Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – 08.17.2025

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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – August 16, 2025 – Captain Joe


Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – August 16, 2025 – Captain Joe

Howdy folks, Captain Joe here, bringing you your daily dose of what’s happening on Lake Okeechobee. Been fishin’ and huntin’ these parts for longer than I care to admit, and I’m here to tell you what to expect out on the Big O today.

Lake Okeechobee Water Levels and Conditions

Let’s get right to it. Here’s the latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
                       Lake Okeechobee and Vicinity Report
                   ** Preliminary Data - Subject to Revision **
 
 
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneA =  16.87
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneBC =  16.47
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneD =  12.07
 
Data Ending 2400 hours   16 AUG 2025
_____________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Lake Regulation      Elevation   Last Year  2YRS Ago
                                (ft-NGVD)   (ft-NGVD)  (ft-NGVD)
  *Okeechobee Lake Elevation       12.21       14.03    15.35 (Official Elv)
 
  16AUG (1965-2007) Period of Record Average    14.00
  Difference from POR Average                  -1.79
 
  Today Lake Okeechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
 
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2007 Channel Condition Survey) Route 1   6.15'
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2008 Channel Condition Survey) Route 2   4.35'
  Bridge Clearance = 49.41'
______________________________________________________________________________
 
4 Interior and 4 Edge Okeechobee Lake Average (Avg-Daily values):
 
  L001   L005   L006   LZ40   S4     S352   S308   S133
  12.27  12.29  12.23  12.17  12.34  12.27   12.11 12.19
 
 
 *Combination Okeechobee  Avg-Daily Lake Average =  12.21
                                                   (*See Note)
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Inflows (cfs):
  S65E           1426      S65EX1            0      Fisheating Cr   674
  S154              0      S191              0      S135 Pumps        0
  S84             339      S133 Pumps        0      S2 Pumps          0
  S84X            104      S127 Pumps        0      S3 Pumps          0
  S71             111      S129 Pumps        0      S4 Pumps          0
  S72               0      S131 Pumps        0      C5                0
Total Inflows:   2654
 
Okeechobee Outflows (cfs):
  S135 Culverts    82      S354              0      S77               1
  S127 Culverts     0      S351              0      S308             -2
  S129 Culverts     0      S352              0
  S131 Culverts     0      L8 Canal Pt       7
Total Outflows:     87
 
****S77 structure flow is being used to compute Total Outflow.
****S308 structure flow is being used to compute Total Outflow.
 
Okeechobee Pan Evaporation (inches):
  S77            0.35      S308           0.29
  Average Pan Evap x 0.75 Pan Coefficient =  0.24" =  0.02'
 
Lake Average Precipitation using NEXRAD: =  -NR-" =  -NR-'
 
Evaporation - Precipitation:             =  -NR-" =  -NR-'
Evaporation - Precipitation using Lake Area of 730 square miles
  is equal to   -NR-
Lake Okeechobee (Change in Storage) Flow is      0 cfs or      0 AC-FT
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
 
 
             Headwater Tailwater         ----------- Gate Positions ------------
             Elevation Elevation  Disch   #1   #2   #3   #4   #5   #6   #7   #8
             (ft-msl)  (ft-msl)   (cfs)  (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft)
                               (I) see note at bottom
North East Shore
  S133 Pumps:  13.37     12.32       0      0    0    0    0 -NR-  (cfs)
  S193:       ______
  S191:        18.89     12.27       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S135 Pumps:  13.43     12.12       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S135 Culverts:                    82    0.0  2.6
 
North West Shore
  S65E:        21.04     12.19    1426    0.4  0.5  0.4  0.7  0.4  1.1
  S65EX1:      21.04     12.19       0
  S127 Pumps:  13.46     12.37       0      0    0    0    0    0  (cfs)
  S127 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S129 Pumps:  12.98     12.49       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S129 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S131 Pumps:  13.01     13.03       0      0    0                 (cfs)
  S131 Culvert:                      0
 
  Fisheating Creek
    nr Palmdale          32.55     674
    nr Lakeport         ______
  S282         12.49     12.57              0.0  0.0  0.1
 
