear Creek Park, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Shadow Bay Park, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Bluegill daily bag limit: 5
Bluegill less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 1
Channel catfish less than 30 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Clear Lake, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Kirkman Pond, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 5
Bluegill less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Lake Lawne, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Starke Lake, Orange County: open to fishing.
Cast nets cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Turkey Lake, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Except for sanctioned events, gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Lake Underhill, Orange County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Secret Lake, Seminole County: open to fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Personal watercraft are prohibited.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Lake Dot, Seminole County: open to
fishing.
Swimming, and possession of firearms
or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Lake Blue Cypress, Indian River County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Southwest Region
Lake Tarpon, Pinellas County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m. the following morning, Sunday
through Thursday.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Lake Seminole, Pinellas County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Bobby Hicks Park Pond, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
Swimming and possession of firearms are prohibited.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Gadsden Park Pond, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.
Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
Swimming and possession of firearms are prohibited.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lake Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Lake Parker, Polk County: open to fishing.
Wire traps may be used for nongame fish.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Saddle Creek Park, Polk County: open to fishing.
Cast nets are prohibited.
Black bass 15 inches or more in total length and less than 24 inches in total
length
must be released immediately.
Black bass daily bag limit: 3
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Lakes Tohopekaliga (West Lake Tohopekaliga), Cypress, Hatchineha, and
Kissimmee), Polk and Osceola counties: open to fishing.
Minnow lift nets, fish traps and trotlines may be used.
Manatee Lake, Manatee County: open to fishing.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.
Outboard motors more than 20 h.p. may not be used.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Webb Lake, Charlotte County: open to fishing during posted hours.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released immediately.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Vehicles may be used only on designated roads.
Marl Pits 1 and 3, Charlotte County: open to fishing.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released immediately.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Marl Pit 2, Charlotte County: open to fishing.
Bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) less than 10 inches must be
released immediately.
Bluegill and redear sunfish combined daily bag limit: 10
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
All black bass must be released immediately.
Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Polk County
(Click here to go to their web
page) Fishing, hunting or trapping is allowed
only by FWC permit. All anglers and hunters
must check in and out at the Tenoroc Fish
Management Area headquarters and
deposit their valid fishing or hunting license
with the custodian unless otherwise
instructed.
Days and hours of operation and quotas
shall be as designated by the FWC and
posted at area headquarters. Quotas will be
established for each lake, and fishing is
permitted in designated lakes only. Lakes
may be closed to public access for
management purposes or if access to the
lake exposes the public to danger, by posting
notice at the Tenoroc check station office.
Quotas for open lakes may be temporarily
increased to accommodate anglers during
times when other lakes are closed due to
management construction projects, road
repair, unsafe access or special recreational
events.
Unless otherwise specified, harvest
restrictions are as follows:
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black bass must be released immediately.
Fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fins removed, until the
angler has completed fishing for the day.
Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
Firearms are prohibited during closed hunting seasons except at the shooting
range or on the access road to the shooting range. Guns transported to and from
the shooting range shall be unloaded and cased.
No person shall have any gun under his/her control while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs.
Dogs are prohibited unless leashed.
Public access is prohibited in areas posted as Restricted for protection of
threatened or endangered species, or environmentally sensitive areas.
Motor vehicles may be operated only on named roads, designated parking areas,
and fishing ramps as designated in the area use brochure.
Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps and fire lanes.
Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
Regulations for Tenoroc water bodies are as follows:
Lakes A, C, D, Shop, Hydrilla, 2, 3 and 4:
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Lakes B and 5:
Boats are restricted to idle speed-no wake.
Black bass greater than 15 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Black bass daily bag limit: 2
Picnic Lake:
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Black bass daily bag limit: 2
Black bass greater than 15 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Lakes East Pasture, West Pasture and Derby:
Boats may not be used.
Closed to fishing unless authorized by FWC permit for agency-sanctioned events
except for anglers who have been certified by the U.S. Veterans Administration,
U.S. Social Security Administration, by any branch of the U.S. Armed Services,
or by a licensed physician in this state to be totally and permanently disabled
and has obtained a permanent license issued pursuant to 373.561 (5)(b),F.S. or
unless that person presents proof of acceptance as a client for retardation
services by the Department of Health. One properly licensed person may fish if
accompanying or assisting a permitted individual as described above.
