Florida Fishing Regions

Lake Monroe

This 9,406-acre lake has an exceptional crappie season from December through March. Sunshine bass also are caught on a regular basis in all but the hottest summer months. Striped mullet, Atlantic croaker and other species are frequently caught from the seawall adjacent to U.S. Hwy 17 along the south shore of the lake. Public ramps are at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 17/92 and I-4, at the marina in downtown Sanford and on Enterprise Rd. on the north side of the lake.

Lake Harney

A 6,058-acre lake with an excellent bass and crappie fishery in early spring, as well as good bream fishing in late spring and summer. Access to Lake Harney is limited, although the lake may be reached from the St. Johns River via ramps on Mullet Lake Rd. off S.R. 46, and in Lemon Bluff south of Osteen.

Lake Jessup

Unlike Monroe and Harney, Jessup (10,011 acres) is not a mainstream reservoir on the St. Johns. The lake has one of the best bream fisheries in the Lower St. Johns River, although bass fishing is poor. Access is available at Mullet Lake Rd. off S.R. 46, and at Black Hammock Fish Camp off S.R. 434.

St. Johns River

Good catches of striped bass and sunshine bass are taken upstream (south) of Lake Monroe, near the river's confluence with Lake Jessup. Sunshine bass and striped bass afford great sport in the spring, starting near the confluence of the Wekiva and St. Johns River and in the first 2 miles up the Wekiva River using menhaden, shiners, and croakers as bait.