Southwest Region

Southwest Region

Marl Pits 1 and 3, Charlotte County: open to fishing.

• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released immediately.
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Marl Pit 2, Charlotte County: open to fishing.

• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 10 inches must be released immediately.
• Bluegill and redear sunfish combined bag limit: - 10
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Webb Lake, Charlotte County: open to fishing during posted hours.

• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released immediately.
• Vehicles may be used only on designated roads.

Hardee County Park, Hardee County: open to fishing.

• All anglers shall enter at the Park main entrance, the designated entry point, unless otherwise instructed.
• Angling from a boat is allowed by entry pass issued by Hardee County.
• Angling from shore does not require an entry pass unless otherwise posted at the Park main entrance.
• Days and hours of operation and quotas for freshwater fishing are posted at the Park main entrance. Fishing is permitted in designated lakes only. Any lake may be closed to public access by Hardee County for management purposes, or in the event that access to the lake exposes the public to danger, by posting notice at the Park main entrance.
• Sunshine bass bag limit: - 6
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed, until the angler has left the Park. Disposal of fish remains within Hardee County Park is prohibited.
• Taking of fish and wildlife with guns is prohibited.
• Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, parking areas, and boat ramps.
• Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps and fire lanes.
• Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
• Watercraft are restricted to idle speed—no wake.

Lake Istokpoga, Highlands County: open to fishing.

• No bag limit for channel catfish.
• Nongame fish may be taken by cast nets, dip nets, seines, trotlines, set lines, bush hooks and wire traps. Refer to the Florida Commercial Freshwater Fisheries brochure.

Al Lopez Park Lake, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Swimming, and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms are prohibited.

Bobby Hicks Park Pond, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
• Swimming and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms are prohibited.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Dover District Park Lake, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Swimming, and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms or possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Edward Medard Park Reservoir, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• No person shall use any gear other than hook and line or rod and reel to take and possess game fish and nongame fish species.
• Persons possessing a valid freshwater commercial fishing license may use cast nets to catch nongame fish other than channel catfish from 12:01 AM Tuesday to 12:01 AM Friday.
• Days and hours of operation, park entrance and other user fees shall be designated by Hillsborough County and posted at the park main entrance.

Gadsden Park Pond, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
• Swimming and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms are prohibited.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Lake Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.

Steven J. Wortham Park Lake, Hillsborough County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Swimming, and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms or possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Manatee Lake, Manatee County: open to fishing.

• Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.
• Outboard motors more than 20 h.p. may not be used.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.

Middle Lake, Pasco County: open to fishing.

• Watercraft shall be operated at idle speed only.
• The following are prohibited within 150 feet of the boat launch site; swimming, taking of fish or wildlife with firearms, camping, or open fires.
• Bluegill and redear aggregate bag limit: 20
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released immediately.

Freedom Lake Park, Pinellas County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
• Panfish bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
• Swimming, and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms or possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Lake Seminole, Pinellas County: open to fishing.

• Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.

Lake Tarpon, Pinellas County: open to fishing.

• Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.

Largo Central Park Nature Preserve, Pinellas County: check entrance for open or closed status.

• Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
• Swimming, taking of fish or wildlife with firearms and possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Panfish daily bag limit: - 20
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: - 6

Walsingham Park Lake, Pinellas County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets or minnow seines are prohibited.
• Swimming, and taking of fish or wildlife with firearms or possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Bluegill and redear aggregate bag limit: - 20
• Sunshine bass bag limit: - 4
• Sunshine bass less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Lake Crago, Polk County: open to fishing.

• Largemouth bass, crappie and sunshine bass: statewide size and bag limits apply.
• Wire traps may be used for nongame fish.
• Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 a.m.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.
• Boats are restricted to idle speed—no wake.

Lakes Hatchineha and Kissimmee, Polk County: open to fishing.

• No bag limit for channel catfish.
• Nongame fish may be taken by castnets, dip nets, seines, trotlines, set lines, bush hooks, and traps as specified in Rules 68A-23.002, 68A-23.003 and 68A-23.004, F.A.C.

Lake Parker, Polk County: open to fishing.

• Wire traps may be used for nongame fish.
• No bag limit for channel catfish.

Mosaic Fish Management Area, Polk and Hardee counties: open to fishing.

