Social Icons

Pages

Thursday, June 7, 2012

All About Lake Okeechobee Fishing

By Chloe Gib


In Florida the biggest freshwater lake is Lake Okeechobee, and it covers something in the region of 730 square miles. The depth is approximately 9 feet as an average, which does seem quite unsubstantial for a mass of water with this magnitude, but none the less, Lake Okeechobee fishing is a wonderful experience. Referred to locally as, The Big O or The Lake, with the main source of water coming from the Kissimmee River.

There a many Lake Okeechobee resorts and they are easily reachable from most popular tourist destinations throughout Florida. A popular venue for freshwater angling, the Big O is also one of the best sites anywhere for the Largemouth Bass. Other species of fish that can be found are Crappies, Bluegills, Shell-crackers and Pickerels.

As one of the best Florida fishing resorts for catching largemouth bass, it regularly hosts competitions, and trophy size specimens are often caught. It is always best to book a guide, as they know the conditions, and where to catch the best fish. Ensuring that your trip, will be one to remember, for years to come.

Most come for the bass and these can be caught on natural baits and artificial lures and spinners. The largemouth bass is largely an olive green fish, with dark horizontal blotches forming a stripe along each flank. The upper jaw line will extend beyond the eye socket; the females are generally larger than the males.

Crappies are also known as the Speckled Perch, or Specks. They make for good eating when they are pan fried. They can be caught throughout the year, but the best time is probably late fall to early spring. There are daily catch limits in force, so always check with your guide. Crappies will take either live bait or lures and jigs.

The Bluegills will give you a challenge, as they put up a lot of fight regarding their size. They are an interesting fish to catch, and during the breeding season will display some amazing colors. This is possibly why the males are commonly known as a Copper Head.

March till the end of September is an ideal time for Lake Okeechobee fishing, and often Red Ear Sunfish, or Shell-cracker will be found at the end of your line. They grow quite large and can put up a fight. It is not surprising that they make a popular freshwater sport fish, and once again are very popular to eat. It is feasible to hook Pickerels, but they seem to getting rarer.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment