Florida bass fishing charters & guides
Guided trips for trophy largemouth bass and peacock bass on Florida’s best lakes, rivers and canals.
Florida is the bass fishing capital of the world. With over 7,000 lakes, ponds, canals and creeks, and bass in nearly every one, there is no better place to catch a big trophy bass. Book a local guide on Lake Okeechobee, Lake Toho, the St. Johns River or the peacock bass canals of South Florida.
Fish you can catch on a Florida bass trip
Largemouth and peacock bass, plus crappie (specks) and panfish. Swipe to see them.
Largemouth bass
Florida bassFlorida’s top freshwater fish, in nearly every lake, river and canal.
Peacock bass
Butterfly peacockHard-hitting, colorful bass in the canals and lakes of South Florida.
Black crappie
SpeckWinter favorite on Lake Okeechobee, Lake Toho and the St. Johns River.
Bullseye snakehead
SnakeheadHard-fighting exotic in South Florida canals. Do not release alive.
Bag and size limits apply: see the FWC freshwater fishing regulations.
Where is the best bass fishing in Florida?
Lake Okeechobee is the most famous largemouth bass lake in the country. The Kissimmee Chain (Lake Toho and Lake Kissimmee), the St. Johns River and Rodman Reservoir, Headwaters Lake and the Everglades are close behind. For peacock bass, fish the warm canals of South Florida from Palm Beach to Miami. Guided Florida bass trips with iOutdoors start at $225 to $250, with 4-hour trips from $325.
Largemouth bass vs peacock bass in Florida
Florida has two kinds of bass to chase. Here is how they compare.
| Largemouth bass | Peacock bass | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Lakes, rivers and canals statewide | Warm canals and lakes in South Florida (Palm Beach to Miami, Naples) |
| Best season | Late winter and spring spawn for trophies; all year | Warm months; slows down in cold snaps |
| How they bite | Grass, lily pads and shiners; early and late in the day | Hard hits in daylight on small lures and live bait |
| Top spots | Lake Okeechobee, Lake Toho, St. Johns River, Rodman | Lake Ida, Fort Lauderdale and Miami canals, Golden Gate Canal |
| Price (4 hours, boat) | From $325 (Lake Toho 2 h from $250) | From $250 (Lake Ida 2 h from $225) |
Popular Florida bass fishing charters
Book online with live calendars. Prices are for the boat, shortest trip.
Central FloridaLake Toho (Kissimmee)From $250 · see dates →Lake OkeechobeeLake Okeechobee (Clewiston)From $350 · see dates →
Central FloridaOrlando bassFrom $300 · see dates →
South FloridaFort Lauderdale peacock bassFrom $350 · see dates →
Boca RatonLake Ida peacock bassFrom $225 · see dates →
Palm BeachesPalm Beach peacock bassFrom $350 · see dates →
Space CoastCocoa Beach bassFrom $250 · see dates →
Tampa BayTampa bass (Lake Tarpon)From $325 · see dates →Best bass fishing lakes in Florida
There are hundreds of bass lakes in Florida. These are the ones our guides fish most.
Lake Okeechobee
Florida’s biggest lake and the most famous largemouth bass lake in the country, with giant bass and lots of them, plus great speck (crappie) fishing. We launch from Okeechobee City, Clewiston, Belle Glade and Lake Port. See Lake Okeechobee fishing charters.
Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain
Lake Tohopekaliga, minutes from Orlando and Kissimmee, is one of the best trophy bass lakes in the state. 2-, 3- and 4-hour trips are our most popular. See Lake Toho fishing charters and Kissimmee.
St. Johns River and Rodman Reservoir
The Everglades
Unknown to many, you can fish the Everglades. This wild sanctuary of over 1 million acres offers bass and peacock bass for anglers and nature lovers alike, along the canals west of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. More: Everglades Holiday Park.
South Florida peacock bass canals
What to bring
Sunglasses, a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, a light jacket for cool mornings, sunscreen and a camera. Bring your own cooler with food and drinks, and your Florida freshwater fishing license. If you have a favorite lure or rod, bring it along.
More Florida lake guides from our sister site Bass Online: Florida bass lakes · bassonline.com.
Florida bass fishing by region
Pick your town or lake (shortest-trip price, or Call to book):
Panhandle & Big Bend
Back to Florida fishing charters.
Florida bass fishing by season
Winter Dec–Feb
- Bass move shallow to spawn; trophy season starts
- Crappie (specks) bite
Spring Mar–May
- Spawn and post-spawn: best time for a trophy
- Peacock bass wake up
Summer Jun–Aug
- Fish early mornings
- Peak peacock bass
Fall Sep–Nov
- Bass chase bait as water cools
- Great schooling action
What guests say about our Florida bass trips
4.91,845 reviews
Had a great time with Capt. Cody! He was very knowledgeable about the area and went above and beyond for us. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to catch fish and have a great day on the water!