South Shore
  S4 Pumps:    10.57     12.29       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S169:       ______      -NR-    -NR-   -NR- -NR- -NR-
  S310:       ______              -NR-
  S3 Pumps:    10.27     12.13       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S354:        12.13     10.27       0    0.0  0.0
  S2 Pumps:    10.51     12.17       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S351:        12.17     10.51       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S352:        12.20     10.96       0    0.0  0.0
  S271:        12.45     12.48            9.2   9.5   9.8   8.5
  L8 Canal PT            12.13       7
 
  _________________________________________________________________________
                   S351 and S352 Temporary Pumps/S354 Spillway
 
  S351:        10.51     12.17       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S352:        10.96     12.20       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S354:        10.27     12.13       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  _________________________________________________________________________
 
Caloosahatchee River (S77, S78, S79)
  S47B:        12.52     11.22            0.0  0.0
  S47D:        11.31     11.29      88    6.0
  S77:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               12.38     11.16       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           1
 
  S78:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               11.20      2.91     610    0.5  0.0  0.0  1.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           7
 
  S79:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                3.09      1.69    2330    0.0  0.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           3
    Percent of flow from S77         0%
    Chloride            (ppm)      0
 
 
St. Lucie Canal (S308, S80)
  S308:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               12.06     14.09       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -2
 
  S153:        18.63     13.97      94    0.0  0.5
  S80:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               14.20      0.26       0    0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:        -NR-
    Percent of flow from S308   NA  %
 
  Steele Point Top Salinity    (mg/ml) ****
  Steele Point Bottom Salinity (mg/ml) ****
 
  Speedy Point Top Salinity    (mg/ml) ****
  Speedy Point Bottom Salinity (mg/ml) ****
 
