Inglis Lock Recreation Area Fishing

Inglis Lock Recreation Area lets shore anglers fish the tidal end of the old Cross Florida Barge Canal right below the old lock between the canal and Lake Rousseau, one of the few places where fresh and salt water fishing sit side by side.

• Saltwater fishing along the canal shoreline west of the lock
• Freshwater bank fishing on Lake Rousseau, on the upstream side of the lock
• Sheepshead, drum, redfish and trout, with snook in the canal in winter
• Free entry and extensive multi-use trails on neighboring Inglis Island

The recreation area is at 20751 SE 90th Avenue near Inglis in Levy County, beside the old Inglis Lock near the western end of the Cross Florida Greenway.

• Entry: no fee
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, every day
• The saltwater fishing is along the barge canal shoreline to the west of the lock
• A mowed walking trail follows the canal westward from the lock
• A steel bridge on the south side of the lock leads to the multi-use trails of the 1,200-acre Inglis Island, and a paved trail runs south to the Inglis Main Dam

The canal below the lock is tidal and brackish, and its dredged channel holds fish through the year.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead finishing their run, redfish and spotted seatrout along the edges
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper around any hard cover, crevalle jack chasing bait, catfish on the bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and trout at their best, black drum moving in as the water cools
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum along the banks; snook seek the deeper canal water on cold snaps

Keep it simple: a 7-foot medium spinning rod, 15-20 lb braid and a 20-30 lb fluorocarbon leader.

• Fresh or live shrimp on a 1/4 oz jighead worked down the slope of the canal bank
• A fish-finder rig with cut mullet or blue crab on the bottom for redfish and black drum
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader beside any hard cover for sheepshead
• A popping cork with shrimp for trout on the shallower edges
• A slow soft plastic near the bottom for snook in winter
• A long-handled landing net helps where the bank is steep

Below the lock the canal is open to the Gulf, so it rises and falls with two high and two low tides most days, usually one bigger than the other; above the lock, Lake Rousseau does not.

• Moving water on either tide gets fish feeding along the banks
• Use the Withlacoochee River entrance tide times as a rough guide; the water responds later this far up the canal
• Cold fronts push fish into the deeper canal water in winter
• Calm, clear mornings are best for seeing fish on the edges
• Summer afternoons bring heat and thunderstorms, so go early

This is a quiet, open site; plan to be self-sufficient.

• Canal banks can be steep and slippery, so pick a stable spot and wear shoes with grip
• Summer thunderstorms build fast; leave the water's edge at the first thunder
• Keep off the old lock structure and follow any posted closures
• Manatees may use the canal; never cast at them
• Bring water, sun protection and insect repellent
• Access is along mowed paths and natural banks, so it is harder going for anglers with limited mobility

The state page describes trails, fishing and the Greenway field office rather than visitor facilities.

• No entry fee
• Mowed walking trail along the canal and paved trails on Inglis Island
• Freshwater fishing on Lake Rousseau above the lock
• No restrooms, bait or food confirmed, so bring everything you need
• Felburn Park, west along the canal, has potable water and picnic pavilions
• No lighting; the site is open 8 a.m. to sunset

• Decide on fresh or salt before you go: the lock splits Lake Rousseau from the tidal canal, and each needs its own license
• Fish the canal just below the lock on a moving tide, when bait gathers there
• In winter, sheepshead and black drum are the most reliable targets
• Explore Inglis Island's trails on a slow day; bring a light rod for the canal edges
• The Inglis Bypass Recreation Area to the west is another mixed fresh and salt spot

Inglis Lock Recreation Area is part of the Cross Florida Greenway, managed by Florida State Parks; posted rules apply.

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset; no fee
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required for the canal and a freshwater license for Lake Rousseau, unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Snook and redfish have FWC rules and seasons for this region
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything