January Ideas

Hello everyone,
Retiring at end of the year. Hope to spend the first few weeks of January in Florida. Typically do all beach...but this time i would like to try a crappie trip instead. I spend some time in the late winter/spring long-lining and slip cork fishing different lakes in the mid-west....but have never fished Florida in the winter. My boat is a 20ft aluminum Lund.
May haul the truck camper down...may just get a cabin.
I would think the further South the better as far as weather in early January.
Boat slip or dock preferred...covered would be great.
Okeechobee maybe????
Fish camp type atmosphere preferred.

Anyone have any other suggestions ?? Okeechobee seems pretty vast.
Be just wife and i. Like to take a day here and there to head to beach if not too far away.
Thanks everyone !!!

Congrats on the planning paying off and getting to retire. Chobee is busy and if you want space there then you better book now. I’m no help as to where to go. Astor is just north or me and another destination that’s popular with folks year after year. I like to fish many different ways and target species in both fresh and salt so what makes me smile might leave you cold. Read back into the archives and see how people have done in past years and see the real skinny. Others will have more info than I and be happy to share. I’m kind of in my own little world here and don’t have to travel far for ramps or good fishing. I’m in the lake Monroe area north of Orlando and there’s some places around. Holler back if I can help, and I hope you enjoy your stay.

Thanks Skeetbum. Have researched past posts. Still struggling to nail down area and rental solution. Hopefully something surfaces.

I’m also not much help for the rental aspect as I live in MN but I can tell you that I’ve long lined a few of the lakes along the St. John’s river at that time of year and did very well. I’ve been to the Highland Park fish camp in DeLand and the folks were very nice. I didn’t camp but only rented a boat for a day and fished Woodruff. It’s only 30min or so from Daytona Beach. Hopefully, more experienced folks will chime in.


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There is a fish camp with rental units on the south end of Lake Kissimmee called (Grape Hammock.)
They also have a tackle store and sell bait.
The Kissimmee river is also there, and you can fish both river and lake from the camp very easily.
The camp is only a mile or so from rt 60, and less than an hour from the ocean at Vero Beach.
In the same area, but on the south side of rt 60 there is a large place called( River Ranch.)
They have all kinds of accommadations including a large campground.
It is located right on the river, but again you can fish both lake and the river from there.

A few years ago (2018-2019?), some friends invited some of us to join their annual trip to Okeechobee in February. We had never been so we tagged along. They told us we would be fishing grass beds, lily pads, etc. and the stuff we normally used in NC would suffice. For the first few days, we fished their way and had respectable catches of 25-30 fish per day. On a whim the 3rd day, I decided to longline in the canal above the Kissimmee river and that was the ticket. The next several days were catches of 70-100 per day. Since you like to longline, that should be in your wheelhouse! Also look up Indian Prairie canal too. You can longline there and see some manatees while doing it!
Another good tactic there was night stalking just inside the mouth of the Kissimmee river between the bridge and the lake with live minnows.

We stayed at Angler's Waterfront motel in Buckhead Ridge. It wasn't fancy but had everything we needed to be comfortable. Look it up and while in the area make sure you stop at the Fast Stop convenience store. They have everything you could want for crappie fishing. Good advice and even guides if you're interested.

Chris

Google Maps

That's the canal I'm talking about.

If the Big O was closer, we'd still be making annual trips there.