Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – 09.17.2025

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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report: September 16, 2025 – Captain Joe




Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – September 16, 2025 – By Captain Joe

Howdy folks, Captain Joe here, bringing you your daily dose of what’s happening on Lake Okeechobee. Been fishin’ these waters for longer than I care to admit, and I’m here to give you the straight scoop.

Lake Okeechobee Water Levels and Conditions

The lake level is sitting at 13.05 feet NGVD. That’s down from last year (14.96 feet) and two years ago (15.40 feet). We’re also below the period of record average for this time of year. The lake level has dropped about .25 feet in the last week. 

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
                       Lake Okeechobee and Vicinity Report
                   ** Preliminary Data - Subject to Revision **
 
 
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneA =  17.02
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneBC =  16.62
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneD =  12.71
 
Data Ending 2400 hours   16 SEP 2025
_____________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Lake Regulation      Elevation   Last Year  2YRS Ago
                                (ft-NGVD)   (ft-NGVD)  (ft-NGVD)
  *Okeechobee Lake Elevation       13.05       14.96    15.40 (Official Elv)
 
  16SEP (1965-2007) Period of Record Average    14.57
  Difference from POR Average                  -1.52
 
  Today Lake Okeechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
 
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2007 Channel Condition Survey) Route 1   6.99'
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2008 Channel Condition Survey) Route 2   5.19'
  Bridge Clearance = 49.84'
______________________________________________________________________________
 
4 Interior and 4 Edge Okeechobee Lake Average (Avg-Daily values):
 
  L001   L005   L006   LZ40   S4     S352   S308   S133
  13.09  13.13  13.08  13.03  13.20  13.13   12.95 13.01
 
 
 *Combination Okeechobee  Avg-Daily Lake Average =  13.05
                                                   (*See Note)
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Inflows (cfs):
  S65E           4206      S65EX1            0      Fisheating Cr   915
  S154             13      S191            117      S135 Pumps        0
  S84              63      S133 Pumps        0      S2 Pumps          0
  S84X             22      S127 Pumps        0      S3 Pumps          0
  S71              61      S129 Pumps        6      S4 Pumps          0
  S72               0      S131 Pumps        0      C5                0
Total Inflows:   5404
 
Okeechobee Outflows (cfs):
  S135 Culverts   195      S354              0      S77               1
  S127 Culverts     0      S351              0      S308             -1
  S129 Culverts     0      S352              0
  S131 Culverts     0      L8 Canal Pt     -35
Total Outflows:    160
 
****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            0.30      S308           0.23
  Average Pan Evap x 0.75 Pan Coefficient =  0.20" =  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   8470 cfs or  16800 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:  13.50     13.08       0      0    0    0    0 -NR-  (cfs)
  S193:       ______
  S191:        18.94     13.08     117    0.3  0.0  0.0
  S135 Pumps:  13.76     12.95       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S135 Culverts:                   195    5.0  5.0
 
North West Shore
  S65E:        21.02     12.76    4206    1.3  1.9  1.2  1.8  1.7  1.9
  S65EX1:      21.02     12.76       0
  S127 Pumps:  13.46     13.06       0      0    0    0    0    0  (cfs)
  S127 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S129 Pumps:  13.06     13.15       6      6    0    0            (cfs)
  S129 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S131 Pumps:  13.05     13.46       0      0    0                 (cfs)
  S131 Culvert:                      0
 
  Fisheating Creek
    nr Palmdale          32.82     915
    nr Lakeport         ______
  S282         13.14     13.17              0.0  0.0  0.1
 
South Shore
  S4 Pumps:    11.50     13.22       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S169:       ______      -NR-    -NR-   -NR- -NR- -NR-
  S310:       ______              -NR-
  S3 Pumps:    11.52     13.19       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S354:        13.19     11.52       0    0.0  0.0
  S2 Pumps:    11.32     13.18       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S351:        13.18     11.32       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S352:        13.19     11.23       0    0.0  0.0
  S271:        13.39     13.40            9.2   9.5   9.8   8.5
  L8 Canal PT            12.98     -35
 
