Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – 07.19.2025

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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – July 18, 2025 – Captain Joe


Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report – July 18, 2025 – 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 tell you what’s happenin’ on the Big O today.

Lake Level and Water Conditions

The lake level is currently at 11.88 feet NGVD. That’s down from last year’s 13.55 feet and a good bit lower than the 14.94 feet we saw two years ago. We’re also sitting about 1.75 feet below the historical average for this time of year. Keep in mind that navigation depths are around 5.82′ on Route 1 and 4.02′ on Route 2, so watch your props out there!

Here’s a quick look at the lake level changes over the past week:

  • Yesterday (July 17, 2025): 11.85 feet
  • One week ago (July 11, 2025): 11.48 feet
  • One month ago (June 18, 2025): 11.09 feet

Weather and Fishing Outlook

The weather forecast for today is clear skies with a light breeze coming from the east (88 degrees) at around 13 mph, with gusts up to 17.5 mph. The high is expected to be around 91 degrees Fahrenheit, with a low around 81 degrees. It’s July in Florida, so expect it to be hot and humid!

How This Impacts Fishing:

  • Bass: With the lake level relatively low and the water temperatures climbing, bass will likely be holding in deeper water near structure or heavy vegetation to escape the heat. Early morning and late evening will be your best bet. Try flipping jigs or using deep-diving crankbaits.
  • Crappie (Speck): The crappie fishing can be tough in the summer heat. Look for them suspended around bridge pilings or submerged brush piles in deeper water. Minnows and small jigs are the way to go.
  • Bluegill/Shellcracker: These panfish will be hanging around the edges of lily pads and grass lines. Crickets and worms under a bobber are always a good choice.

Inflows and Outflows

Total inflows to the lake are at 4686 cfs, with the S65E contributing 1092 cfs and Fisheating Creek adding 1354 cfs. Total outflows are at -267 cfs, with the S308 taking out -279 cfs.

Additional Data

Here’s the raw data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

LOSOM24 Reg ZoneA =  16.73
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneBC =  16.33
LOSOM24 Reg ZoneD =  11.47
 
Data Ending 2400 hours   18 JUL 2025
_____________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Lake Regulation      Elevation   Last Year  2YRS Ago
                                (ft-NGVD)   (ft-NGVD)  (ft-NGVD)
  *Okeechobee Lake Elevation       11.88       13.55    14.94 (Official Elv)
 
  18JUL (1965-2007) Period of Record Average    13.63
  Difference from POR Average                  -1.75
 
  Today Lake Okeechobee elevation is determined from the 4 Int & 4 Edge stations
 
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2007 Channel Condition Survey) Route 1   5.82'
  ++Navigation Depth (Based on 2008 Channel Condition Survey) Route 2   4.02'
  Bridge Clearance = 49.76'
______________________________________________________________________________
 
4 Interior and 4 Edge Okeechobee Lake Average (Avg-Daily values):
 
  L001   L005   L006   LZ40   S4     S352   S308   S133
  11.94  11.97  11.92  11.86   -NR-  11.92   11.72 11.84
 
 
 *Combination Okeechobee  Avg-Daily Lake Average =  11.88
                                                   (*See Note)
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Okeechobee Inflows (cfs):
  S65E           1092      S65EX1            0      Fisheating Cr  1354
  S154              0      S191            119      S135 Pumps      201
  S84             854      S133 Pumps       59      S2 Pumps          0
  S84X            282      S127 Pumps       36      S3 Pumps          0
  S71             415      S129 Pumps       64      S4 Pumps          0
  S72             176      S131 Pumps       35      C5                0
Total Inflows:   4686
 
Okeechobee Outflows (cfs):
  S135 Culverts     0      S354              0      S77               1
  S127 Culverts     0      S351              0      S308           -279
  S129 Culverts     0      S352              0
  S131 Culverts     0      L8 Canal Pt      11
Total Outflows:   -267
 
****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            0.30      S308           0.30
  Average Pan Evap x 0.75 Pan Coefficient =  0.23" =  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   5294 cfs or  10500 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:  13.25     11.89      59      0    0 -NR-    0 -NR-  (cfs)
  S193:       ______
  S191:        19.12     11.86     119    0.5  0.0  0.0
  S135 Pumps:  13.38     11.77     201   -NR- -NR- -NR- -NR-       (cfs)
  S135 Culverts:                     0    0.0  0.0
 
