Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March 24, 2025. Sunrise today is at 7:24 AM and sunset will be at 7:34 PM, giving us a full 12 hours of daylight to wet our lines. Weather's looking mighty fine with highs around 82°F and a light breeze from the southeast at 5-10 mph. Perfect conditions for a day out on the Big O!
Now, onto the fishing. Bass activity has been hot lately, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Anglers have been reporting solid catches of largemouth in the 3-5 pound range, with a few lunkers pushing 8-9 pounds. The spawn is winding down, but there are still some big females hanging around the beds. We've been seeing lots of 5-8 pounders, with a few lucky anglers landing some real monsters in the 10-12 pound range.
Crappie fishing has also been on fire, with reports of 100-150 fish days not uncommon. Some real slabs in the 12-14 inch range weighing up to 2 pounds have been caught. Bluegill and shellcracker are starting to move shallow too, so don't forget your crickets and red worms.
For lures, topwater action has been strong early with buzzbaits and walking baits. As the sun gets up, switch to soft plastics like worms and creature baits. Swimbaits and spinnerbaits have also been producing when fished around vegetation edges. Bladed jigs and hollow-body frogs have been the ticket lately. Throw those bad boys around vegetation edges and you're in for some explosive action. For live bait, wild shiners are always a good bet for big bass.
A couple hot spots to check out: The Monkey Box on the west side has been firing lately, and the North Shore area near the Kissimmee River is holding some good fish. Don't overlook the canals either - they've been producing some quality bass for those willing to put in the time. South Bay's been good too, with some nice beds of hydrilla holding fish.
Remember, the lake level is sitting at about 13.5 feet, so be careful navigating some of the shallower areas. And don't forget to practice catch and release to keep our fishery healthy for years to come.
That's all for now, anglers. Get out there and tight lines!