Brittany Ziobro · October 2026 · Google
Captain Paul is great! He made sure we had a really good time. Hope to see you again soon.Nancy, Jon and David
Nancy Pulling · October 2026 · Google
Great day with Captain Justin on his 19’ Nitro / 200 Yamaha. He put us on bigmouth bass, bluegill, and crappie, and he knows the fish, alligators, manatees, and Florida birds as well as he knows the water. Capable boat, knowledgeable captain — we’d go again.
Larry Franz · October 2026 · Google
Cody was our guide. We absolutely loved Captain Coby. He put on some monster fish and we had a blast. Awesome gyude service. Awesome Guide
tommy pomeroy · October 2026 · Google
We had a great 2 days fishing on Lake Okeechobee with Captain DJ Timms. He was excellent with the kids. We will be back!!
Nadra Woods · October 2026 · Google
Jose was wonderful! Thanks for a great time!
Elisha Stoecklin · October 2026 · Google
The trip was great. Me and my sons had a great time catching the fish we came for thanks to captain Rick.
billy smith · October 2026 · Google
Camem was great! Knowledgeable and friendly!
Cindy Miller · October 2026 · Google
As an avid bass fisherwoman in TN, Okeechobee has always been on my bass lake bucket list and then add Mark Shephard as my guide and it couldn’t get much better! Fairly slow in the beginning but we ended up getting on a top water bite and it was game on! I will definitely be back!
Lindsey S · September 2026 · Google
Another great day out on the “big O” with Mark. It’s like fishing with a friend he is an outstanding patient teacher and for a beginner like me it’s been the best thing to help me improve. Looking forward to booking a number of trips this winter.
John Tanzilli · September 2026 · Google
Did a group trip with 5 guides and all were exceptional. Great communication and a fun time
Jim Holtmann · September 2026 · Google
Great experience captain Rick Hernandez did an awesome job turning us onto fish and great personality.
Zeb Smith · September 2026 · Google
How to book a Florida bass fishing trip
Pick your town or lake to see live dates and book online, or call us and we’ll match you with a guide.
Bass trips from more than 50 Florida towns and lakes
Florida freshwater fishing license not included (anglers 16+). Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. Full refund or free reschedule if the guide cancels for weather. Questions? Call (407) 392-4593, 9 am – 6 pm.
Florida bass fishing questions
Where is the best bass fishing in Florida?
Lake Okeechobee is Florida’s most famous bass lake. The Kissimmee Chain (Lake Toho and Lake Kissimmee), the St. Johns River, Rodman Reservoir, Headwaters Lake and the Everglades are also top spots. South Florida canals around Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are the place for peacock bass.
What are the best bass fishing lakes in Florida?
Lake Okeechobee, Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho), Lake Kissimmee, Rodman Reservoir, Headwaters Lake, the Harris Chain, Lake Istokpoga and Lake Tarpon are some of the best. Each town page shows the lakes we fish from there.
Where can I catch peacock bass in Florida?
Peacock bass live in the warm canals and lakes of South Florida, from Palm Beach and Boca Raton (Lake Ida) through Fort Lauderdale to Miami and the Everglades canals, plus the Golden Gate Canal near Naples. They need warm water, so they stay in the southern part of the state.
When is the best time to go bass fishing in Florida?
Florida bass bite all year. Late winter and early spring (about January to April) is spawning season and the best time for a trophy largemouth. Summer is best early in the morning. Peacock bass are best in the warmer months.
How much does a Florida bass fishing charter cost?
Our guided bass trips start at $225 to $250 for 2 to 4 hours (Lake Ida, Lake Toho, Miami) and most 4-hour trips are $325 to $400 for the boat. Each town page shows its live prices for 4, 6 and 8 hours.
How many people can go on a bass fishing trip?
Our bass trips take up to 4 people on most lakes. Each town page shows the group size for its trips.
Do I need a fishing license for bass fishing in Florida?
Yes. Each angler 16 or older needs a Florida freshwater fishing license unless exempt. It is not included in the trip price; you can buy one online from FWC.
What is included on a bass fishing charter?
A professional local guide, bass boat, fuel, life jackets, rods, reels, tackle and artificial lures. Live wild shiners are optional; ask your guide.
Can I keep the bass?
Many anglers release big trophy bass to fight another day. Florida has bag and size limits for black bass; your guide will explain what you can keep.
How do I book a Florida bass fishing trip?
Pick your town or lake on this page to see live dates and book online, or call (407) 392-4593, 9 am – 6 pm.