Orlando anglers can reach 48 of the waters in our guide in 75 minutes or less by car — 43 lakes, 3 bays and estuaries and 2 rivers and creeks. 3 of them are salt or brackish water, 43 fresh. Our records list no fewer than 43 species of fish for them.
Clear Lake is 5 minutes from Orlando
The closest water to Orlando is Clear Lake, 5 min (2.5 mi) away by road. The drive time is measured to the ramp: George Barker Jr. Park Clear Lake Boat Ramp.
Next by drive time:
- Lake Conway — 9 min (4.5 mi)
- Lake Maitland — 12 min (6.2 mi)
- Lake Down — 16 min (10.9 mi)
216 boat ramps and 68 piers within reach
Public access near Orlando adds up to 216 boat ramps, 68 fishing piers and 4 shore-fishing spots. Nearest to the center for launching: George Barker Jr. Park Clear Lake Boat Ramp on Clear Lake, roughly 1.8 mi as the crow flies. For fishing without a boat, the closest pier is George Barker Park on Clear Lake, about 1.9 mi from the center.
3 waters at the top of the Orlando list
Our ranking for Orlando weighs the drive, the depth map, the fish on record and the ramps; it puts these 3 first:
- Clear Lake: 358 acres, 20 fish species on record, max depth 29 ft (surveyed), 3 ramps and 158,213 fish stocked.
- Lake Tohopekaliga: 18,627 acres, 19 fish species on record, max depth 17 ft (surveyed), 17 ramps and 120 fish stocked.
- Lake Apopka: 30,982 acres, 18 fish species on record, max depth 18.4 ft (surveyed), 6 ramps and 513,463 fish stocked.
What bites near Orlando: Brown Bullhead first
Of all the species, Brown Bullhead is on record at the most waters — 45 out of 48. Next come Largemouth Bass (44), Sunshine Bass (42), Channel Catfish (42) and Black Crappie (42).
For each of these 5 fish the closest water is the same: Clear Lake, 5 min (2.5 mi).
Deepest nearby: Indian River Lagoon, 75.5 ft
Indian River Lagoon has the greatest depth on our map near here, 75.5 ft (surveyed). It is followed by Saint Johns River (65 ft), Lake Down (36 ft) and Lake Conway (34 ft). Maximum depths are known for 47 of the 48 waters.
Stocking records around Orlando
Stocking records cover 12 of these waters; the largest totals are Withlacoochee River (559,407 fish), Lake Apopka (513,463 fish) and Lake Eustis (257,289 fish).
8 campgrounds near the water
8 campgrounds sit by the waters around Orlando. Nearest to the city: Lake Dorr Cabin (33.9 mi, by Lake Dorr), Lake Dorr Campground (36.1 mi, by Lake Dorr) and Manatee Hammock Campground (36.4 mi, by Indian River Lagoon).