• Fishing is allowed only by daily permit issued by the FWC.
• All anglers must check in and out at the Mosaic creel station, the designated entry point, unless otherwise instructed.
• Days and hours of operation and quotas shall be as designated by the FWC and posted at the Mosaic creel station (typically Mosaic is open Friday through Monday). Fishing is permitted in designated lakes only. All other lakes and restricted areas, so posted, are closed to public fishing. Any lake may be temporarily closed to public access for management purposes, or in the event that access to the lake exposes the public to danger, by posting notice at the creel station.
• Unless otherwise specified, Mosaic FMA harvest restrictions are:
  • Black bass must be released immediately.
  • Sunshine bass bag limit: - 6
  • Crappie bag limit: - 10
  • Crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.
  • Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
  • Fish may not be filleted, nor their heads or tail fins removed, until the angler has checked out at the Mosaic creel station. Disposal of fish remains within Mosaic property is prohibited.
  • Taking of fish and wildlife with guns is prohibited.
  • Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, parking areas and boat ramps.
  • Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps, gates or fire lanes.
  • Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
  • Rough fish may be removed from designated lakes by cast nets and minnow seines by permission of the landowner.
  • Outboard motors more than 10 h.p. may not be used.
• Regulations for individual Mosaic FMA lakes are as follows:
  • Haul Road Pit:
    • Black bass 16 inches in total length or longer must be released immediately.
    • Black bass bag limit: - 2
  • LP2 West:
    • No boats permitted.

Saddle Creek Park, Polk County: open to fishing.

• Cast nets are prohibited.
• Channel catfish bag limit: - 6

Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Polk County:

• Fishing, hunting or trapping is allowed only by FWC permit. All anglers and hunters must check in and out at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area headquarters and deposit their valid fishing or hunting license with the custodian unless otherwise instructed. On water bodies where special-opportunity alligator hunts are permitted, participants may use guns and baits as specified in Rule 68A-25.042, F.A.C., when taking alligators. Permitted alligator hunt participants are exempt from the requirement to enter at designated points.
• Days and hours of operation and quotas shall be as designated by the FWC and posted at area headquarters (currently Friday through Monday only). Fishing is permitted in designated lakes only. Lakes may be closed to public access for management purposes or if access to the lake exposes the public to danger, by posting notice at the Tenoroc check station office.
• Discharge of firearms is limited to the FWC firing range or at FWC sponsored events.
• All dogs must be leashed, except as authorized by FWC.
• Unless otherwise specified, Tenoroc FMA harvest restrictions are:
  • Crappie bag limit: - 10
  • Crappie less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.
  • Sunshine bass bag limit: - 6
  • Channel catfish bag limit: - 6
  • Black bass must be released immediately.
  • Fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fins removed, until the angler has checked out at the area headquarters.
  • Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited.
  • No person shall have any gun under his/ her control while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Public access is prohibited in areas posted as “Restricted” for protection of threatened or endangered species, or environmentally sensitive areas.
  • Motor vehicles may be operated only on named roads, designated parking areas, and fishing ramps as designated in the area use brochure.
  • Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads, boat ramps, gates or fire lanes.
  • Swimming and float tubes are prohibited.
• Regulations for Tenoroc lakes are as follows:
  • Lakes 10, A, Butterfly, C, Coronet, F, Fish Hook, G, Half-Moon, Horseshoe, Hydrilla, Legs Lost, Lake East, Lost Lake West, Tern, 2, 3, and 4 (primitive launch only on Lakes 10, Butterfly, F, Fish Hook, G, Half-Moon, Lost Lake East, Lost Lake West, and Tern):
    • Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
  • Cemetery Lake:
    • Boats may not be used.
    • Panfish bag limit: - 20
    • Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill and redear sunfish 8 inches or longer in total length per day.
  • Lakes B and 5:
    • Boats are restricted to idle speed—no wake.
    • Black bass 16 inches in total length or longer must be released immediately.
    • Black bass bag limit: - 2
  • Long Lake:
    • Crappie bag limit: - 25
    • No size limit for crappie.
    • Largemouth bass and sunshine bass: statewide size and bag limits apply.
    • No bag limit for channel catfish.
  • Picnic Lake:
    • Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
    • Black bass bag limit: - 2
    • Black bass 16 inches in total length or longer must be released immediately.
  • Pine (formerly East and West Pasture Lakes) and Derby Lakes:
    • Boats may not be used.
    • Closed to fishing unless authorized by FWC permit for agency-sanctioned events except for anglers who have been certified by the U.S. Veterans Administration, U.S. Social Security Administration, by a branch of the U.S. Armed Services, or by a licensed Florida physician to be totally and permanently disabled and has obtained a permanent license issued pursuant to 373.561 (5)(b), F.S. or unless that person presents proof of acceptance as a client for developmental disabilities services by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. One properly licensed person may fish if accompanying or assisting a permitted individual as described above.
    • Other than anglers described above, no one 16 years or older shall fish on Pine or Derby lakes unless accompanied by a child under 16 years of age.
    • Panfish bag limit: - 20
    • Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill and redear sunfish 8 inches or longer in total length per day.
    • Derby Lake: Daily bag limit for black bass shall be five per day, only one of which may be 16 inches or greater in total length.
  • Shop Lake:
    • No bag limit for black bass.
    • Black bass 16 inches in total length or longer must be released immediately.
    • Circle hooks required when fishing with natural bait greater than 3" in length.