South Florida Spawn

[-HAWK-]

I fished this past Sunday after a front had pushed through. The air temps were in th low 50's, but the water temps were still in the upper 70's. Now most South Florida anglers know that the coldest it really gets here during winter is ussually 45 - 50 degrees. So my question is when do we start scoping the shallows for staging bass getting ready to spawn. Also when can we expect the bass to be actually spawning.

[fivesixone]

I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject, but I'm pretty sure in our area they normally start to spawn around February or March, sometimes April...

[-HAWK-]

I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject, but I'm pretty sure in our area they normally start to spawn around February or March, sometimes April...

Thats the thing. I thought I heard of some members saying it may begin as early as late December.

[Bass Mekanik]

Personally, I have seen bass spawn in almost every month except July and August.  December-January seem to be the peak for them down here but I saw one pair about a month ago on a spawn bed.  You just have to put your time in on the lake and watch for little males guarding a bed.  There is a big momma only a few feet away lurking in the shadows.

[Sam]

I am in Virginia freezing my fanny off and you guys are talking about spawning?

You all have it made.  ;D   ;D   ;D

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject, but I'm pretty sure in our area they normally start to spawn around February or March, sometimes April...

You pretty much nailed it.  Last year we had a late spawn.

[fivesixone]

Well, that explains that then since I just seriously started fishing a year or two ago... I'd like to try and learn some more about it during some of these cold days as well...

PS: Fishing was great today around 2-3pm... Got a little hot out actually. Me and a buddy landed 1 each that went around 3-4 pounds (my first on a *!) and we both missed two good ones... I had one right to the shore and then he got off like nothing even happened and then swam away gracefully... ;D

[-HAWK-]

Is it true the Largest Female Bass normally spawn the earliest or is that just myth?

[FD.]

Here is what my notes tell me about last year.

Dec - Larger fish on outside lines -6-8 ft water, some schooling on warm days - smaller males shallow in Pads 3 ft deep.

Jan - March was the same. Some good fish outside lines, killing 3-4 pounders on the sparse grass 4-5 ft deep. Spawning fish in 2-3ft water.

April-May Lots of empty beds shallow, fish hitting a fluke and frog in 4-6 ft sparse grass.

These were mostly on Kissimmee and Hatch. I averaged 4 fish and 10 lbs per tourney Jan- Apr

This was my first year attempting to sight fish for spawning fish and boy did I suck at it. I had much more success flipping open holes in the heavy grass or frog/fluke in the thin grass.

[gar-tracker]

Last year the biggest spawn of the year on Okeechobee was in late May, there could be fish on beds at any given time, not all of the fish spawn at the same time. Further south in the Everglades February has traditionaly been the best month.

You should look for beds from Nov to May, look hard from Dec to April, this year we had an October spawn at the the Big O, but I think that was because of the abundance of bait and high water.

Bass dont read all of the books we do.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

There will be a time between Jan-may where the bulk or majority will be spawning.I am also a firm believer that if the winter is warm such as last year that many will do it multiple times. I can guarantee you that we were catching some pigs in december last year and seen several beds. These fish were all coming out of small waters though and that may be the difference.Small murky lakes can heat up quickly.

Either way I would definitely look in "staging areas" in December and make sure you hit the full moon in january.

[-HAWK-]

Great Info guys.. That pretty much clears things up for me. Last year I didnt start looking for spawning Bass until March. This year I will start much sooner.

[SoFl-native]

I fished this past Sunday after a front had pushed through. The air temps were in th low 50's, but the water temps were still in the upper 70's. Now most South Florida anglers know that the coldest it really gets here during winter is ussually 45 - 50 degrees. So my question is when do we start scoping the shallows for staging bass getting ready to spawn. Also when can we expect the bass to be actually spawning.

My buddy actually saw some males clearing beds this week. I think that was an instinctive reaction to the drop in water temp and not a true spawn but it shows how crazy and sporatic the FL spawn can be.

Females usually dont get up till Febuary down here but it is 100% dependent on the water temp....and therefore the weather.

[Bassboss]

So the south Florida spawn is in the winter months. Dose this mean that in fall, the bass are not only eating up for winter, but the spawn as well?

Now that I think of it, it makes scents, last week end I saw a recently abandoned bass bed. I did not really acknowledge it 'til now. If the books I have read serve me right than the blue gills spawn after the bass, not before.

I'm I right?

[gar-tracker]

So the south Florida spawn is in the winter months. Dose this mean that in fall, the bass are not only eating up for winter, but the spawn as well?

Now that I think of it, it makes scents, last week end I saw a recently abandoned bass bed. I did not really acknowledge it 'til now. If the books I have read serve me right than the blue gills spawn after the bass, not before.

I'm I right?

Blue Gills usually spawn in the summer, and yes the bass start feeding in the fall, unless its a south Florida targeted article I throw out most of the literature on bass behavior when it comes to down here, most of its written based on the rest of the country.

And by South Florida I consider from Kissimmee south.

[-HAWK-]

So the south Florida spawn is in the winter months. Dose this mean that in fall, the bass are not only eating up for winter, but the spawn as well?

Now that I think of it, it makes scents, last week end I saw a recently abandoned bass bed. I did not really acknowledge it 'til now. If the books I have read serve me right than the blue gills spawn after the bass, not before.

I'm I right?

Blue Gills usually spawn in the summer, and yes the bass start feeding in the fall, unless its a south Florida targeted article I throw out most of the literature on bass behavior when it comes to down here, most of its written based on the rest of the country.

And by South Florida I consider from Kissimmee south.

Thats one thing i have noticed. Every Bass Fishing magazine I read, seems like the information doesnt really match up with South Florida Patterns.  The Bass behave soo differently because we dont have Winter down here, so alot of the info is useless.

[Bassboss]

So the south Florida spawn is in the winter months. Dose this mean that in fall, the bass are not only eating up for winter, but the spawn as well?

Now that I think of it, it makes scents, last week end I saw a recently abandoned bass bed. I did not really acknowledge it 'til now. If the books I have read serve me right than the blue gills spawn after the bass, not before.

I'm I right?

Blue Gills usually spawn in the summer, and yes the bass start feeding in the fall, unless its a south Florida targeted article I throw out most of the literature on bass behavior when it comes to down here, most of its written based on the rest of the country.

And by South Florida I consider from Kissimmee south.

Thats one thing i have noticed. Every Bass Fishing magazine I read, seems like the information doesnt really match up with South Florida Patterns. The Bass behave soo differently because we dont have Winter down here, so alot of the info is useless.

Thanks for all the info guys!!

Can you or anyone else advise any books that deal with south Florida fishing?

[gar-tracker]

Check out Larry Larsen's books, a little dated but not bad for some decent information.

http://www.larsenoutdoors.com/html/florida_fishing_books.html