Lake Apopka fishing: Largemouth Bass, Sunshine Bass

Target species: Largemouth Bass, Sunshine Bass
Best months: Mar, Apr, May for Largemouth Bass
Second window: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr for Sunshine Bass
Boat: 4 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Magnolia Park Boat Ramp, 2 lanes, concrete.

The lake

Lake Apopka covers 30,982 acres in Florida, across 2 counties: Lake and Orange. It is a lake: 97% of it is 9 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is 18.4 feet (5.6 m). Our records hold 18 species for this water.

Depth: down to 18.4 ft at the deepest measured point

Deepest measured point: 18.4 ft (5.6 m). 97% of the water is 9 feet or shallower. We hold 630 depth contours for this water, drawn from 103,685 soundings.

Lakeapopka 01212012.jpg
Michael Adams · CC BY-SA 3.0
  • 0–2 ft: 3.5% of the water
  • 2–4 ft: 5.5% of the water
  • 4–5 ft: 19.9% of the water
  • 5–6 ft: 36.7% of the water
  • 6–7 ft: 24.3% of the water
  • 7–9 ft: 7.1% of the water
  • 9–11 ft: 2.4% of the water
  • 11–13 ft: 0.4% of the water
  • 13–15 ft: 0.1% of the water
  • 15–16 ft: 0.1% of the water

2 target fish, led by Largemouth Bass

  • Largemouth Bass (Florida bass, black bass) — Best months: Mar, Apr, May. Spawns Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May. A trophy starts at 8 lb. Holds in weed beds, open water and drop-offs. What works here: golden shiner, plastic worm, soft plastic, crankbait and topwater.
  • Sunshine Bass (hybrid striped bass, hybrids) — Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr. A trophy starts at 5 lb. Holds in open water, drop-offs, current and canals. What works here: lipless crankbait, spoon, swimbait, jig and jerkbait.

Also recorded here: Blue Tilapia.

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 1–2.3 feet on our readings, averaging 1.6 feet, from 320 readings. Water temperature averages 76°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 54°F and the warmest is 96°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8.6. These readings span 2016–2025.

Lake Apopka North Shore (193036779).jpeg
Libardo Lambrano · CC BY 3.0

Monthly average water temperature: Jan 61°F · Feb 69°F · Mar 68°F · Apr 72°F · May 79°F · Jun 83°F · Jul 85°F · Aug 87°F · Sep 81°F · Oct 78°F · Nov 70°F · Dec 65°F

Stocking: 513,463 fish, 2013–2021

FWC records list 513,463 fish released into this water from 2013 to 2021. The latest stocking on record is from 2021, more than three years ago.

Lake Apopka North Shore (193037733).jpeg
Libardo Lambrano · CC BY 3.0
  • Sunshine Bass: 311,050 fingerlings in 2013–2017
  • Largemouth Bass: 202,413 fingerlings, sub adults in 2017–2021

4 ramps and launches on this water

On this water we hold 3 trailer ramps, 1 hand launch and 2 fishing piers.

  • Magnolia Park Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 13 trailers (paved), no fee, daylight hours, flush restrooms, dock, wheelchair access. Apopka, Orange County. 2929 South Binion Road, Apopka 32703 · website orangecountyfl.net/cultureparks/parks.aspx?m=lstbr#.YfAOZPvMJaR
  • Lakeview Park Public Boat Ramp - Winter Garden — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 10 trailers (paved), no fee, flush restrooms, dock. Winter Garden, City of Winter Garden. 31 West Garden Avenue, Winter Garden 34787 · phone (407) 656-4111 · website cwgdn.com/facilities/facility/details/Newton-Park-11
  • Lake Apopka West Shore Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 3 trailers (soft unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, needs repair. Montverde, Town of Montverde. Osgood Road / ~17208 Abrams Avenue, Montverde 34756

Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer

  • McDonald Canal Accessible Kayak Launch — hand launch, parking for 19 trailers (paved), no fee, dock, wheelchair access. Mount Dora, Lake County. 24600 County Road 448A, Mount Dora 32757 · website lakecountyfl.gov/offices/parks_and_trails/boat_ramps.aspx

Fishing piers

  • Jake Voss Pier — Oakland, Town of Oakland. 700 N. Tubb St., Oakland 34760
  • Lakeview Park — no fee, open 7am–10pm. Winter Garden, City of Winter Garden. 3414 Walker Rd., Winter Garden 32703

4 of the 6 places listed have both a fee and opening hours on file: a blank means we hold no such field, not that it is free or always open, and this list may not be complete.

Season by season

  • Winter (Dec, Jan, 61–65°F) — Biting: Sunshine Bass. Steady but no peak: Largemouth Bass.
  • Spring (Feb, Apr, May, 69–79°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Sunshine Bass.
  • Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug, 83–87°F) — Steady but no peak: Largemouth Bass, Sunshine Bass.
  • Fall (Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, 68–81°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Sunshine Bass.

What is hard here

Wind is the limit, not the fish: 30,982 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. With 97% of the water 9 feet or less, low level turns the flats into hazards. Alligators live in Florida fresh water. Keep clear of the bank edge at dawn and dusk, and keep pets away from it. Summer water sits at 87°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.

Where this data comes from

  • SJRWMD — St. Johns River Water Management District: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • EPA NLA — EPA National Lakes Assessment: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.