Florida has huge areas with sweet water habitat. Thousands of lakes, pools and easy nets cover the whole state. Between them are 3 millions of acres of lakes, pools and reservoirs.
Moreover, are around 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, brooks and channels. Those waters do not have closed seasons. In some places, channels extend for miles through every direction.
Freshwater Fish in Florida
Areas as Kissimmee and Okeechobee give many fish. Above the whole Florida spreads millions of little lakes and pools.
Florida entertains dozens of species of sweet water fish. The largemouth bass is the official state sweet water fish, appointed by the lawmakers in 1975. Between popular game fish are largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, redear sunfish and black crappie.
Funny to catch are peacock-bass, red tail catfish and cichlids. The striped bass forms strong game fish with black horizontal stripes and live in rivers and sweet water reservoirs. The spotted sunfish are native panfish with little black spots on the sides; it favors slow, weedy waters.
Other locals are the flagfish, special killifish, that eats everything, including hair algae.
Commonly you find carp and koi in channels, lakes and holding pools. They probably come from releases or escapes. Carp and koi can have bright orange color and reach around 18 inches.
Are also invading species. Snakeheads invade and look like some other fish. Red tide can not live in sweet water.
The water habitats adjust according to seasons, what limits the distribution of fish during fishing. Until 100 species are documented in south Florida, including of Everglades, between them the rainwater killifish. Sweet water fish in Florida can be invading, introduced, released or natural; some enters salt and sweet water.
Rules protect the special ecosystems of lakes, rivers and brooks. For instance, limits you the catch of black bass: no more than five each day from Florida, largemouth, Suwannee, spotted, Choctaw and shoal bass. Only one from them can be 16 inches or longer.
For not listed species according to the FWC site counts general limit of 100 pounds day. Matter to leave game fish undamaged: you would not should fillet them or remove fins until end the fishing day.
