Leisure

Putnam County is home to 3 of the "Top 10" bass fisheries in Florida - the St. Johns River, Crescent Lake and Rodman Reservoir. Rodman also made #14 of the top 100 most productive bass fisheries in the nation by Bassmaster Magazine.

Known as the "Bass Capital of the World", Putnam County also offers a list of other freshwater and saltwater or brackish-water fishing. Freshwater species include the largemouth bass, black crappie (speckled perch), bluegill, shell cracker, warmouth and catfish. Saltwater species include red fish, flounder, sea trout and tarpon. Shrimp migrate up the brackish water during the summer months and striped bass can be caught mostly during the fall and winter months.

For nearly 300 miles, the twisted course of the St. Johns River runs northward, up nearly one half the length of the state.

William Bartram explored the river in 1773, however the source of the river wasn’t charted until 1822. Flowing northward, the St. Johns passes through nine lakes, eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The waterways in Putnam County are popular for boating activities, including sailing, kayaking and canoeing. The riverbanks are perfect for viewing wildlife, so make sure to bring binoculars. The annual Mug Race held the first Saturday in May draws hundreds of sailboats of all shapes and sizes.

While known as the “Bass Capital of the World,” Putnam offers a wide variety of freshwater, saltwater and brackish water fishing. Freshwater species includes largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, shellcracker and catfish. Saltwater species includes red fish, flounder, sea trout and tarpon. In the summer and early fall months, shrimp migrate up the St. Johns River and are easily caught off docks or by boat with cast nets.

Lake George, the second largest lake in Florida, is not only one of the premier largemouth bass fishing lakes, but also perfect for crappie and blue gill.

If you are looking for catfish, the St. Johns River and Dunns Creek are top spots for channel catfish and white catfish. Big channel catfish are usually reported in the upper and lower St. Johns River and Dunns Creek system from early May through June. Small catfish can be caught all year, but best fishing occurs in the spring and fall. This area is listed as a top spot according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The St. Johns River is also a prime spot for catching striped bass and sunshine bass, with fish in the 8-to-12-pound range being common. Striped bass move through the system during fall and winter. Popular spots include Memorial Bridge, and the jetties and bombing ranges in Lake George.