Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – 07.13.2025

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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report: July 12, 2025 – Captain Joe


Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – July 12, 2025 – With Captain Joe

Howdy folks, Captain Joe here, bringing you your daily fishing report for 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 latest data shows the lake level at 11.52 feet. Last year at this time, we were at 13.52 feet, and two years ago, 14.88 feet. We’re definitely lower than we’ve been in recent years. Here’s the detailed data:

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
                       Lake Okeechobee and Vicinity Report
                   ** Preliminary Data - Subject to Revision **
 
 
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneA =  16.70
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneBC =  16.30
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneD =  11.35
 
Data Ending 2400 hours   12 JUL 2025
_____________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Lake Regulation      Elevation   Last Year  2YRS Ago
                                (ft-NGVD)   (ft-NGVD)  (ft-NGVD)
  *Okeechobee Lake Elevation       11.52       13.52    14.88 (Official Elv)
 
  12JUL (1965-2007) Period of Record Average    13.57
  Difference from POR Average                  -2.05
 
  Today Lake Okeechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
 
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2007 Channel Condition Survey) Route 1   5.46'
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2008 Channel Condition Survey) Route 2   3.66'
  Bridge Clearance = 49.34'
______________________________________________________________________________
 
4 Interior and 4 Edge Okeechobee Lake Average (Avg-Daily values):
 
  L001   L005   L006   LZ40   S4     S352   S308   S133
  11.57  11.53  11.50  11.48  11.39  11.58   11.39 11.49
 
 
 *Combination Okeechobee  Avg-Daily Lake Average =  11.52
                                                   (*See Note)
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Inflows (cfs):
  S65E            907      S65EX1            0      Fisheating Cr   264
  S154              0      S191              0      S135 Pumps        0
  S84              71      S133 Pumps        0      S2 Pumps       -NR-
  S84X             27      S127 Pumps        0      S3 Pumps          0
  S71             332      S129 Pumps        0      S4 Pumps          0
  S72             102      S131 Pumps        0      C5                0
Total Inflows:   1704
 
Okeechobee Outflows (cfs):
  S135 Culverts     0      S354              0      S77              -0
  S127 Culverts     0      S351           -NR-      S308           -430
  S129 Culverts     0      S352              0
  S131 Culverts     0      L8 Canal Pt       4
Total Outflows:   -426
 
****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            0.28      S308           0.28
  Average Pan Evap x 0.75 Pan Coefficient =  0.21" =  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   5445 cfs or  10800 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     11.31       0      0    0    0    0 -NR-  (cfs)
  S193:       ______
  S191:        18.68     11.32       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S135 Pumps:  13.60     11.34       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S135 Culverts:                     0    0.0  0.0
 
North West Shore
  S65E:        21.14     11.17     907    0.0  0.6  0.7  0.0  0.0  0.7
  S65EX1:      21.14     11.17       0
  S127 Pumps:  13.39     11.55       0      0    0    0    0    0  (cfs)
  S127 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S129 Pumps:  12.97     12.79       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S129 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S131 Pumps:  12.99     12.32       0      0    0                 (cfs)
  S131 Culvert:                      0
 
  Fisheating Creek
    nr Palmdale          31.99     264
    nr Lakeport         ______
  S282         11.42     11.49              0.0  0.0  0.1
 
South Shore
  S4 Pumps:    11.62     11.54       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S169:       ______      -NR-    -NR-   -NR- -NR- -NR-
  S310:       ______              -NR-
  S3 Pumps:    10.77     11.43       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S354:        11.43     10.77       0    0.0  0.0
  S2 Pumps:    11.65     11.39    -NR-      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S351:        11.39     11.65    -NR-    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S352:        11.63     11.73       0    0.0  0.1
  S271:        11.83     11.73            9.3   9.6   9.8   8.5
  L8 Canal PT            11.47       4
 
  _________________________________________________________________________
                   S351 and S352 Temporary Pumps/S354 Spillway
 
  S351:        11.65     11.39    -NR-  -NR--NR--NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S352:        11.73     11.63       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S354:        10.77     11.43       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  _________________________________________________________________________
 
Caloosahatchee River (S77, S78, S79)
  S47B:        11.41     11.67            0.0  0.0
  S47D:        11.73     11.70     114    6.0
  S77:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               11.29     11.60       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -0
 
  S78:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                -NR-      -NR-    -NR-    1.0  0.0  0.0  1.5
    Flow Due to Lockages+:        -NR-
 
  S79:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                3.45      1.05    1957    0.0  0.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           7
    Percent of flow from S77         0%
    Chloride            (ppm)      0
 
 
St. Lucie Canal (S308, S80)
  S308:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               11.40     14.16    -425  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -5
 
  S153:        19.06     13.98      51    0.5  0.0
  S80:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               14.13      1.09       0    0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          10
    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:                         6.75        7.50        8.20      167    -NR-
  S78:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
  S79:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00      252       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      122       3
  S80:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00     -NR-    -NR-
        Okeechobee Average     6.75        0.58        0.63
        (Sites S78, S79 and S80 not included)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Oke Nexrad Basin Avg         -NR-        0.00        0.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________
Okeechobee Lake Elevations  12 JUL 2025           11.52 Difference from 12JUL25
   12JUL25  -1 Day  =       11 JUL 2025           11.49            -0.03
   12JUL25  -2 Days =       10 JUL 2025           11.48            -0.04
   12JUL25  -3 Days =       09 JUL 2025           11.49            -0.03
   12JUL25  -4 Days =       08 JUL 2025           11.47            -0.05
   12JUL25  -5 Days =       07 JUL 2025           11.45            -0.07
   12JUL25  -6 Days =       06 JUL 2025           11.44            -0.08
   12JUL25  -7 Days =       05 JUL 2025           11.42            -0.10
   12JUL25 -30 Days =       12 JUN 2025           11.16            -0.36
   12JUL25  -1 Year =       12 JUL 2024           13.52             2.00
   12JUL25  -2 Year =       12 JUL 2023           14.88             3.36

Weather Forecast and Fishing Impact

Looks like we’re in for some wet weather. The forecast calls for heavy rain today. Winds will be out of the North-NorthWest at around 20 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph. The high will be around 90°F, with lows in the low 70s.

Bass Fishing

With the heavy rain and wind, bass fishing might be a bit tough today. Look for areas with good cover where the bass can get out of the wind and rain. Topwater baits early in the morning before the downpour could be productive. As the day goes on, switch to slower presentations like Texas-rigged worms or jigs around submerged vegetation. The lower water levels concentrate the fish, but also make them more wary.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie fishing can be decent even with the rain, especially if you’re fishing around structure like bridges or submerged trees. Minnows and jigs are your best bet. The wind might make it difficult to hold your boat steady, so consider using a trolling motor or anchor.

Catfish Fishing

Catfish will be biting! Rain always seems to get the catfish moving. Use live bait, cut bait, or stink bait. Fish the bottom in areas with current or near creek mouths. The heavy rain will wash more food into the lake, attracting the catfish.

General Tips for Lake Okeechobee Fishing

  • Stay Safe: With the heavy rain and wind, be sure to check your boat’s safety equipment and wear a life jacket.
  • Check the Regulations: Always make sure you’re up-to-date on the latest fishing regulations for Lake Okeechobee.
  • Be Patient: Fishing can be tough sometimes, but don’t give up! Keep trying different techniques and locations until you find what works.

That’s all for today’s report. Tight lines and stay safe out there!

Your friend,

Captain Joe



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