Lake Josephine fishing: Black Crappie

Target species: Black Crappie
Best months: Jan, Feb for Black Crappie
Boat: 3 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Lake Josephine Public Boat Ramp (Oak Beach), 1 lane, concrete.

The lake

Lake Josephine covers 1,274 acres in Florida, across Highlands County. It is a lake: the deepest point measured is at least 8 feet (2.4 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.

Depth and bottom

Deepest measured point: at least 8 ft (2.4 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. We hold 51 depth contour lines for this water.

  • 0–1 ft: 9.9% of the water
  • 1–2 ft: 10.7% of the water
  • 2–3 ft: 13.9% of the water
  • 3–4 ft: 10.8% of the water
  • 4–5 ft: 10.1% of the water
  • 5–6 ft: 15.8% of the water
  • 6–7 ft: 13.5% of the water
  • 7–8 ft: 15.4% of the water

The target fish: Black Crappie

  • Black Crappie (speck, specks) — Best months: Jan, Feb. Spawns Feb, Mar, Apr. Holds in open water and weed beds. What works here: minnow, grass shrimp, jig, bobber and drifting.

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 1.3–2.3 feet on our readings, averaging 1.7 feet, from 612 readings. Our water temperature readings average 78°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. pH averages 6.6. These readings span 2017–2025.

Stocking: 86,680 fish in 2013

FWC records list 86,680 fish released into this water in 2013. The latest stocking on record is from 2013, more than three years ago.

  • Black Crappie: 86,680 fingerlings in 2013

3 ramps and launches on this water

On this water we hold 3 trailer ramps.

  • Lake Josephine Public Boat Ramp (Oak Beach) — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 8 trailers (firm unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Sebring, Highlands County. 2430 Oak Beach Boulevard, Sebring 33875 · website highlandsfl.gov/departments/parks_and_facilities/parks/boat_ramps.php
  • Lake Josephine Public Boat Ramp (Sentinel Point Park) — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 6 trailers (firm unpaved), no fee, open around the clock. Sebring, Highlands County. 1540 Lake Josephine Drive, Sebring 33875 · website highlandsfl.gov/departments/parks_and_facilities/parks/boat_ramps.php
  • Lake Josephine Public Boat Ramp (Lake Josephine Shores - No Parking) — 1 lane, concrete, no fee, open around the clock. Sebring, Highlands County. 425 Lake Josephine Shores Road, Sebring 33875 · website highlandsfl.gov/departments/parks_and_facilities/parks/boat_ramps.php

Our ramp table for this water is not complete: there may be more.

What is hard here

Only 3 public ramps are on file, so the launch decides where you fish. Alligators live in Florida fresh water. Keep clear of the bank edge at dawn and dusk, and keep pets away from it.

Where this data comes from

  • Florida FWC — FWC Florida lake bathymetry: class A, a survey of the bottom.