Hello, 

 

I am new to Florida, moved here for a Job. I am in central Florida, near Melbourne. Right now I am looking for places to bank fish - as my kayak is still sadly in PA. (it's coming soon though!!)  - I understand to be cautious of snakes and alligators, my main concern is where can I fish without being shot? I live near lake Washington, and when I look up the crime around lake Washington state park...well, it's enough to deter ya. 

let me know, I am not looking for secret spots, just a place to wet a line and maybe catch a bass or two. 

Almost any where you find water that isn't posted. It is open carry in FL when fishing if that makes you feel any safer. 

I live 5 minutes from Lake Washington. the pier can sometimes yield some fish.your best bet is to go on google earth and look for lakes that dot the area. ask if you will be allowed to fish the local golf courses, there are some more lake up in the Suntree area and Viera.

I have been here my whole life,I'm 58 now. and have fished since I was 4.

I fish 5 days a week from the bank and enjoy it as much as when I take the boat out.  A good pair of leather boots are good for the snakes.  I would go packing in any crime area.  I fish a lot of commercial and industrial areas where there are man made lakes they dug out for fill.  These all have bass and often good size ones.  Most are not posted and I am seldom questioned.  The opportunities in my area are vast.

17 hours ago, crypt said:

I live 5 minutes from Lake Washington. the pier can sometimes yield some fish.your best bet is to go on google earth and look for lakes that dot the area. ask if you will be allowed to fish the local golf courses, there are some more lake up in the Suntree area and Viera.

I have been here my whole life,I'm 58 now. and have fished since I was 4.

 

 

thank you, I am in the suntree area... a lot of the lakes I find are posted. guess I'll keep looking..in any case, thank you!

16 hours ago, geo g said:

I fish 5 days a week from the bank and enjoy it as much as when I take the boat out.  A good pair of leather boots are good for the snakes.  I would go packing in any crime area.  I fish a lot of commercial and industrial areas where there are man made lakes they dug out for fill.  These all have bass and often good size ones.  Most are not posted and I am seldom questioned.  The opportunities in my area are vast.

thank you - I need to get some boots for sure. I see ponds everywhere, and often wonder if anyone fished them. 

2 hours ago, Tom Burgee said:

thank you - I need to get some boots for sure. I see ponds everywhere, and often wonder if anyone fished them. 

I have had a bass boat for the last 40 years and one of the biggest bass I ever caught was in one of those deep pits next to an expressway interchange, with minimal visible vegetation.   They are all connected to the water management system of South Florida by way of culvert pipes.   No boat needed, just go exploring!  

Central Florida is one of the best places in the country to catch big bass so you have lots of awesome fishing spots around you. Do not underestimate public parks, they often have big bass in them. I recommend you fish the public parks around you and any other public body of water you want to fish. Hollow belly frogs, spinnerbaits, and Zoom trick worms are good lure choices. You can try asking local fishermen in your area what lures they like and try fishing with those lures. Having fun should be your number one priority, catching bass is the bonus. Hope you find a good place to fish that you catch lots of bass.

They were the best places after sun down or just before sunrise.

Also as a tip, you can use Google Earth Pro's past satellite imagery to get an idea of how long a pond has been there. Skip anything built within the last ten years if you're looking for quality fish IMO. Public parks are a good place to start, and FWC has some info on their website about managed lakes and urban ponds in the central FL area.

 

As suggested, be very wary of no trespassing signage. No fish is worth getting into legal trouble over (unless it's the state record I guess). Most of what you'll find in those golf communities is going to have signage, so you may need to cast a wider net. Keep your eyes peeled for gators and snakes, and make sure you tell us about your successes.

I am 75 years old and have been fishing in Florida since I was a child. Florida is one of the best bank fishing areas in the nation.  It's full of canals, rock pits, irrigation ditches and sink holes.  An amazing number of them hold bass.  Many of those bass have never seen a lure.  Anywhere you can cast from the bank has potential.  You do not need to go out in the Everglades to find bass.   Every neighborhood in Florida has these places.  When I lived in Pembroke Pines, our home was on a canal that was full of 5-8 pound bass. I know as I put them there.

 

If you have a question about fishing a body of water, it's best to ask first.  You may not get a good reception, but there are more than enough to choose from. Some places allow fishing for residents only.  If you befriend someone that is, you could find yourself in a good place. Roadside canals can be very productive, especially if there is a flood control spillway nearby.  Take some time to scout around.  If you look, you will find what you are looking for.

https://fishbrain.com/explore?lat=28.126979781252714&lng=-80.6848799128145&water_id=apdWSihG&z=12.32759330091848

 

Link to your location in fishbrain. Has both satellite imagery and catches shared. 

 

thanks all so much... i appreciate it.I found a little lake near me with no signage, and no one has said anything about me fishing there.... (I usually dont stay more than an hour) but havent caught anything worth mentioning, had a decent one break my line, but think it was my knot. 

 

thanks again all!!