Lake Arbuckle, located in central Florida, is a popular fishing destination for anglers seeking largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and black crappie. The lake covers an area of 3,800 acres and offers a variety of nearby activities, such as hiking, camping, and bird watching. The best time to visit for fishing is from March to May, when the water temperature ranges from 65°F to 80°F, and the fish are most active. Anglers should focus on fishing around the submerged vegetation, and using live bait and topwater lures. The average temperature during this time is around 75°F.

Featured Fish - Black Crappie

It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.