  _________________________________________________________________________
                   S351 and S352 Temporary Pumps/S354 Spillway
 
  S351:        11.32     13.18       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S352:        11.23     13.19       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S354:        11.52     13.19       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  _________________________________________________________________________
 
Caloosahatchee River (S77, S78, S79)
  S47B:        12.95     11.84            0.0  0.0
  S47D:        11.99     11.28       0    0.0
  S77:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               13.13     11.16       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           1
 
  S78:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               11.21      2.91     634    0.5  0.0  0.0  1.5
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          10
 
  S79:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                3.13      1.58    4267    0.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           2
    Percent of flow from S77         0%
    Chloride            (ppm)      0
 
 
St. Lucie Canal (S308, S80)
  S308:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               12.93     13.66       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -1
 
  S153:        18.86     13.58     108    0.4  0.0
  S80:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               13.79      1.73       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:                         0.00        0.00        1.99       65    -NR-
  S78:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00        3    -NR-
  S79:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00      118       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      119       2
  S80:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
        Okeechobee Average     0.00        0.00        0.15
        (Sites S78, S79 and S80 not included)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Oke Nexrad Basin Avg         -NR-        0.00        0.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________
Okeechobee Lake Elevations  16 SEP 2025           13.05 Difference from 16SEP25
   16SEP25  -1 Day  =       15 SEP 2025           13.01            -0.04
   16SEP25  -2 Days =       14 SEP 2025           12.98            -0.07
   16SEP25  -3 Days =       13 SEP 2025           12.94            -0.11
   16SEP25  -4 Days =       12 SEP 2025           12.90            -0.15
   16SEP25  -5 Days =       11 SEP 2025           12.85            -0.20
   16SEP25  -6 Days =       10 SEP 2025           12.85            -0.20
   16SEP25  -7 Days =       09 SEP 2025           12.80            -0.25
   16SEP25 -30 Days =       17 AUG 2025           12.21            -0.84
   16SEP25  -1 Year =       16 SEP 2024           14.96             1.91
   16SEP25  -2 Year =       16 SEP 2023           15.40             2.35
______________________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________________
                         Lake Okeechobee Net Inflow (LONIN)
                   Average Flow over the previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16SEP25    Today =       16 SEP 2025      7578  WED     |      8470
   16SEP25  -1 Day  =       15 SEP 2025      6844  TUE     |      6050
   16SEP25  -2 Days =       14 SEP 2025      6281  MON     |      7865
   16SEP25  -3 Days =       13 SEP 2025      6151  SUN     |      7865
   16SEP25  -4 Days =       12 SEP 2025      6864  SAT     |      9579
   16SEP25  -5 Days =       11 SEP 2025      6602  FRI     |         0
   16SEP25  -6 Days =       10 SEP 2025      7156  THU     |      9579
   16SEP25  -7 Days =       09 SEP 2025      6752  WED     |     11798
   16SEP25  -8 Days =       08 SEP 2025      6191  TUE     |      3933
   16SEP25  -9 Days =       07 SEP 2025      5780  MON     |      9680
   16SEP25 -10 Days =       06 SEP 2025      5653  SUN     |      9579
   16SEP25 -11 Days =       05 SEP 2025      5539  SAT     |      3832
   16SEP25 -12 Days =       04 SEP 2025      5446  FRI     |      9854
   16SEP25 -13 Days =       03 SEP 2025      5208  THU     |      8009
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65E
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16SEP25     Today=       16 SEP 2025      4579  WED     |      4548
   16SEP25  -1 Day  =       15 SEP 2025      4468  TUE     |      4529
   16SEP25  -2 Days =       14 SEP 2025      4354  MON     |      4848
   16SEP25  -3 Days =       13 SEP 2025      4213  SUN     |      5025
   16SEP25  -4 Days =       12 SEP 2025      4056  SAT     |      5087
   16SEP25  -5 Days =       11 SEP 2025      3900  FRI     |      5282
   16SEP25  -6 Days =       10 SEP 2025      3729  THU     |      5029
   16SEP25  -7 Days =       09 SEP 2025      3588  WED     |      5000
   16SEP25  -8 Days =       08 SEP 2025      3435  TUE     |      4784
   16SEP25  -9 Days =       07 SEP 2025      3295  MON     |      4621
   16SEP25 -10 Days =       06 SEP 2025      3163  SUN     |      4253
   16SEP25 -11 Days =       05 SEP 2025      3054  SAT     |      4104
   16SEP25 -12 Days =       04 SEP 2025      2949  FRI     |      3761
   16SEP25 -13 Days =       03 SEP 2025      2852  THU     |      3229
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65EX1
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   16SEP25     Today=       16 SEP 2025         0   WED     |         0
   16SEP25  -1 Day  =       15 SEP 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   16SEP25  -2 Days =       14 SEP 2025         0   MON     |         0
   16SEP25  -3 Days =       13 SEP 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   16SEP25  -4 Days =       12 SEP 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   16SEP25  -5 Days =       11 SEP 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   16SEP25  -6 Days =       10 SEP 2025         0   THU     |         0
   16SEP25  -7 Days =       09 SEP 2025         0   WED     |         0
   16SEP25  -8 Days =       08 SEP 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   16SEP25  -9 Days =       07 SEP 2025         0   MON     |         0
   16SEP25 -10 Days =       06 SEP 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   16SEP25 -11 Days =       05 SEP 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   16SEP25 -12 Days =       04 SEP 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   16SEP25 -13 Days =       03 SEP 2025         0   THU     |         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 SEP 2025      2        472        1287       8450
15 SEP 2025      2        116        1053      10676
14 SEP 2025      3         52        1613      13664
13 SEP 2025      5        315        2380      16794
12 SEP 2025      3        408        3108      15817
11 SEP 2025      0        510        4700      16226
10 SEP 2025      1        212        1824       8340
09 SEP 2025      1        423        1742       4824
08 SEP 2025      3         81        1022       3608
07 SEP 2025      1        136        1196       5798
06 SEP 2025      2        205        1218       4114
05 SEP 2025      2         50        1008       3112
04 SEP 2025      1        188         996       3637
03 SEP 2025      3         49         991       3866
 
