31 public waters in the Southwest region — 13 lakes/reservoirs and 18 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.
Lake Manatee, a 1,180-acre lake in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: 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.
Lake, Polk, Putnam and 2 more counties in Florida — Clearwater Lake is a 481-acre lake, managed by County Land: 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.
Ward Lake (295 acres) sits in Manatee and Dixie Counties, 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.
Lake Uihlein, a 154-acre lake in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake Patton (62 acres) sits in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Manatee County, Florida — Beacon Lake is a 60-acre lake, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Big Glenn Lake (47 acres) sits in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Moses Hole Lake (30 acres) sits in Manatee County, Florida, managed by State Park and Recreation. 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.
Moses Hole (29 acres) sits in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Manatee County, Florida, Summerfield Lake is a 24-acre lake, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Manatee County, Florida — Pleasant Lake is a 22-acre lake, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Manatee County, Florida — Frog Creek is a 21-acre lake, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake Flores, a 18-acre lake in Manatee County, Florida, managed by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Myakka River runs 94 km through Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte 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.
Little Manatee River runs 18 km through Hillsborough and Manatee 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.
In Manatee County, Florida, Manatee River is a 60 km river or creek. 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.
In Manatee County, Florida, Braden River is a 22 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.
Gamble Creek (20 km) flows through Manatee 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.
South Fork Little Manatee River runs 18 km through Manatee and Hillsborough 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.
North Fork Manatee River (16 km) flows through Manatee County, 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.
In Manatee County, Florida, East Fork Manatee River is a 16 km river or creek. 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.
Ogleby Creek (9 km) flows through Manatee and Sarasota 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.
Deer Prairie Slough runs 14 km through Sarasota and Manatee 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.
Tyre Creek (11 km) flows through Manatee 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.
In Manatee County, Florida, Gilley Creek is a 12 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.
In Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida, Curiosity Creek 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.
Owen Creek runs 10 km through Manatee and Hardee 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 Manatee County, Florida, Cypress Strand River is a 9 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.
Manatee and Hardee Counties, Florida — West Fork Horse Creek is a 9 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.
In Manatee County, Florida, Mossy Island Slough is a 8 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.
Big Slough Canal (12 km) flows through Sarasota and Manatee 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.
Across its mapped waters, Manatee County holds 21 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Bowfin, Florida Gar, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie and Redear Sunfish.
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.