Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – 05.15.2025

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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – May 14, 2025 – Captain Joe


Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – May 14, 2025 – 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 tell you what to expect out on the Big O today.

Lake Okeechobee Level and Water Conditions

The lake level is currently sitting at 11.19 feet NGVD. That’s down a bit from last year (13.73 feet) and two years ago (13.91 feet) this time. We’re also sitting a good bit below the period of record average. The lake level hasn’t changed today, but is down almost 10 inches from 2 days ago.

Here’s a quick look at the inflows and outflows:

  • Total Inflows: 376 cfs
  • Total Outflows: 425 cfs

Looks like we’re losing a little more water than we’re gaining today. Keep an eye on those levels, folks, as they can change quick.

Weather and Fishing Forecast

The weather forecast for today is clear skies with a breeze. The wind is coming from the east (around 108 degrees) at about 10 mph, with gusts up to 19 mph. Temperatures will be warm, with a high around 90°F and a low around 76°F.

Given the time of year and the weather, here’s how it’s likely to impact your fishing:

Bass Fishing

With the warmer temperatures, bass will likely be holding in deeper water or seeking shade around structure. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation, docks, and ledges. Topwater baits early in the morning or late in the evening could produce some strikes. Slow-moving plastics and crankbaits worked along the bottom are also good bets.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie fishing can be a bit tougher in the warmer months, but they’re still around. Look for them near submerged structure in deeper water. Minnows and jigs are your best bet. Try fishing around bridge pilings and brush piles.

Catfish Fishing

Catfishin’ should be pretty good with these conditions. Warmer water gets them moving. Use live bait, cut bait, or stink bait fished on the bottom. Focus on areas near channels and deeper holes.

Additional Data

LOSOM24 Reg ZoneA =  16.72
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneBC =  16.19
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneD =  10.75
 
Data Ending 2400 hours   14 MAY 2025
_____________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Lake Regulation      Elevation   Last Year  2YRS Ago
                                (ft-NGVD)   (ft-NGVD)  (ft-NGVD)
  *Okeechobee Lake Elevation       11.19       13.73    13.91 (Official Elv)
 
  14MAY (1965-2007) Period of Record Average    13.31
  Difference from POR Average                  -2.12
 
  Today Lake Okeechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
 
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2007 Channel Condition Survey) Route 1   5.13'
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2008 Channel Condition Survey) Route 2   3.33'
  Bridge Clearance = 52.38'
______________________________________________________________________________
 
4 Interior and 4 Edge Okeechobee Lake Average (Avg-Daily values):
 
  L001   L005   L006   LZ40   S4     S352   S308   S133
  11.24  11.19   8.22  11.18   -NR-  11.25   11.09 11.19
 
 
 *Combination Okeechobee  Avg-Daily Lake Average =  11.19
                                                   (*See Note)
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Inflows (cfs):
  S65E            170      S65EX1            0      Fisheating Cr     0
  S154              0      S191              0      S135 Pumps        0
  S84              18      S133 Pumps        0      S2 Pumps          0
  S84X             14      S127 Pumps        0      S3 Pumps          0
  S71              97      S129 Pumps        0      S4 Pumps          0
  S72              41      S131 Pumps       36      C5                0
Total Inflows:    376
 
Okeechobee Outflows (cfs):
  S135 Culverts     0      S354            391      S77             412
  S127 Culverts     0      S351              0      S308           -195
  S129 Culverts     0      S352              0
  S131 Culverts     0      L8 Canal Pt    -184
Total Outflows:    425
 
****S77 structure flow is being used to compute Total Outflow.
****S308 below flow meter is being used to compute Total Outflow.
 
Okeechobee Pan Evaporation (inches):
  S77            0.33      S308           0.33
  Average Pan Evap x 0.75 Pan Coefficient =  0.25" =  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:  12.97     11.45       0      0    0    0    0 -NR-  (cfs)
  S193:       ______
  S191:        18.65     11.41       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S135 Pumps:  12.25     11.03       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S135 Culverts:                     0    0.0  0.0
 
North West Shore
  S65E:        20.89     11.39     170    0.2  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.3
  S65EX1:      20.89     11.39       0
  S127 Pumps:  12.48     11.39       0      0    0    0    0    0  (cfs)
  S127 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S129 Pumps:  13.14     12.05       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S129 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S131 Pumps:  13.15     13.23      36      0   44                 (cfs)
  S131 Culvert:                      0
 
