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PiscaMapsUnited States Florida Okeechobee County Kissimmee River

Fishing at Kissimmee River

Florida · Okeechobee County, Highlands County, Osceola County, Polk County and Glades County · 72 river miles in Florida
State
Florida
Country
USA
Licence
State-issued
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Florida River 72 river miles in Florida Public river — sovereign water 🌙 Night fishing

About Fishing at Kissimmee River

Kissimmee River is a public river in Okeechobee County, Highlands County, Osceola County, Polk County and Glades County, Florida, managed by State of Florida (sovereign / public-trust water). You can fish it on an Florida licence, but bank access is only at road crossings, parks, FWC access sites and other public land; riparian owners control the bank on non-navigable reaches. Public access confirmed via marquee water.

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.

It runs roughly 72 miles through the South region. Anglers here mostly fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, channel catfish; bowfin, florida gar, chain pickerel are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the Kissimmee River Below S-69 Nr Basinger, Fl USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Duck Slough and Sevenmile Slough.

County
Okeechobee, Highlands, Osceola, Polk, Glades
Region
South
Length
72 river miles in Florida
Public access
Public river — sovereign water
Managed by
State of Florida (sovereign / public-trust water)
Night fishing
Permitted
Boats
Generally unrestricted

Fish Species at Kissimmee River

Species from FWC fish-management and boat-ramp data.

Access & Rules at Kissimmee River

Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Florida. Some city and county park lakes, and a few Fish Management Areas, have posted hours — check the property rules. Bowfishing and gigging at night are popular and legal on most fresh water.

Boats: Most Florida lakes and rivers have no horsepower limit; idle-speed / no-wake zones are marked near ramps, bridges, residential canals and in manatee zones (Nov–Mar manatee speed zones are strictly enforced). Some small FMAs are electric-motor-only or car-top only.

Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at Florida state parks (reserve at floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com), water-management-district and WMA campsites (many need a free permit or a WMA/management-area permit), and the river-camp system on the Suwannee, Peace and Kissimmee. Dispersed camping is not allowed on most WMAs outside designated hunt seasons.

Tackle: Statewide black-bass daily limit is 5, only one 16 inches or longer; many trophy lakes (Okeechobee, the Kissimmee and Harris chains, several FMAs) have their own slot or catch-and-release rules, and some have special crappie or panfish limits — check the FWC regulations for this water. Butterfly peacock bass: 2 per day, only one over 17 inches.

Facilities Near Kissimmee River

Boat ramps: 3 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp.

Camping: 5 sites mapped nearby — Chandler Slough East Campsite, Yates Marsh North, Town of KICCO Campsite, Campsite, Campsite.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.

River Conditions

Loading live flow & gauge height…

Live from USGS gauge 02272702 — Kissimmee River Below S-69 Nr Basinger, Fl. Full gauge data →

Fishing Licence for Kissimmee River

Anyone 16–64 needs a Florida freshwater fishing licence — resident annual is about $17, non-resident annual about $47, and non-resident 3-day (~$17) and 7-day (~$30) licences are sold. There is no trout stamp. Florida residents 65+ and residents fishing in their home county with cane poles are exempt. Buy from the FWC (GoOutdoorsFlorida.com). A Florida freshwater fishing licence covers public rivers, creeks and the fresh reaches of the canals. Where a river or canal turns brackish you also need a saltwater licence for snook, redfish and tarpon (and a snook permit and tarpon tag).

Florida

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Resident annual: ~$17 Non-resident annual: ~$47 Non-resident 3-day: ~$17 · 7-day: ~$30 · no trout stamp · FL residents 65+ fish free Buy: gooutdoorsflorida.com

Fish Management Areas & border waters

FWC Fish Management Areas may have their own hours, gear limits and (on a few) a small day-use permit — check the FMA brochure Lake Seminole (Jim Woodruff pool) on the Georgia line — a Florida or Georgia licence is honoured lake-wide Where a river or canal turns brackish you also need a Florida saltwater licence (plus a snook permit / tarpon tag) for snook, redfish and tarpon

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Frequently Asked Questions

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