Lake Sampson Fishing
Bradford County, FWC North Central region.
- 3ramps
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Lake Sampson fishing overview
In the FWC North Central region, Lake Sampson lies within Bradford County. Lake Sampson has no published FWC size; it maps to roughly 1,982 acres. The closest town is Starke, about 5 miles from the middle of the lake. Lake Sampson is part of the Lake Sampson and Lake Rowell.
FWC lists Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, striped bass and black crappie as the main species in Lake Sampson. The FWC ramp inventory has 3 public ramps on Lake Sampson, 2 of them free. FWC hatcheries stocked 20,500 fish in Lake Sampson over the fiscal years on file.
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Hot spots on Lake Sampson
“FWC recently completed a fish community survey on Lake Sampson.”
“Bass anglers still tend to head into Lake Rowell where the numbers of larger fish may be better, but keep looking for new areas in Lake Sampson as well.”
“At the time of this writing, water levels in these lakes were still high enough to allow boat anglers to access Lake Sampson.”
Quoted from the FWC site page: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
What is biting on Lake Sampson now
“Access into Sampson is hard with the buildup of the sandbar at the canal that enters the lake.”
“Lake Sampson has shown some good bass tournament bag weights this year and multiple trophy bass have been reported.”
“Keep an eye out for bass schooling and feeding on shad at the surface of Lake Sampson as well.”
Quoted from the FWC fishing forecast: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
Ramps and launches on Lake Sampson
- Lake Sampson Cypress Run Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, 6 trailer spaces
- Lake Sampson and Lake Rowell Connector Public Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, 24 trailer spaces
- Lake Sampson and Rowell Connector SRWMD Property1 lane ramp, free
Source: FWC Boat Ramp Inventory, October 2026.
Fish FWC lists for Lake Sampson
Rules on Lake Sampson
Lake Sampson follows the statewide freshwater limits below.
| Species | Statewide daily bag | Length rule |
|---|---|---|
| Florida bass | 5 | only one 16 in or longer |
| Black crappie | 25 | none statewide |
| Bluegill and other panfish | 50 combined | none statewide |
FWC freshwater regulations, 2026-27 season, checked October 2026. All Florida limits and license prices.
Fish stocked in Lake Sampson
| Site | Fiscal year | Species | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson Lake | 2023-24 | 20,250 Sunshine Bass Fingerlings (1 – 2 inches) | 20,250 |
| Lake Sampson | 2021-22 | 250 2021 YC Triploid Grass Carp | 250 |
FWC Completed Stockings reports, fiscal years 2021-22 to 2023-24. Florida stocking by county.
Lake Sampson side by side with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres (FWC) | Public ramps | TrophyCatch bass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sampson | 3 | |||
| Lake Rowell | 2 miles east | 2 | ||
| Magnolia Lake | 12 miles southeast | 205 | 1 | |
| Lowry Lake | 13 miles southeast | 1 | ||
| Lake Santa Fe | 14 miles southeast | 5,850 | 3 | 45 |
| Newnans Lake | 19 miles south | 5,800 | 3 | 12 |
Next to Lake Sampson
Lakes near Lake Sampson
- Lake Rowell2 miles east
- Magnolia Lake12 miles southeast
- Lowry Lake13 miles southeast
- Lake Santa Fe14 miles southeast
- Newnans Lake19 miles south
Where to buy bait near Lake Sampson
- The Slabbait and tackle, Starke, 1 mile
- Buddy'z Landingmarina, Earleton, 14 miles
- Bald Eagle Bait & Tacklebait and tackle, Keystone Heights, 14 miles
- Parks Placebait and tackle, Gainesville, 18 miles
Towns close to Lake Sampson
- Keystone Heights14 miles
- Gainesville20 miles
- High Springs26 miles
County pages for Lake Sampson
- Bradford Countyseat: Starke
Piscifun reels for this water
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What anglers ask about Lake Sampson
Where is Lake Sampson?
In Bradford County, about 5 miles from Starke.
What is the acreage of Lake Sampson?
FWC lists no size for Lake Sampson.
How many ramps does Lake Sampson have?
Yes, 3 ramps in the FWC inventory.
What species live in Lake Sampson?
FWC lists Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, striped bass and black crappie.
Are there trophy bass in Lake Sampson?
Lake Sampson has no TrophyCatch count on its FWC page.
Are there special fishing rules on Lake Sampson?
No; statewide freshwater limits apply on Lake Sampson.
Can I fish Lake Sampson without a license?
Yes, a freshwater license unless exempt, and residents pay $17 a year.
What does FWC stock in Lake Sampson?
20,500 fish went in during the years on file.
Is Lake Sampson low right now?
No public gauge reports for Lake Sampson.