20 public waters in the Southwest region — 11 lakes/reservoirs and 9 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.
Sarasota County, Florida — Lake Myakka is a 958-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.
Upper Myakka Lake spans nearly 900 acres in Sarasota County's Southwest region and is known for largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie across its shallow flats and deeper holes. Channel catfish and tilapia add variety to the fishery, offering multiple target species in Florida's scenic gulf-coast lake country.
Lower Myakka Lake (587 acres) sits in Sarasota 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.
In Sarasota County, Florida, Kingfisher Lake is a 260-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.
Red Lake (174 acres) sits in Orange, Sarasota, Wakulla and 1 more county in Florida, managed by Forest Service. 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.
Middle Teal Lake, a 81-acre lake in Sarasota 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.
West Teal Lake, a 67-acre lake in Sarasota 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 Sarasota County, Florida, Pansy Bayou 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.
Grand Lake (39 acres) sits in Sarasota 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 Sarasota, a 26-acre lake in Sarasota 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.
Ackerman Lake, a 21-acre lake in Sarasota 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.
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.
Howard Creek (1 km) flows through Sarasota 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 Creek (9 km) flows through Sarasota 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.
Sarasota County, Florida — Deer Prairie 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.
Cow Pen Slough Canal (22 km) flows through Sarasota 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.
Philippe Creek runs 15 km through Sarasota 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.
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, Sarasota County holds 25 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bowfin, Florida Gar, Black Crappie, Redear Sunfish and Chain Pickerel.
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.