Florida counties
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Fishing in Hernando County, Florida
Seat: Brooksville. FWC Southwest region.
- 20launches
- 0lakes
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Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County fishing overview
Governed from Brooksville, Hernando County belongs to the FWC Southwest region. Census figures give Hernando County 473 square miles of land and 242 of water. FWC lists 20 open public launches for Hernando County, split 13 fresh and 7 salt.
Along the Hernando County shore there are 0 fishing piers, 0 beach accesses with fishing and 27 artificial reef deployments.
20public launches
0FWC lakes
0fishing piers
27reef deployments
Map
Where to fish in Hernando County, mapped
FWC boat ramp inventory, pier finder and lake sites, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Closest FWC lakes to Hernando County
No lake inside Hernando County has its own FWC fishing page, so these are the nearest ones to Brooksville.
- Middle Lake8 miles southeast of Brooksville
- Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes23 miles north of Brooksville
- Lake Panasoffkee26 miles northeast of Brooksville
- Lake Thonotosassa32 miles south of Brooksville
Launches
Boat ramps and paddle launches in Hernando County
Fresh water in Hernando County (13)
- Bystre Lake Boat RampBystre Lake, 1 lane ramp, free, 6 trailer spaces
- Hunters Lake Boat RampHunters Lake, 1 lane ramp, free, 11 trailer spaces
- Lake Lindsey Public Boat RampLake Lindsey, 1 lane ramp, free, 4 trailer spaces
- Lake Townsen Regional Park Primitive Boat RampWithlacoochee River (West Central Florida), 1 lane ramp, fee, 6 trailer spaces
- Mountain Lake Public Boat RampMountain Lake, 1 lane ramp, free, 4 trailer spaces
- Nobleton ParkWithlacoochee River (West Central Florida), 1 lane ramp, fee, 2 trailer spaces
- Rogers Park Boat RampWeeki Wachee River, 1 lane ramp, fee, 13 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Rogers Park Canoe LaunchWeeki Wachee River, paddle launch, fee, flush toilet
- Weeki Wachi Springs State Park – Kayak Put-In (Reservations Required – One Way Only)Weeki Wachee River, paddle launch, fee, flush toilet
- Withlacoochee State Forest – Crooked River Campground Canoe Launch (Campers Only)Withlacoochee River (West Central Florida), paddle launch, free
- Withlacoochee State Forest – Cypress Glenn Campground – Canoe LaunchWithlacoochee River (West Central Florida), paddle launch, free
- Withlacoochee State Forest – Silver Lake Campground – Small Boat and Canoe LaunchWithlacoochee River (West Central Florida) Silver Lake, 2 lane ramp, fee, 4 trailer spaces, composting toilet
- Withlacoochee State Forest – Silver Lake Day Use AreaWithlacoochee River (West Central Florida) Silver Lake, 1 lane ramp, fee, 6 trailer spaces, composting toilet
Salt and brackish water in Hernando County (7)
- Alfred A McKethan Pine Island Beach ParkGulf Of America, paddle launch, fee, flush toilet
- Bayport Park Boat RampWeeki Wachi River, 3 lane ramp, fee, 24 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Bayport Park Canoe LaunchWeeki Wachee River, paddle launch, fee, flush toilet
- Hernando Beach Public Boat RampGulf Of America, 4 lane ramp, fee, 65 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Jenkins Creek Park and Public Boat RampJenkins Creek, 1 lane ramp, fee, 9 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Linda Pederson Park Canoe LaunchJenkins Creek, paddle launch, fee, flush toilet
- Norfleet Fish CampAripeka, 1 lane ramp, fee, 6 trailer spaces, flush toilet
FWC Florida Boat Ramp Inventory, open and temporarily closed launches only.
Coast
Coastal fishing, Hernando County
Inlets of Hernando County
- Chassahowitzka Riverinlet
- Wall Creekinlet
- Weeki Wachee Riverinlet
- Centipede Bay Entranceinlet
- Minnow Creekinlet
- Indian Bayinlet
- Hammock Creekinlet
Reefs near Hernando County
27 FWC reef sites are tied to Hernando County, from 18 to 27 feet deep.
Hernando County inshore limits, FWC Big Bend region
| Species | Bag | Size | Season | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18-27 in. TL | Open year-round | Big Bend Region |
| Snook | 1 a day | 28-33 in. TL | Closed December 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 | Big Bend Region |
| Spotted seatrout | 5 a day | 15-19 in. TL | Open year-round | Big Bend Region |
| Flounder | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | Closed annually Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 | Statewide |
| Sheepshead | 8 a day | 12 in minimum | Open year-round | Statewide |
| Black drum | 5 a day | 14-24 in. with one fish over 24 in. | Open year-round | Statewide |
FWC pier finder, artificial reef layer and saltwater regulations, checked October 2026.