North West Shore
  S65E:        20.99     11.83    1092    0.6  0.5  0.5  0.0  0.5  0.6
  S65EX1:      20.99     11.83       0
  S127 Pumps:  13.27     11.93      36   -NR-    0    0    0    0  (cfs)
  S127 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S129 Pumps:  12.98     13.33      64     37    0   31            (cfs)
  S129 Culvert:                      0    0.0
 
  S131 Pumps:  12.92     13.32      35     38    0                 (cfs)
  S131 Culvert:                      0
 
  Fisheating Creek
    nr Palmdale          33.43    1354
    nr Lakeport         ______
  S282         12.32     12.37              0.0  0.0  0.1
 
South Shore
  S4 Pumps:    12.21     12.08       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S169:       ______      -NR-    -NR-   -NR- -NR- -NR-
  S310:       ______              -NR-
  S3 Pumps:    10.51     11.92       0      0    0    0            (cfs)
  S354:        11.92     10.51       0    0.0  0.0
  S2 Pumps:    10.22     11.94       0      0    0    0    0       (cfs)
  S351:        11.94     10.22       0    0.0  0.0  0.0
  S352:        11.90      9.86       0    0.0  0.1
  S271:        12.17     12.08            9.3   9.4   9.8   8.5
  L8 Canal PT            11.82      11
 
  _________________________________________________________________________
                   S351 and S352 Temporary Pumps/S354 Spillway
 
  S351:        10.22     11.94       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S352:         9.86     11.90       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  S354:        10.51     11.92       0  -NR--NR--NR--NR-
  _________________________________________________________________________
 
Caloosahatchee River (S77, S78, S79)
  S47B:        12.41     11.29            0.0  0.0
  S47D:        11.37     11.35      83    6.0
  S77:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               12.20     11.22       0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           1
 
  S78:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               11.25      3.19    1229    1.0  0.0  0.0  1.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           6
 
  S79:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
                3.31      1.88    3294    0.0  1.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  1.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:           4
    Percent of flow from S77         0%
    Chloride            (ppm)      0
 
 
St. Lucie Canal (S308, S80)
  S308:
    Spillway and Sector Preferred Flow:
               11.72     13.74    -274  0.0  0.0  3.0  0.0
    Flow Due to Lockages+:          -5
 