 + Flow Due to lockages is computed utilizing average daily headwater and
   tailwater along with total number of lockages for the day to calculate
   a volume which is then converted to an average discharge in cfs.
++ Preferred flow is determined from either the spillway discharge or the below flow meter daily
______________________________________________________________________________
                                                               ----- Wind ----
Daily Precipitation Totals    1-Day       3-Day       7-Day    Direction Speed
                             (inches)    (inches)    (inches)   (Deg)   (mph)
  S133 Pump Station:           -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S193:                        -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
  Okeechobee Field Station:    -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S135 Pump Station:           -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S127 Pump Station:           -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S129 Pump Station:           -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S131 Pump Station:           -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S77:                        16.51       16.51       17.28      180    -NR-
  S78:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00        3    -NR-
  S79:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00      115       2
  S4 Pump Station:             -NR-        0.00        0.00
  Clewiston Field Station:     -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S3 Pump Station:             -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S2 Pump Station:             -NR-        0.00        0.00
  S308:                        -NR-        0.00        0.00       84       4
  S80:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
        Okeechobee Average    16.51        1.27        1.33
        (Sites S78, S79 and S80 not included)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Oke Nexrad Basin Avg         -NR-        0.00        0.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________
Okeechobee Lake Elevations  16 AUG 2025           12.21 Difference from 16AUG25
   16AUG25  -1 Day  =       15 AUG 2025           12.21             0.00
   16AUG25  -2 Days =       14 AUG 2025           12.21             0.00
   16AUG25  -3 Days =       13 AUG 2025           12.21             0.00
   16AUG25  -4 Days =       12 AUG 2025           12.19            -0.02
   16AUG25  -5 Days =       11 AUG 2025           12.20            -0.01
   16AUG25  -6 Days =       10 AUG 2025           12.19            -0.02
   16AUG25  -7 Days =       09 AUG 2025           12.16            -0.05
   16AUG25 -30 Days =       17 JUL 2025           11.85            -0.36
   16AUG25  -1 Year =       16 AUG 2024           14.03             1.82
   16AUG25  -2 Year =       16 AUG 2023           15.35             3.14
______________________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________________
                         Lake Okeechobee Net Inflow (LONIN)
                   Average Flow over the previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16AUG25    Today =       16 AUG 2025      2887  SUN     |         7
   16AUG25  -1 Day  =       15 AUG 2025      2764  SAT     |         0
   16AUG25  -2 Days =       14 AUG 2025      2689  FRI     |         0
   16AUG25  -3 Days =       13 AUG 2025      2852  THU     |      3892
   16AUG25  -4 Days =       12 AUG 2025      2438  WED     |     -1907
   16AUG25  -5 Days =       11 AUG 2025      2717  TUE     |      1938
   16AUG25  -6 Days =       10 AUG 2025      2441  MON     |      5772
   16AUG25  -7 Days =       09 AUG 2025      2172  SUN     |     11520
   16AUG25  -8 Days =       08 AUG 2025      1351  SAT     |      7865
   16AUG25  -9 Days =       07 AUG 2025      1212  FRI     |      7086
   16AUG25 -10 Days =       06 AUG 2025      1256  THU     |     -4308
   16AUG25 -11 Days =       05 AUG 2025      1825  WED     |      5361
   16AUG25 -12 Days =       04 AUG 2025      1835  TUE     |      -315
   16AUG25 -13 Days =       03 AUG 2025      1992  MON     |      3513
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65E
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16AUG25     Today=       16 AUG 2025      1431  SUN     |      1630
   16AUG25  -1 Day  =       15 AUG 2025      1413  SAT     |      1549
   16AUG25  -2 Days =       14 AUG 2025      1396  FRI     |      1592
   16AUG25  -3 Days =       13 AUG 2025      1376  THU     |      1368
   16AUG25  -4 Days =       12 AUG 2025      1370  WED     |      1366
   16AUG25  -5 Days =       11 AUG 2025      1364  TUE     |      1360
   16AUG25  -6 Days =       10 AUG 2025      1357  MON     |      1382
   16AUG25  -7 Days =       09 AUG 2025      1353  SUN     |      1413
   16AUG25  -8 Days =       08 AUG 2025      1346  SAT     |      1441
   16AUG25  -9 Days =       07 AUG 2025      1341  FRI     |      1438
   16AUG25 -10 Days =       06 AUG 2025      1339  THU     |      1376
   16AUG25 -11 Days =       05 AUG 2025      1351  WED     |      1378
   16AUG25 -12 Days =       04 AUG 2025      1350  TUE     |      1350
   16AUG25 -13 Days =       03 AUG 2025      1353  MON     |      1388
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65EX1
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16AUG25     Today=       16 AUG 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   16AUG25  -1 Day  =       15 AUG 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   16AUG25  -2 Days =       14 AUG 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   16AUG25  -3 Days =       13 AUG 2025         0   THU     |         0
   16AUG25  -4 Days =       12 AUG 2025         0   WED     |         0
   16AUG25  -5 Days =       11 AUG 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   16AUG25  -6 Days =       10 AUG 2025         0   MON     |         0
   16AUG25  -7 Days =       09 AUG 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   16AUG25  -8 Days =       08 AUG 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   16AUG25  -9 Days =       07 AUG 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   16AUG25 -10 Days =       06 AUG 2025         0   THU     |         0
   16AUG25 -11 Days =       05 AUG 2025         0   WED     |         0
   16AUG25 -12 Days =       04 AUG 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   16AUG25 -13 Days =       03 AUG 2025         0   MON     |         0
______________________________________________________________________________
Lake Okeechobee Outlets Last 14 Days
 
             S-77    Below S-77    S-78        S-79
           Discharge  Discharge  Discharge  Discharge
           (ALL DAY)  (ALL-DAY)  (ALL DAY)  (ALL DAY)
   DATE     (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)
16 AUG 2025      1       -113        1219       4598
15 AUG 2025      1        -67        1748       5607
14 AUG 2025      2       -131        1755       5717
13 AUG 2025      3         92        2240       6131
12 AUG 2025      1        563        3105       6861
11 AUG 2025      1        527        2904       6546
10 AUG 2025      1        551        3495       8011
09 AUG 2025      1        116        1969       5739
08 AUG 2025      1         10        1009       3188
07 AUG 2025      1          8        1012       3132
06 AUG 2025      1         25         439       2230
05 AUG 2025      1         72          11        975
04 AUG 2025      3        180          20       1107
03 AUG 2025    174        442          24       1267
 
