Fishing

There are plenty of opportunities for fishing in the forest!

Lake and Pond Fishing

A fishing license is required to fish on the Apalachicola, Ocala and Osceola National Forests. Fishing licenses are available from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at https://myfwc.com

Apalachicola National Forest

The Apalachicola National Forest offers a variety of fishing experiences. The best fishing times occur in spring and summer as water temperature increases, but fishing is good year-round. Most anglers fish the lakes and rivers from boats, but there are opportunities for shoreline, bank, or wade fishing. Access to some of these larger lakes and rivers may be concrete boat ramps off of surfaced roads suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles, but many are approachable only by 4 wheel drive vehicles on dirt roads or by walking.

Ocala National Forest

The Ocala is home to two of Florida's top lakes for lunkers - Lake George and Lake Kerr - as well as dozens of smaller lakes you can have all too yourself in the early morning.

The Osceola's flatwoods (longleaf and slash pine ridges interspersed with bay and cypress hardwood swamps) are home to a surprising variety of fishing opportunities. From your boat or the banks, fishing your national forest can be enjoyable for you, your friends and your family.

Borrow pits: Throughout the forest are constructed ponds, or borrow pits. We manage several of these ponds, up to ten acres in size, for fishing. Generally, access to the them is limited to unimproved roads that can be muddy or flooded after it rains. Water levels vary depending upon seasonal conditions. Johnboats or canoes will take you to deeper areas not accessible from the shoreline, but you may need to carry your boat to the water's edge.
Creeks: Some swamps drain into slow moving, shallow creeks that meander through the forest. Several bridges span deeper creeks which are popular for cane-pole fishing.