  Fisheating Creek
    nr Palmdale          27.95       0
    nr Lakeport         ______
  S282         11.36     11.61              0.0  0.0  0.1
 
South Shore
  S4 Pumps:    11.19     14.26       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S169:       ______      -NR-    -NR-   -NR- -NR- -NR-
  S310:       ______              -NR-
  S3 Pumps:     9.27     10.94       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S354:        10.94      9.27     391    0.0  0.0
  S2 Pumps:    10.78     10.62       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S351:        10.62     10.78       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S352:        11.24     11.37       0    0.0  0.1
  S271:        11.53     11.32            9.3   9.2   9.8   8.5
  L8 Canal PT            11.13    -184
 
  _________________________________________________________________________
                   S351 and S352 Temporary Pumps/S354 Spillway
 
  S351:        10.78     10.62       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S352:        11.37     11.24       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S354:         9.27     10.94     391  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  _________________________________________________________________________
 
Caloosahatchee River (S77, S78, S79)
  S47B:        12.83     11.21            0.0  0.0
  S47D:        11.27     11.25     141    6.0
  S77:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               11.17     11.13     412  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           0
 
  S78:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               11.15      3.00     729    1.0  0.0  0.0  0.5
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          12
 
  S79:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                3.24      0.74    1311    0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  2.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           5
    Percent of flow from S77        31%
    Chloride            (ppm)      0
 
 
St. Lucie Canal (S308, S80)
  S308:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               11.07     11.12    -194  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -0
 
  S153:        19.00     11.00       0    0.0  0.0
  S80:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               11.16      1.02       0    0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          21
    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        0.97        4.82      209    -NR-
  S78:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
  S79:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00      125       1
  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      163       8
  S80:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
        Okeechobee Average     0.00        0.07        0.37
        (Sites S78, S79 and S80 not included)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Oke Nexrad Basin Avg         -NR-        0.00        0.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________
Okeechobee Lake Elevations  14 MAY 2025           11.19 Difference from 14MAY25
   14MAY25  -1 Day  =       13 MAY 2025           11.19             0.00
   14MAY25  -2 Days =       12 MAY 2025           11.10            -0.09
   14MAY25  -3 Days =       11 MAY 2025           11.01            -0.18
   14MAY25  -4 Days =       10 MAY 2025           11.00            -0.19
   14MAY25  -5 Days =       09 MAY 2025           11.06            -0.13
   14MAY25  -6 Days =       08 MAY 2025           11.08            -0.11
   14MAY25  -7 Days =       07 MAY 2025           11.09            -0.10
   14MAY25 -30 Days =       14 APR 2025           12.03             0.84
   14MAY25  -1 Year =       14 MAY 2024           13.73             2.54
   14MAY25  -2 Year =       14 MAY 2023           13.91             2.72
______________________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________________
                         Lake Okeechobee Net Inflow (LONIN)
                   Average Flow over the previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   14MAY25    Today =       14 MAY 2025       881  THU     |       803
   14MAY25  -1 Day  =       13 MAY 2025       763  WED     |     16108
   14MAY25  -2 Days =       12 MAY 2025      -944  TUE     |     16500
   14MAY25  -3 Days =       11 MAY 2025     -2453  MON     |      2298
   14MAY25  -4 Days =       10 MAY 2025     -2852  SUN     |     -8876
   14MAY25  -5 Days =       09 MAY 2025     -2456  SAT     |     -1277
   14MAY25  -6 Days =       08 MAY 2025     -2980  FRI     |       722
   14MAY25  -7 Days =       07 MAY 2025     -3175  THU     |     -2807
   14MAY25  -8 Days =       06 MAY 2025     -3272  WED     |      7696
   14MAY25  -9 Days =       05 MAY 2025     -4115  TUE     |    -13512
   14MAY25 -10 Days =       04 MAY 2025     -3515  MON     |      3430
   14MAY25 -11 Days =       03 MAY 2025     -4026  SUN     |       672
   14MAY25 -12 Days =       02 MAY 2025     -4304  SAT     |      -877
   14MAY25 -13 Days =       01 MAY 2025     -4446  FRI     |     -8550
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65E
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   14MAY25     Today=       14 MAY 2025       171  THU     |       209
   14MAY25  -1 Day  =       13 MAY 2025       177  WED     |       257
   14MAY25  -2 Days =       12 MAY 2025       178  TUE     |       403
   14MAY25  -3 Days =       11 MAY 2025       166  MON     |        97
   14MAY25  -4 Days =       10 MAY 2025       179  SUN     |       103
   14MAY25  -5 Days =       09 MAY 2025       190  SAT     |        88
   14MAY25  -6 Days =       08 MAY 2025       203  FRI     |       106
   14MAY25  -7 Days =       07 MAY 2025       216  THU     |       213
   14MAY25  -8 Days =       06 MAY 2025       220  WED     |       142
   14MAY25  -9 Days =       05 MAY 2025       230  TUE     |       153
   14MAY25 -10 Days =       04 MAY 2025       238  MON     |        99
   14MAY25 -11 Days =       03 MAY 2025       251  SUN     |       117
   14MAY25 -12 Days =       02 MAY 2025       262  SAT     |       172
   14MAY25 -13 Days =       01 MAY 2025       270  FRI     |       240
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65EX1
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   14MAY25     Today=       14 MAY 2025         0   THU     |         0
   14MAY25  -1 Day  =       13 MAY 2025         0   WED     |         0
   14MAY25  -2 Days =       12 MAY 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   14MAY25  -3 Days =       11 MAY 2025         0   MON     |         0
   14MAY25  -4 Days =       10 MAY 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   14MAY25  -5 Days =       09 MAY 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   14MAY25  -6 Days =       08 MAY 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   14MAY25  -7 Days =       07 MAY 2025         0   THU     |         0
   14MAY25  -8 Days =       06 MAY 2025         0   WED     |         0
   14MAY25  -9 Days =       05 MAY 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   14MAY25 -10 Days =       04 MAY 2025         0   MON     |         0
   14MAY25 -11 Days =       03 MAY 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   14MAY25 -12 Days =       02 MAY 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   14MAY25 -13 Days =       01 MAY 2025         0   FRI     |         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)
14 MAY 2025    828        990        1443       2526
13 MAY 2025   -250       -179        1710       3413
12 MAY 2025     28       -851         603        766
11 MAY 2025    678        355         518        629
10 MAY 2025    735        739         310        655
09 MAY 2025   1118       1479         425        761
08 MAY 2025   1156       1476         694        798
07 MAY 2025   1120       1513         710        728
06 MAY 2025   1369       1574         695        564
05 MAY 2025   1381       1552         706        648
04 MAY 2025   1468       1704         708        739
03 MAY 2025   1570       1563         703        682
02 MAY 2025   1808       1847         712        888
01 MAY 2025   1757       1764         718        914
 
