Moved to Tampa back in August and finally able to get around to doing some fishing after leaving a work assignment in Ohio. 

 

I live in the Lake Magdalene area and there are a ton of lakes around here.  Are any of them worth fishing and is there any public bank access?  They all seem very private.

Check out the park area off Dale Mabry....has a few good size lakes, also you can fish alot of the lakes and ponds off Dale Mabry, and then look at Land O Lakes, plenty of good fishing but alot of it is private. Don't discount the small Oxbows you see, streams, and venturing into Brandon area is not a bad idea...I don't know names, but you can literally hit a few dozen small lakes and ponds with access in a few hours, usually 1/3 you can fish. 

 

Half Moon Lake is actually pretty good fishing for numbers and it apparently holds bigger fish. I have only gone maybe 5 times since being in Florida, but its pretty reliable for a few fish per hour, guys have caught Double Digit, its public, in a bad area so gets ignored, but Its one of the better lakes in the area compared to the other options of big lakes.

 

Gadsen Park, Bobby Hicks park...Both good spots as well for Tampa but Van Dyke/Dale Mabry area is the ticket and then head north on 41 to venture into pasco.

 

On 1/8/2019 at 7:35 AM, heyitskirby said:

Moved to Tampa back in August and finally able to get around to doing some fishing after leaving a work assignment in Ohio. 

 

I live in the Lake Magdalene area and there are a ton of lakes around here.  Are any of them worth fishing and is there any public bank access?  They all seem very private.

I know Lake Magdalene holds good fish, at least I have heard....If you have access, I would focus on Magdalene and if creative you can often find a way to Fish Lake Platt which is a fun lake. Lake Thonnassa is tough to figure out but is getting much better, been learning it this year and its certainly not Orlando, but has potential for big fish and decent numbers.

 

 I use google earth and have attempted a ton of spots over the years in Tampa, the best ponds and lakes are private, and you really can't get on them unless you know someone on the lake. They are much more strict than it was 10 years ago. If you look at Google earth, the amount of good water on Pasco to Tampa border area is ridiculous, and safest bet to get quality time in and catch fish is start with ponds or lakes that are behind a public parking lot, behind Home Depot, Supermarket etc...That gives you a bunch of options, also a few of the wilderness preserves in Pasco are public, people don't realize it. 

 

Bypass canal can be good for stripers and Bass from the bank, can be tough buy that puts you in the area to figure out where to target and what connects to what. 

 

One last trick is to also look for lakes that have non gated rental apartments where anyone can park, there are several in area mentioned that you can launch a Kayak and be in prime real estate, nobody will bother you either....I work outside sales, so I am always hitting several new areas each week that I scope out based on how old or new the area is, Those lakes and Ponds that were created during the real estate boom in 2000-2008 are good as they were stocked and now fish are over 10 years old, at least the ones you hope to catch.

Do you have a boat at all, or strictly bank? 

 

And how far are you willing to drive to fish?

On 4/14/2019 at 9:11 PM, primetime said:

I know Lake Magdalene holds good fish, at least I have heard....If you have access, I would focus on Magdalene and if creative you can often find a way to Fish Lake Platt which is a fun lake. Lake Thonnassa is tough to figure out but is getting much better, been learning it this year and its certainly not Orlando, but has potential for big fish and decent numbers.

 

 I use google earth and have attempted a ton of spots over the years in Tampa, the best ponds and lakes are private, and you really can't get on them unless you know someone on the lake. They are much more strict than it was 10 years ago. If you look at Google earth, the amount of good water on Pasco to Tampa border area is ridiculous, and safest bet to get quality time in and catch fish is start with ponds or lakes that are behind a public parking lot, behind Home Depot, Supermarket etc...That gives you a bunch of options, also a few of the wilderness preserves in Pasco are public, people don't realize it. 

 

Bypass canal can be good for stripers and Bass from the bank, can be tough buy that puts you in the area to figure out where to target and what connects to what. 

 

One last trick is to also look for lakes that have non gated rental apartments where anyone can park, there are several in area mentioned that you can launch a Kayak and be in prime real estate, nobody will bother you either....I work outside sales, so I am always hitting several new areas each week that I scope out based on how old or new the area is, Those lakes and Ponds that were created during the real estate boom in 2000-2008 are good as they were stocked and now fish are over 10 years old, at least the ones you hope to catch.

Thanks for the info!  I'm working in an FDOT office right by the Bypass Canal for the next couple of months and have seen people fishing it.  Haven't had the chance to see what's going on, but they look to mostly be bottom fishing and I'm not sure what for.

 

Getting ready to have some extra time on my hands so I will definitely be checking these locations out.  The only fishing I've done since we moved down here was saltwater on the causeway in Dunedin and was just pecked to death by pinfish.

On 4/15/2019 at 1:05 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Do you have a boat at all, or strictly bank? 

 

And how far are you willing to drive to fish?

Boat is in Virginia, since my dad uses it 3-4 times a week, so I'm stuck on the bank.  I'm willing to drive an hour or two if the fishing is worth it.

Lots of Bass in the Bypass canal.

 

I was hoping you had a boat, I don't have any bank spots. Check Google and find some ponds.

 

 

Since you recently voted on my snook vs bass poll i'll take it you're starting to catch gamefish in saltwater? Not bad 4 being new to the area and being boatless.

1 hour ago, gypsyking said:

Since you recently voted on my snook vs bass poll i'll take it you're starting to catch gamefish in saltwater? Not bad 4 being new to the area and being boatless.

Most of my saltwater fishing in the past has been surf/pier fishing when I was a kid or charters.  I haven't managed much of anything since I've gotten down here.  I'm looking to do more saltwater than freshwater, but was wondering what was up with all those lakes up in North Tampa when I started this post.

Private Property...........shocking!     ?