The commission's Freshwater Fisheries Management Program manages, enhances, and conserves Florida's freshwater aquatic life for public benefit.

The program's services include

• evaluating resource conditions to determine goals for freshwater fisheries;
• using management strategies to conserve or improve freshwater fish species;
• maintaining fish management areas to provide quality fishing opportunities; and
• producing and rearing freshwater sport fish for stocking into public waters to improve recreational fishing.

Fish management areas include ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water established for the management of freshwater fish. The program works cooperatively with local governments to manage about 80 water bodies throughout the state that are designated as Fish Management Areas. Examples include most urban fishing lakes and commission-constructed impoundments. In many cases, these lakes are stocked with channel catfish, largemouth bass, and sunshine bass. A freshwater fishing license is required for Fish Management Area lakes.

The commission reported that 86% of lakes sampled had stable or increasing freshwater fish populations in Fiscal Year 2019-20.

Angler Access. In partnership with the St Johns River Water Management District, commission staff worked to provide angler access to Fellsmere Reservoir, a 10,000-acre manmade lake in Indian River county. The district managed water levels and both agencies conducted extensive habitat work prior to flooding the lake. Numerous underwater structural features and habitat were created to provide the ideal bass fishing lake. Once the lake was flooded, nearly 1,000,000 Florida bass were stocked along with bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie. The bass population has increased in this habitat. Anglers have reported catching over 50 largemouth bass on a good day, with many reports of bass over 8 pounds.

Shoal Bass. The commission’s freshwater management and research staff are working together to conserve and restore shoal bass to the Chipola River in northwest Florida. The Chipola River is the only place in Florida, and one of the few remaining areas in the tri-state area, with populations of shoal bass. Following Hurricane Michael, staff documented significant impacts to shoal bass habitat and documented a 90% reduction in the number of shoal bass sampled during the population assessment.  As part of the long-term strategy to restore the population, the commission issued a rule change in October 2019, suspending the harvest and possession of shoal bass from the Chipola River and its tributaries.  Commission staff are also working to develop spawning techniques to produce these fish in the commission’s hatcheries to supplement the existing population and developing management projects to address habitat needs.

Largemouth Bass. The 2021 Legislature enacted Chapter 2021-79, Laws of Florida, allowing the Florida largemouth bass to be sold by an aquaculture producer or a dealer with a nonrecreational license from the commission. The legislation requires that any facility that cultures Florida largemouth bass to maintain stock acquisition documentation or records of genetic testing.

Other Reports
Annual Report for Youth Hunting and Fishing Programs FY 2018-19, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, December 2019.

Websites of Interest
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Inspector General
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Research Publications
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Strategic Plan
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapter 379 and s. 20.331, Florida Statutes.

Jon Fury, Director, Freshwater Fisheries Management, 850-617-9517, email:  jon.fury@myfwc.com

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