Lake Okeechobee has always been home to the most popular species of fish. One of such is the largemouth bass fish According to the locals, this fish is one of the reasons Lake Okeechobee gained prominence. The famous largemouth bass fish inhabits almost all corners of the lake.
Where is the best bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee?
-
South Bay. Known for its large hayfields composed of wiregrass, South Bay is the
largest area
highlighted here - The Shoal. Halfway up the west side of Lake Okeechobee is the Shoal
- Monkey Box. The Monkey Box has been noted for years as an Okeechobee hot spot
- Harney Pond
- The North Shore
- Clewiston.
What’s the
biggest bass
ever caught in Lake Okeechobee?
The bass rarely exceed 12 pounds, but it is not impossible to catch a larger one! In fact, the lake record for biggest bass caught on Lake Okeechobee is 15 pounds and 5 ounces and the world record for largest largemouth bass caught is 22 pounds and 4 ounces.
What is the best time of year to fish Lake Okeechobee?
Lake Okeechobee is one of the most popular lakes for trophy bass fishing. Knowing the best times to fish this premier lake can make a big difference in your catch rates and success. The best time to fish Lake Okeechobee is November through June for the best combination of great fishing and reduced crowds.
What is the
best bait
to use on Lake Okeechobee?
A fishing report on Lake Okeechobee for Texas Rigging (worming) recommends a Hot Bait of the Strike King Rage Cut-R-Worm in black and blue flake Accompanying products for this technique include the Picasso Lures Pro Metal Worm Weight in 1/8 oz black.
Can you eat fish out of Lake Okeechobee?
With toxic blue-green algae bloom, don’t eat Lake Okeechobee fish , Audubon biologist says. People shouldn’t eat fish caught anywhere in Lake Okeechobee after a blue-green algae bloom near the center tested positive for hazardous toxin levels, an Audubon Florida biologist said Monday.
Are there sharks in Lake Okeechobee?
It is not uncommon to see a shark within 10 yards of the shore break anywhere in the state. They are even seen and caught in inshore estuaries, lagoons and rivers. There has even been a bull shark in Lake Okeechobee For many anglers, a popular version of big game fishing is to catch a shark from a beach.
What is the best time to go bass fishing?
In general, the best time of day to fish for bass is either early morning or later in the evening (dawn or dusk) , because bass tend to bite in low light environments where they are adapted to hunt and feed. This also means you can have some luck catching bass in the middle of a rainy day when clouds cover up the sun.
Where are the fish biting on Lake Okeechobee?
Areas to try starting on the North-end are Buckhead Ridge area; a few spots on Kings Bar; a few areas in Tin house and around Indian Prairie; point of Horse Island; the last 400-500 yard stretch on the north side of Harney Pond canal; some areas on the Shoal and around Dupree Bar.
What state has biggest bass?
” California is the number one trophy state for bass exceeding 15 pounds,” says David Swendseid—bass pro and tackle rep from the Golden State.
Where can you catch the biggest bass in Florida?
Lake Istokpoga , located in Highlands County, is one of Florida’s biggest trophy bass lakes. The lake is located northwest of Lake O, and its base City is Lake Placid. Lake Istokpoga is one of the biggest trophy bass lakes in Florida. It’s a natural lake covering 27,692 acres, making it Florida’s fifth-largest lake.
What time of day are bass most active?
In Conclusion. Most times of the year, bass fishing is best around dawn and dusk Focus on the hours of dawn until around 8 am and 5:30 pm until dusk in the late spring, summer, and fall. During the late fall, winter, and early spring focus fishing efforts around midday for bass.
What colors do bass like?
The cellular composition of the largemouth bass’ eye is tuned to respond to two colors: red and green Bass can see these colors well, and make decisions with high selectivity based on these colors.
Is fishing good at Lake Okeechobee?
Rich enough to support both commercial and game fishing, Lake Okeechobee boasts the best bass fishing in the world You can also catch what the locals call “panfish,” or bream and
black crappie
(speck), as well as sunfish, catfish, pickerel, bowfin, and gar.
Where is the Monkey Box on Lake Okeechobee?
The Monkey Box, located on the west side of the lake , has always been one of the better fishing areas on Okeechobee. The area features hard bottom, plenty of vegetation and
clear water
, making it a magnet for spawning bass in the spring.
Is there peacock bass in Lake Okeechobee?
We specialize in South Florida fishing on Lake Okeechobee, the Florida Everglades and peacock bass Everyone knows Lake Okeechobee is world famous for largemouth bass as well as one of the greatest lakes in the country for panfish.
Are there alligators in Lake Okeechobee?
Lake Okeechobee supports over 3,800 different arthropods, including insects and arachnids, along with around 400 species of nematodes. But what’s more interesting is that the lake has at least 30,000 alligators due to its size and availability of suitable habitats.
Does Lake Okeechobee have smallmouth bass?
Lake Okeechobee Fish – Smallmouth Bass.
Where can I find bass in Florida lakes?
Find the Best Spot to Fish Fish the shallow, visible spots first – places like vegetation edges, boat docks, and standing or submerged timber Check deeper spots if the bass don’t bite in the shallows, or if you just have the urge to explore the lake. Good deep-water spots include drop offs, humps and weed edges.
What’s the world record largemouth bass?
18.66lb ! This monster of 18.66lb (8.48kg) was caught at Lake Biwa, Japan, on 6 April 2008 by t he holder of the current Japanese Record Bass and joint World Record Bass, Manabu Kurita.
What is the best time to go fishing?
Fish generally prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright midday rays. In midday, the surface temperature of the water is also hotter, forcing the fish to move deeper.
How many bass can you keep in Florida?
No person shall take in any one day more than the following bag limits of freshwater game fish: 5 Black bass (including largemouth, Suwannee, spotted, Choctaw and shoal bass, individually or in total), only one of which may be 16 inches or longer in total length. There is no minimum length limit for largemouth bass.
What’s the biggest freshwater fish in Florida?
Gar, Alligator The largest Gar is the Alligator Gar which can reach 10 feet and weigh 200 pounds and is the largest freshwater fish in North America.
What is the best bait for peacock bass?
Tackle and Bait: Butterfly peacocks prefer live fish or fish-imitating lures, rather than plastic worms commonly used for largemouth bass. The best bait for butterfly peacocks is live shiners , but artificial lures also work well, including topwater plugs, jigs and crankbaits.
How much does it cost to fish Lake Okeechobee?
The going rate for Lake Okeechobee fishing guides starts at around $300 for 4 hours, $375 for 6 hours, and $425 for 8 hours for two people With experience and high demand from tourists, most of your top guides are booked well in advance and never discount.
Can you swim in Lake Okeechobee?
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water. Keep pets away from the area.
Can you eat bass out of Lake Okeechobee?
The Florida Department of Health advises against it , according to its website. “Fish tested from water with blue-green algae show that cyanotoxins don’t accumulate much in the edible parts, muscle or fillet, of fish, but can in other organs,” its website says. “The safest choice is to not harvest or eat these fish.”.
Can you eat largemouth bass in Florida?
Black bass including largemouth bass larger than 16 inches Avoid eating bowfin and gar. Eat up to a maximum of 1 meal per week of these fish with low mercury: Black crappie.
Is it safe to eat bass in Florida?
Florida’s freshwater and marine fish are generally considered safe to eat.
Does Lake Okeechobee have a tide?
Lake Okeechobee doesn’t experience a noticeable tide , but scientists have consistently observed a seiche of about 10 centimeters on the lake. That’s about 4 inches. In other words, Lake Okeechobee does not have a tide, but it does have a tide-like seiche of approximately 4 inches every 5 hours or so.
Where can I catch bluegill in Lake Okeechobee?
Best areas will be the rim canals for Lake Okeechobee bluegill fishing, the numerous canals leading to the lake. Kissimmee River and areas mentioned above for Redear. Beetle spins and crickets are the preferred baits for bluegill fishing although fly fishing can be a lot of fun as well.
Can you boat in Lake Okeechobee?
In fact, it’s the second-largest freshwater lake in the States and is part of a 152-mile boating passage in the Sunshine State, giving you plenty of options for swimming, boating and fishing. There are many places to launch and dock your boat on the Big O, and there are also a few spots to rent a boat for the day.
How deep should you fish for bass?
While productive depths during the early summer are dependent on the lake, I like 6 to 12 feet of water. During the height of summer, bass may move as deep as 15 or 20 feet, especially in clear water. Fishing crankbaits along weed edges is a proven summertime tactic for big largemouths.
What color worm is best for bass?
The best colors for worms are natural colors: green pumpkin, watermelon, junebug, black and blue With these colors you will be able to catch bass year round in any body of water that holds bass.
What is the best bait for bass in a lake?
Shad, minnows, or shiners are some of the best live baits for bass, hands down. Baitfish come in different sizes and can be used in all types of bass waters, but they are incredibly productive in deeper water to target huge bass.
Can you see Lake Okeechobee from space?
Florida’s truly disgusting algae problem has escalated to the point that you can now spot the growing mass from space Nasa’s Landsat 8 satellite captured the picture of Lake Okeechobee above on July 2. As you can see, the blue-green algae bloom has spread to the point that it now covers a good portion of the lake.
Why is Okeechobee so shallow?
It is believed that the ocean waters receded and left shallow waters covering a big part of Florida The name itself, when translated from the Hitchiti language, means “big water” (oki for water and chubi for big). Despite being shallow, this lake is the source of the Everglades.
Are there sinkholes in Okeechobee FL?
Found on the far western end of the Preserve, there exists a unique feature in the state of Florida, with an equally unique history. This 90-foot-deep naturally occurring sinkhole lake is the deepest lake south of Lake Okeechobee, and one of the deepest in the entire state.
What is biting on Lake Okeechobee?
Not only is it world famous for its trophy bass fishing, but Lake Okeechobee is also home to fish like catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie In fact, crappie is the most sought-after pan fish on the lake. Crappie are also known by many other names including speckled perch, speck, and papermouths.
Does Lake Okeechobee have crappie?
The Okeechobee Crappie fishing, speckled perch or speck’ as they are called throughout the State of Florida is the most sort after panfish on Lake Okeechobee Although the Florida crappie can be caught during the summer months, they really are at their best from late fall to early spring.
Where can you catch peacock bass in Florida?
- Palm Beach County Bass Fishing.
- Broward County Bass Fishing.
- Miami-Dade County Bass Fishing.
- Collier County Bass Fishing.
- Miami-Dade County – Falls Canal Fishing.
- Palm Beach County- Lake Ida-Osborne Chain of Lakes Fishing.
- Broward County – Markham Park & Everglades Fishing.
Sources
https://majorleaguefishing.com/pro-circuit/2016-02-03-5-key-areas-on-okeechobee/
https://www.omniafishing.com/a/best-lures-for-catching-bass-on-lake-okeechobee-in