19 public waters in the South region — 4 lakes/reservoirs and 15 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on an Florida licence.
See every public fishing venue in Florida on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
One of the best largemouth bass fisheries in the country — 730 square miles of shallow, grass-choked water averaging under 10 ft deep, with 5-8 lb bass common and a lake record of 15 lb 5 oz, best late winter through spring. Black crappie ('speckled perch') swarm the brush piles and eelgrass November-February, alongside bream, sunfish, catfish, pickerel, bowfin and gar.
This freshwater-to-brackish stretch of the Caloosahatchee is unusual in holding both largemouth bass/crappie and estuarine gamefish like snook, tarpon and red drum in the same water. Snook spawn July-August, tarpon fishing peaks March-October, and bass fishing is best spring and fall.
Lake Hicpochee (251 acres) sits in Glades County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (public boat ramp). A Florida largemouth-bass lake — the Florida-strain bass here grows fast and big, and every one of these lakes has produced double-digit fish. Slab Black Crappie ('specks') in winter, plus bull Bluegill and shellcracker (redear) on the spring beds.
Glades, Putnam and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida — Picnic Lake is a 99-acre lake, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (public boat ramp): A Florida largemouth-bass lake — the Florida-strain bass here grows fast and big, and every one of these lakes has produced double-digit fish. Slab Black Crappie ('specks') in winter, plus bull Bluegill and shellcracker (redear) on the spring beds.
The Kissimmee River — restored from a straightened flood-control ditch (C-38) back to a meandering marsh river between Lake Kissimmee and Lake Okeechobee. Largemouth Bass on the restored oxbows and the remaining channelised runs, plus Crappie, Bream and Gar. Boat access from the locks (S-65A–E) and river-camp ramps.
Fisheating Creek runs 37 km through Glades and Highlands Counties, Florida: A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
Caloosahatchee River runs 92 km through Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, Florida: The tidal, brackish lower reach of a Florida coastal river — Largemouth Bass upstream give way to Snook, Redfish and Tarpon in the salt. Fish the mangrove edges, docks and creek mouths on a moving tide.
Charlotte, Glades and Hendry Counties, Florida — Jacks Branch is a 23 km stream: A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
Bee Branch (14 km) flows through Glades County, Florida. A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
Pollywog Creek runs 13 km through Glades and Hendry Counties, Florida: A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
In Glades County, Florida, Gopher Gully River is a 10 km river or creek. A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
Rainey Slough (11 km) flows through Glades County, Florida. A warmwater Florida river — Largemouth Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Wade or paddle; access at bridges, county parks and WMA landings.
Lake Okeechobee — the 'Big O', 730 sq mi and the most famous bass lake in America. Sight-fishing the Kissimmee grass and pepper grass in spring, flipping the reeds, and a legendary black-Crappie fishery. Access from Clewiston, Okeechobee, Belle Glade and the rim canal.
In Glades and Highlands Counties, Florida, Harney Pond Canal is a 46 km river or creek. An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Indian Prairie Canal (34 km) flows through Glades and Highlands Counties, Florida. An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Rim Canal runs 80 km through Glades County, Florida: An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Caloosahatchee Canal runs 38 km through Glades County, Florida: An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Old Moore Haven Canal (16 km) flows through Glades County, Florida. An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Gator Slough runs 9 km through Glades County, Florida: An Everglades / water-conservation-area canal (L-67A, Tamiami, Miami, the 'Alley' canals) — Largemouth Bass along the edges, non-stop Oscar and Mayan Cichlid, Bowfin and Gar, with Snook where the canal meets tide.
Across its mapped waters, Glades County holds 22 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Bowfin, Florida Gar, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel, Redbreast Sunfish and Snook.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Florida map Join PiscaMapsOne Florida freshwater fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $17, non-resident annual about $47, with non-resident 3-day (~$17) and 7-day (~$30) options. There is no trout stamp, and Florida residents 65+ fish free. Some FWC Fish Management Areas set their own rules and a small day-use permit. Buy at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.