Lake Manatee is a 2,400-acre reservoir located in Manatee County, Florida, where anglers can catch a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, and catfish. Nearby activities include camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. Fishing tips include using live bait, topwater lures, and jigs. The best time of year to visit is in the spring and fall when the temperatures are moderate, with an average temperature of 70-80°F. In the summer, temperatures can reach up to 90°F, making it uncomfortably hot for some visitors.

Featured Fish - Blue Catfish

The blue catfish is considered an excellent food and game fish. It prefers clean, swift-moving waters where it feeds primarily on fish and crayfish. It is a strong, well-toned fish with a fine, delicate flavor. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: The blue catfish, the channel catfish, and the white catfish are the only three catfishes in the U.S.A. that have distinctly forked tails, setting them apart from the bullheads and the flathead catfish, which have squarish or slightly emarginate tails. The blue catfish can be distinguished from the channel and white catfish by its noticeably longer anal fin, which has a more even depth and a straighter edge than in the other two species. There are 30-36 rays in the fin, versus 24-30 rays in the channel catfish and 19-23 rays in the white catfish. Internally, the blue catfish can be identified by the fact that it has three chambers in the swim bladder, whereas the channel catfish has two chambers. All three forked tail species may be almost uniformly pale blue or silvery in color, though white catfish may show a more distinct difference between the bluish black and white belly. Channel catfish frequently have spots.