Other than the anglers described above, no person 16 years or older shall fish
on Derby Lake unless accompanied by a child under 16 years of age.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill and redear sunfish 8 inches or longer
in total length per day.
Cemetery Lake:
Boats may not be used.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill and redear sunfish 8 inches or longer
in total length per day.
Lake Crago:
Wire traps may be used for nongame fish.
Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Boats are restricted to idle speed no wake.
Freedom Lake Park, Pinellas County: open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are
prohibited.
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Swimming, and possession of firearms
or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Dover District Park Lake, Hillsborough
County: open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are
prohibited.
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Swimming, and possession of firearms
or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Steven J. Wortham Park Lake,
Hillsborough County: open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are
prohibited.
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Swimming, and possession of firearms
or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Al Lopez Park Lake, Hillsborough
County: open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are
prohibited.
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Swimming, and possession of firearms
are prohibited.
Walsingham Park Lake, Pinellas County:
open to fishing.
Cast nets or minnow seines are
prohibited.
All black bass must be released
immediately.
Swimming, and possession of firearms
or alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Gasoline motors may not be used on
boats.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 4
Sunshine bass less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Middle Lake, Pasco County: open to fishing.
Watercraft shall be operated at idle speed only.
Swimming, possession of firearms, camping or open fires at the boat launch
site are prohibited.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released
immediately.
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Lake Istokpoga, Highlands County: open to fishing.
No daily bag limit for channel catfish.
Black bass 15 inches or more in total length and less than 24 inches must be
released immediately.
Black bass daily bag limit: 3
Only 1 black bass may be 24 inches or greater in total length.
Nongame fish may be taken by cast nets, dip nets, seines, trotlines, set
lines, bush hooks and wire traps. Refer to the Florida Commercial Freshwater
Fisheries brochure.
Cargill Fort Meade Mine, Polk and Hardee counties: open to fishing.
All anglers must check in and out at the Cargill Fort Meade Mine creel
station, the designated entry point, unless otherwise instructed. Fishing is
allowed only by daily permit issued by the FWC.
Days and hours of operation and quotas shall be as designated by the FWC and
posted at the Cargill Fort Meade Mine creel station. Fishing is permitted in
designated lakes only. All other lakes and restricted areas, so posted, are
closed to public fishing. Any lake may be temporarily closed to public access
for management purposes, or in the event that access to the lake exposes the
public to danger, by posting notice at the creel station.
Unless otherwise specified, harvest restrictions are as follows:
All black bass must be released immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Fish may not be filleted, nor their heads or tail fins removed, until the
angler has checked out at the Cargill creel station. Disposal of fish remains is
prohibited.
Guns are prohibited.
Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, parking areas and
boat
ramps.
Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps and fire lanes.
Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
Rough fish may be removed from designated lakes by cast nets and minnow seines
by permission of the landowner.
Outboard motors more than 10 h.p. may not be used.
Regulations for individual water bodies are as follows.
Haul Road Pit:
Black bass longer than 15 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Black bass daily bag limit: 2
Long Pond (LP2 West):
No boats permitted.
Hardee County Park , Hardee County: open to fishing.
All anglers shall enter at the Park main entrance, the designated entry point,
unless otherwise instructed.
Angling from a boat is allowed by entry pass issued by Hardee County. Angling
from shore does not require an entry pass unless otherwise posted at the Park
main entrance.
Days and hours of operation and quotas for freshwater fishing are posted at
the Park main entrance. Fishing is permitted in designated lakes only. Any lake
may be closed to public access by Hardee County for management purposes, or in
the event that access to the lake exposes the public to danger, by posting
notice at the Park main entrance.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released
immediately.
Catfish daily bag limit: 6
Fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed, until the angler
has left the Park. Disposal of fish remains within Hardee County Park is
prohibited.
Firearms are prohibited.
Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, parking areas, and
boat
ramps.
Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps and fire lanes.
Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
Watercraft are restricted to idle speed no wake.
South Region
(see map for regions)
Palm Lake, St. Lucie County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Caloosa Park Lake, Palm Beach County: open to fishing.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released immediately.
Lake Okeeheelee, Palm Beach County: open to fishing.
Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 nches in total length must be
released
immediately.
The northern most Tropical Park Lake, Miami-Dade County: open to fishing.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released
immediately.
Plantation Heritage Park Lake, Broward County: open to fishing.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be
released.