             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)
14 MAY 2025   -NR-          0         0         776       -NR-
13 MAY 2025   -NR-          0         5         444       -NR-
12 MAY 2025   -NR-          0         0          91       -NR-
11 MAY 2025   -NR-        168       250         166       -NR-
10 MAY 2025   -NR-       1295       886         850       -NR-
09 MAY 2025   -NR-       1688       919         765       -NR-
08 MAY 2025   -NR-       1859       923         829       -NR-
07 MAY 2025   -NR-       1648       925         922       -NR-
06 MAY 2025   -NR-       1471       611         774       -NR-
05 MAY 2025   -NR-       1495       378        1058       -NR-
04 MAY 2025   -NR-        478       530         382       -NR-
03 MAY 2025   -NR-       1704      1048        3573       -NR-
02 MAY 2025   -NR-       1868      1069        3811       -NR-
01 MAY 2025   -NR-       2515      1104        2507       -NR-
 
             S-308    Below S-308    S-80
           Discharge   Discharge   Discharge
           (ALL DAY)   (ALL-DAY)   (ALL-DAY)
   DATE     (AC-FT)     (AC-FT)     (AC-FT)
14 MAY 2025  -2858        -386          41
13 MAY 2025  -2797        -419          25
12 MAY 2025  -1846         123          12
11 MAY 2025  -2479         -60          24
10 MAY 2025  -2480         147          24
09 MAY 2025  -2471         102          28
08 MAY 2025  -2138         214          25
07 MAY 2025  -1544         400          31
06 MAY 2025  -1263         411          25
05 MAY 2025  -1580         479          34
04 MAY 2025  -1920         389          34
03 MAY 2025  -1349         336          31
02 MAY 2025   -648         303          34
01 MAY 2025   -831         298          36
 
***  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
______________________________________________________________________________

That’s all for today’s report. Remember to stay safe out there, wear your life jacket, and tight lines!

Tight lines and happy fishing!

– Captain Joe



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