Best Time to Fish Bluegill & Crappie in Central Florida

Question
when is the best time to catch spawning  brim  and crappie i am mostly interested in the brim        thank you

Answer
Hello Joseph Baker-

Thanks for the question. The speckled perch (aka crappie) spawn is done for this year. I believe it is mainly in January and February in Central Florida.

For bluegill and shellcracker, you still have time to find some bedding fish. The full moon (and the days leading up to it) is the best time to be looking for them. The spawn usually begins in March and will last at least through this month. Some years it seems to last all the way through the summer months to some extent.

I was on Lake Tarpon the last two weeks and saw some bluegill beds in the canals. This weekend should be prime time to find some big bull bluegills.

Good luck!
Matthew T. Drew