Fishing Florida The Sunshine State's Top 25 Game Fish

A GORP Content Partner Adapted from Fishing Florida by Kris Thoemke

Distribution - Sunshine are a cross between striped bass and the smaller white bass. These fish don't grow as large as the stripers, averaging 3 to 4 pounds in north Florida and 1 to 2 pounds at the southern end of their range. Sunshine can tolerate warmer temperatures than stripers. As a result, hybrids can be stocked in lakes as far south as Lake Manatee near Bradenton and Lake Osborne in West Palm Beach. The fishery is strictly a put-and-take effort; sunshine bass are sterile and cannot reproduce.

Tackle and techniques - Medium-weight spinning or bait-casting tackle with 12- to 20-pound test line is suggested for north Florida fishing especially in the rivers. Because these fish coexist with stripers in north Florida, a big striper is as likely to grab your bait. Much lighter gear is appropriate when fishing in central and south Florida where the fish seldom weigh more than 2 pounds. (See Florida overview map.)

State regulations apply to this fish. Check the latest edition of the rules and regulations for size and bag limits and open and closed seasons.

Bait - Like striped bass, sunshine love live shad, white and yellow jigs, spoons, and some surface lures.

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