  S153:        19.01     13.59     185    0.5  0.0
  S80:
    Spillway and Sector Flow:
               13.82     -0.12       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        0.15        3.42      122    -NR-
  S78:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00        3    -NR-
  S79:                         -NR-        0.00        0.00       88       4
  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     0.00        0.01        0.26
        (Sites S78, S79 and S80 not included)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Oke Nexrad Basin Avg         -NR-        0.00        0.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________
Okeechobee Lake Elevations  18 JUL 2025           11.88 Difference from 18JUL25
   18JUL25  -1 Day  =       17 JUL 2025           11.85            -0.03
   18JUL25  -2 Days =       16 JUL 2025           11.81            -0.07
   18JUL25  -3 Days =       15 JUL 2025           11.76            -0.12
   18JUL25  -4 Days =       14 JUL 2025           11.67            -0.21
   18JUL25  -5 Days =       13 JUL 2025           11.53            -0.35
   18JUL25  -6 Days =       12 JUL 2025           11.51            -0.37
   18JUL25  -7 Days =       11 JUL 2025           11.48            -0.40
   18JUL25 -30 Days =       18 JUN 2025           11.09            -0.79
   18JUL25  -1 Year =       18 JUL 2024           13.55             1.67
   18JUL25  -2 Year =       18 JUL 2023           14.94             3.06
______________________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________________
                         Lake Okeechobee Net Inflow (LONIN)
                   Average Flow over the previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   18JUL25    Today =       18 JUL 2025      6888  SAT     |      5305
   18JUL25  -1 Day  =       17 JUL 2025      7034  FRI     |      7058
   18JUL25  -2 Days =       16 JUL 2025      7635  THU     |      9025
   18JUL25  -3 Days =       15 JUL 2025      7639  WED     |     16184
   18JUL25  -4 Days =       14 JUL 2025      6887  TUE     |     25057
   18JUL25  -5 Days =       13 JUL 2025      6278  MON     |      3676
   18JUL25  -6 Days =       12 JUL 2025      7470  SUN     |      -NR-
   18JUL25  -7 Days =       11 JUL 2025      6949  SAT     |      -NR-
   18JUL25  -8 Days =       10 JUL 2025      6607  FRI     |      1826
   18JUL25  -9 Days =       09 JUL 2025      6557  THU     |      5445
   18JUL25 -10 Days =       08 JUL 2025      6187  WED     |     -1776
   18JUL25 -11 Days =       07 JUL 2025      5996  TUE     |     -1804
   18JUL25 -12 Days =       06 JUL 2025      6316  MON     |      3631
   18JUL25 -13 Days =       05 JUL 2025      5730  SUN     |      9025
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65E
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   18JUL25     Today=       18 JUL 2025      1024  SAT     |      1266
   18JUL25  -1 Day  =       17 JUL 2025       978  FRI     |      1253
   18JUL25  -2 Days =       16 JUL 2025       920  THU     |      1223
   18JUL25  -3 Days =       15 JUL 2025       868  WED     |      1315
   18JUL25  -4 Days =       14 JUL 2025       802  TUE     |      1207
   18JUL25  -5 Days =       13 JUL 2025       745  MON     |      1183
   18JUL25  -6 Days =       12 JUL 2025       683  SUN     |      1043
   18JUL25  -7 Days =       11 JUL 2025       630  SAT     |      1139
   18JUL25  -8 Days =       10 JUL 2025       570  FRI     |       932
   18JUL25  -9 Days =       09 JUL 2025       526  THU     |       890
   18JUL25 -10 Days =       08 JUL 2025       483  WED     |       831
   18JUL25 -11 Days =       07 JUL 2025       444  TUE     |       774
   18JUL25 -12 Days =       06 JUL 2025       411  MON     |       684
   18JUL25 -13 Days =       05 JUL 2025       381  SUN     |       600
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
                                 S65EX1
                       Average Flow over previous 14 days  |  Avg-Daily Flow
   18JUL25     Today=       18 JUL 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   18JUL25  -1 Day  =       17 JUL 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   18JUL25  -2 Days =       16 JUL 2025         0   THU     |         0
   18JUL25  -3 Days =       15 JUL 2025         0   WED     |         0
   18JUL25  -4 Days =       14 JUL 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   18JUL25  -5 Days =       13 JUL 2025         0   MON     |         0
   18JUL25  -6 Days =       12 JUL 2025         0   SUN     |         0
   18JUL25  -7 Days =       11 JUL 2025         0   SAT     |         0
   18JUL25  -8 Days =       10 JUL 2025         0   FRI     |         0
   18JUL25  -9 Days =       09 JUL 2025         0   THU     |         0
   18JUL25 -10 Days =       08 JUL 2025         0   WED     |         0
   18JUL25 -11 Days =       07 JUL 2025         0   TUE     |         0
   18JUL25 -12 Days =       06 JUL 2025         0   MON     |         0
   18JUL25 -13 Days =       05 JUL 2025         0   SUN     |         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)
18 JUL 2025      2         74        2368       6532
17 JUL 2025      0        319        2123       5906
16 JUL 2025      1        230        2818       6881
15 JUL 2025      0        145        2942       8110
14 JUL 2025      0       -119        -NR-       6971
13 JUL 2025     -0        225        -NR-       3740
12 JUL 2025     -0        -23        -NR-       3925
11 JUL 2025      0       -167        -NR-       2344
10 JUL 2025     -0         79        1267       3090
09 JUL 2025     -0        102        -NR-       4487
08 JUL 2025      0         75         420       2847
07 JUL 2025      0        162        1142       2993
06 JUL 2025      0         72        1974       6084
05 JUL 2025      0        202        2662       6189
 
             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)
18 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
17 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
16 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
15 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
14 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
13 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
12 JUL 2025   -NR-       -NR-         0           0       -NR-
11 JUL 2025   -NR-       -NR-         0           0       -NR-
10 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
09 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
08 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
07 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
06 JUL 2025   -NR-          0         0           0       -NR-
05 JUL 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)
18 JUL 2025  -2991        -549        -NR-
17 JUL 2025  -1083        -227          34
16 JUL 2025  -4006       -1213          34
15 JUL 2025  -4355       -1305          23
14 JUL 2025  -2630        -910          30
13 JUL 2025  -3151        -961        -NR-
12 JUL 2025  -2901        -846          20
11 JUL 2025  -2080        -553          20
10 JUL 2025     -6         -40          15
09 JUL 2025   -912         -99          26
08 JUL 2025  -2952      -27492          18
07 JUL 2025  -3605        -662          33
06 JUL 2025  -5747       -1047          29
05 JUL 2025  -6667       -1199          16
 
***  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, folks. Remember to stay hydrated, wear your sunscreen, and tight lines!

– Captain Joe



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