             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 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
15 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
14 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
13 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
12 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
11 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
10 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
09 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
08 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
07 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
06 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
05 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
04 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
03 SEP 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -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 SEP 2025     -2         181        -NR-
15 SEP 2025     -1         127          10
14 SEP 2025     -3          31          17
13 SEP 2025     -1          71          10
12 SEP 2025     -2         133          10
11 SEP 2025     -1         174          24
10 SEP 2025     -4         -60          25
09 SEP 2025      0      -25165          22
08 SEP 2025     -6          97          11
07 SEP 2025     -2          17          26
06 SEP 2025     -2           3           7
05 SEP 2025     -3         114          25
04 SEP 2025     -2         117          17
03 SEP 2025     -3         119          11
 
***  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 17SEP2025 @ 09:15  ** Preliminary Data - Subject to Revision **

Weather Forecast and Fishing Outlook

Looks like we’ve got some weather moving in. The forecast calls for rain, about 0.33 inches, with winds out of the East at around 9 mph, gusting up to 16 mph. The temperature will be around 80 degrees.

How This Affects Fishing on Lake Okeechobee

  • Bass Fishing: The rain could stir things up a bit, potentially moving baitfish and triggering some feeding activity. Focus on areas with moving water, like canals and cuts. With the wind, the east side of the lake will be more protected.
  • Crappie Fishing: Crappie tend to seek shelter during heavy rain and wind. Try fishing near structure like submerged trees or bridge pilings. Minnows and jigs are always a good bet.
  • Bluegill and Shellcracker: These panfish will likely be tucked in close to the reeds and vegetation. Crickets and worms fished under a float should do the trick.

Remember to adjust your tactics based on the specific conditions you find out on the water. Stay safe out there, and tight lines!

Your pal,
Captain Joe

Keywords: Lake Okeechobee, fishing report, bass fishing, crappie fishing, bluegill, shellcracker, weather, lake levels, September, Captain Joe, Okeechobee fishing



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