Governor Ron DeSantis Announces 50% Discounts for FWC Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Great Outdoors Initiative. This initiative is to encourage Floridians to go outdoors and explore Florida’s natural resources. This includes our award-winning state parks, vast recreation areas, and world-renowned waterways. This initiative provides a significant 50% discount on annual state park passes and FWC Gold Sportsman hunting and fishing licenses.
Beginning Oct. 14, 2023, and extending three months through Jan. 13, 2024, DEP will temporarily offer Florida State Parks annual passes for families and individuals at a 50% discount, while FWC will be discounting its annual resident Gold Sportsman license, five-year Gold Sportsman license and Lifetime Sportsman license by 50%.
“Florida is home to some of the best state parks, waterways and recreational lands in the country, and I encourage all Floridians to get outdoors, experience our extraordinary natural resources and enjoy our fundamental right to hunt and fish,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “And we are now making it more affordable for families to get outside and enjoy these wonders by offering state park passes and fishing and hunting licenses at sharply discounted rates.”
Florida State Parks Annual Passes will have a 50% discount and will be available at the following rates:
- Family Annual Pass - $60, plus tax.
- Individual Annual Pass - $30, plus tax.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses.
The following FWC Gold Sportsman licenses, which include the saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, hunting privileges and all associated permits, will also be discounted by 50%. These will be available at the following rates, plus applicable fees:
- Annual Gold Sportsman - $50.75.
- Five-year Gold Sportsman - $247.75.
- Lifetime Sportsman License
- Age 4 or younger - $201.50.
- Ages 5–12 - $351.50.
- Ages 13 and older - $501.50.
To learn more about the Great Outdoors Initiative or to purchase your annual park pass and gold sportsman licenses, click here.
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The state of Florida continues to show as a top destination for fishing in the latest "Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2023." The annual rankings come from the highly regarded Bassmaster. Theyshow that when it comes to bass fishing lakes, Florida is a clear choice. And with winter approaching in the north, many will be flocking down here to Florida to fish.
In a press release, Roger Young, FWC Executive Director stated, “We take a tremendous amount of pride in managing our freshwater fisheries. The recognition of multiple Florida waterbodies in the Best Bass Lakes is a testament to our commitment to preserve the well-being of our aquatic ecosystems while promoting recreational fishing in Florida,”
Fishing is a big part of the Florida lifestyle. Whether you're out in the gulf fishing for grouper, or just passing the time at the retention pond at your Fort Myers condo. People here love to fish. But sometimes you want to hit a lake and do some bass fishing. Fortunately for us, 3 of the top 10 lakes in the U.S. for catching bass are right here in Florida.
If you're up for a road trip, number one on the Bassmaster list is the O.H. Ivie Lake. The lake is a reservoir on the Colorado and Concho Rivers, 55 miles east of San Angelo, Texas. The reservoir was formed when a dam was built in 1990. They're seeing a lot of double digit bass being pulled from there this year. Some of these spots will be best if you wait until spring. Do your research, but here's some ideas to get you started.
Here's the Florida lakes that made the top 10.
5. Fellsmere Reservoir
Sometimes known as Headwaters Lake or Lake Egan, this is a 10,000-acre manmade lake in Indian River county. This place was made to be a bass fishing lake with underwater features and am ideal habitat. Recommended lures are topwater lures and weedless soft plastic jerkbaits or stickbaits. When the lake was originally flooded, it was stocked with 1,000,000 Florida bass.
8. Orange Lake
This lake is 20 miles southeast of Gainesville. A lot of vegetation on this lake, making some areas inaccessible. The deeper areas are good fishing for largemouth bass. This lake also features a handicap-accessible pier with a fish attractor to provide for good fishing.
10. Lake Okeechobee
In the Seminole language, this literally means 'big water'. Because Lake O is so heavily affected by rainfall, it's levels vary. The current restriction "For largemouth bass only one may be 16 inches or longer in total length per angler per day, with no minimum length limit. The bag limit remains the same, at five." Because the releases of Lake O always make negative headlines here in SWFL, it's easy to forget that it's a really good spot for bass fishing.
Some Florida lakes that just missed the top 10.
Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake Toho is an 18,810-acre lake located southeast of the city of Kissimmee. The FWC has installed fish attractors, so check here for locations of the best spots.
Lake Seminole
A reservoir at the juncture of the Florida, Georgia, and Alabama state lines. 80% of this lake is in Georgia, but Florida fishers can fish up to an imaginary line. More details on that here. Beautiful place.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid has 27 freshwater lakes. Cool small town. I like it because it's not too far from here. My neighbor has a place on one of those lakes and it's a really nice change of pace from Southwest Florida.
Lake Panasoffkee
This place is more well known for it's trails, but four spring-fed creeks enter the lake which provides for some solid bass fishing. Bass as big as 8 pound on up to double digits. Just to the northwest of Orlando.
Lake Istokpoga
Lake Istokpoga is five miles northeast of Lake Placid. There's fishing resorts on the lake with accomadations. Excellent largemouth bass fishing can be done from the bank near the canal.
Lake Rousseau
West of Ocala, this is a man made reservoir on the Withlacoochee River. A real old Florida feel out here. You might even see a manatee.
Rodman Reservoir
This one comes as a recommendation from Captain Debbie Hanson, host of ESPN Reel Talk Radio. This man made lake is a premier largemouth bass fishery located in Putnam County in Northeast Florida. North of Ocala.