Rivers
Rivers and flow in Hernando County
- Withlacoochee River (West Central Florida)6 launches in Hernando County
- Weeki Wachee River4 launches in Hernando County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Withlacoochee River At Croom, Fl | 304 cfs, 4.38 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:30 pm |
| Weeki Wachee River Near Brooksville Fl | 148 cfs | Nov 9 11:15 pm |
| Withlacoochee River At Us 301 At Trilby, Fl | 223 cfs, 4.60 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:30 pm |
| Little Withlacoochee River At Rerdell, Fl | 49 cfs, 3.04 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:45 pm |
| Withlacoochee River At Rital Fl | 209 cfs, 48.22 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 9, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stocking and records
Records and stocking in Hernando County
Hernando County stocking
| Water | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Withlacoochee River | 120,664 | 2022 YC Channel Catfish Fry and Phase I Fingerlings |
| Withlacoochee River @ Iron Bridge | 21,609 | 2022 YC Channel Catfish Fry and Phase I Fingerlings |
| Hunters Lake | 1,008 | 2021 YC Channel Catfish Sub Adults |
FWC Completed Stockings reports 2021-22 to 2023-24 and FWC freshwater state records.
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Shops and guides for Hernando County
Tackle stores in Hernando County
- Bait and Tackle of Hernanbait and tackle, Hernando Beach
- Dixie Lee Bait Shopbait and tackle, Weeki Wachee
- First Cast Inc, 13551 Banner Rdbait and tackle, Spring Hill
- H B Shrimp Co Incbait and tackle, Hernando Beach
- Norfleet Storebait and tackle, Spring Hill
- Precision Tacklesbait and tackle, Spring Hill
- Blue Pelican Marinamarina, Hernando Beach
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Brooksvillesporting goods store, Brooksville
- Hernando Beach Marinamarina, Hernando Beach
- Hernando Beach Marina Ship STRmarina, Spring Hill
- Nature Coast Marinamarina,
- Sterling Marinamarina,
- Weeki Wachee Marina, 7154 Shoal Line Blvdmarina, Weeki Wachee
- Weeki Wachee Marina, 7154 Mariner Blvdmarina, Spring Hill
Fishing guides in Hernando County
- Adventure Coast Chartersinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 942-9438
- Always Fishing Guide Serviceinshore, Spring Hill, (352) 666-6234
- Angling Adventures Charterinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 686-0853
- Bulldog Fishin Chartersinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 238-3581
- Capt. J. Hamilton Fishinginshore, Brooksville, (813) 997-0126
- Captain Jim Bradley Charterinshore, Weeki Wachee, (352) 596-5639
- Captain Ron Richards Fishing Chartersinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 596-0308
- Chase N' Tails Fishing Chartersinshore, Spring Hill, (352) 345-9304
- Fins Up Fishing Chartersinshore, Spring Hill, (813) 416-1964
- Fishdaddy Charterinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 279-1615
- Fishing Rods Chartersinshore, Spring Hill, (352) 279-0700
- Gettin' There Chartersinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 279-4010
- Gulf Of America Fishing Chartersinshore, Brooksville, (352) 397-8056
- Mary's Fish Cam pinshore, Weeki Wachee, (352) 597-3474
- On Another Plane Charterinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 584-6297
- Red Tide Fishing Clubinshore, Hernando Beach, (352) 650-5107
- Salty D's Chartersinshore, Weeki Wachee, (352) 428-6291
- Seize The Bay Fishing Chartersinshore, Weeki Wachee, (352) 345-0963
- Sunwest Chartersinshore, Weeki Wachee, (352) 596-0308
- Gulf Grouper Deep Sea Fishingoffshore, Spring Hill, (727) 992-9494
Nearby
Close to Hernando County
Communities in Hernando County
- Spring Hillpop. 113,568
- Hernando Beachpop. 2,452
Counties next to Hernando County
- Pasco County17 miles south
- Citrus County21 miles north
- Sumter County30 miles east
- Hillsborough County47 miles south
Know your fish
Fish worth targeting at Hernando County
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: jose_colorado-dapa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mick Johnson, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Attackgirl (talk) (Uploads), Public domain
Answers
Quick answers for Hernando County
How much public access is in Hernando County?
20, with 13 on fresh water and 7 on salt.
Which Hernando County lake should I fish first?
No lake in the county has an FWC fishing page; Middle Lake is the closest.
Can I fish salt water in Hernando County?
0 piers, 7 salt launches and 27 reef sites.
What FWC region is Hernando County in?
The Southwest region for fresh water, and the Big Bend region for redfish, snook and trout.
Where can I buy bait in Hernando County?
14 shops and marinas are listed, including DICK'S Sporting Goods Brooksville, Bait and Tackle of Hernan and Blue Pelican Marina.
Where do I find a guide in Hernando County?
21 guides are based in Hernando County.
What fish are stocked in Hernando County?
Stocking reports list 3 sites.
Which city is the seat of Hernando County?
The seat is Brooksville.
What license covers Hernando County?
Yes, unless exempt; freshwater and saltwater licenses are sold separately.