             S-310      S-351      S-352      S-354    L8 Canal Pt
           Discharge  Discharge  Discharge  Discharge  Discharge
           (ALL DAY)  (ALL DAY)  (ALL DAY)  (ALL DAY)  (ALL DAY)
   DATE     (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)    (AC-FT)
16 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
15 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
14 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
13 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
12 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
11 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
10 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
09 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
08 AUG 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
07 AUG 2025   -NR-       1947       335           0       -NR-
06 AUG 2025   -NR-       2273       752           0       -NR-
05 AUG 2025   -NR-       1856       801          46       -NR-
04 AUG 2025   -NR-       1591      1001         545       -NR-
03 AUG 2025   -NR-       1226       979         607       -NR-
 
             S-308    Below S-308    S-80
           Discharge   Discharge   Discharge
           (ALL DAY)   (ALL-DAY)   (ALL-DAY)
   DATE     (AC-FT)     (AC-FT)     (AC-FT)
16 AUG 2025     -4          28        -NR-
15 AUG 2025     -8          68          12
14 AUG 2025     -7          48          27
13 AUG 2025     -4          72          27
12 AUG 2025     -8          53          27
11 AUG 2025   -689         -15          30
10 AUG 2025     -9           8          22
09 AUG 2025     -5         -92          29
08 AUG 2025     -3         175          25
07 AUG 2025     -5          75          21
06 AUG 2025     -1          93          25
05 AUG 2025     -1          83          28
04 AUG 2025     -5          50        -NR-
03 AUG 2025     -7          95          45
 
***  NOTE:     Discharge (ALL DAY) is computed using Spillway, Sector Gate and
               Lockages Discharges from 0015 hrs to 2400 hrs.
______________________________________________________________________________
 
(I) - Flows preceeded by "I" signify an instantaneous
      flow computed from the single value reported for the day
______________________________________________________________________________
   * On 11 May 1999, Lake Okeechobee Elevation was switched from
     Instantaneous 2400 value to an average-daily lake average.
     On 14 Mar 2001, due to the isolation of various gages within the standard
     10 stations, the average of the interior 4 station gages was used
     as the Lake Okeechobee Elevation.
     On 05 November 2010,  Lake Okeechobee Elevation was switched to a 9 gage
     mix of interior and edge gages to obtain a more reliable representation
     of the lake level.
     On 09 May 2011,  Lake Okeechobee Elevation was switched to a 8 gage
     mix of interior and edge gages to obtain a more reliable representation
     of the lake level due to isolation of S135 from low lake levels.
     Today Lake Okechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
  ++ For more information see the Jacksonville District Navigation website
     at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/
   $ For information regarding Lake Okeechobee Service Area water restrictions
     please refer to www.sfwmd.gov
______________________________________________________________________________
Report Generated 17AUG2025 @ 08:38  ** Preliminary Data - Subject to Revision **

As you can see, the lake level is sitting at 12.21 feet. That’s down from last year and well below the period of record average. We need some rain, folks!

Weather Forecast and Fishing Impact

The forecast for today, August 17th, calls for light rain. The wind will be coming from the East at around 9.6 mph, with gusts up to 17.7 mph. Temperatures will be warm, with highs around 92°F and lows around 82°F.

Bass Fishing

With the lake level being lower than average, look for the bass to be holding tighter to cover. The light rain might encourage some activity, but the wind could make it tricky to present your bait effectively. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation and structure. Topwater baits early in the morning could be productive if the wind isn’t too strong. As the day warms up, switch to flipping jigs and worms around heavy cover. The bass fishing tips page has some great advice.

Crappie Fishing

The crappie fishing might be a bit tougher with the wind. Try fishing deeper structure with minnows or jigs. Look for submerged brush piles and ledges. The crappie fishing page has some great advice. The light rain shouldn’t affect them too much, but the wind will be your biggest challenge.

Bluegill Fishing

Bluegill fishing should be decent, especially around lily pads and other shallow vegetation. Use crickets or worms under a float. The bluegill fishing page has some great advice. The light rain might even improve the bite, as it can stir up insects and other food sources.

General Tips for Lake Okeechobee Fishing Today

  • Stay Hydrated: It’s hot out there, so drink plenty of water.
  • Sun Protection: Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
  • Check Your Gear: Make sure your lines are in good shape and your reels are spooled.
  • Be Mindful of the Wind: The wind can change quickly, so be prepared to adjust your fishing strategy.

That’s all for today’s report, folks. Remember to check back on Monday for the full weekly fishing report. Tight lines and happy fishin’!

Tight lines,
Captain Joe



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