Blackwater River fishing

Blackwater River fishing is stocked with Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass, Striped Bass, Bluegill, and Redear Sunfish on a river section. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2009. Species guides list dusk and night for Channel Catfish, dawn and dusk for Striped Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Bluegill.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
FY 2025
Redear Sunfish
Plants on record
31
Since 2009
Species recorded
5
Elevation
2.3 ft

Fish at Blackwater River

5 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Striped Bass Stocked · 17 plants · last FY 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked FY 2024 · 17 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Striped Bass species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 6 plants · last FY 2011 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked FY 2011 · 6 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide
Sunshine Bass Stocked · 4 plants · last FY 2014

Last stocked FY 2014 · 4 plants

Bluegill Stocked · 2 plants · last FY 2024 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked FY 2024 · 2 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Bluegill species guide

How Blackwater River is stocked

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2009

169,469

Fish stocked in 2010

101,526

Fish stocked in 2011

80,868

Fish stocked in 2012

130,850

Fish stocked in 2013

95,000

Fish stocked in 2014

59,060

Fish stocked in 2015

23,520

Fish stocked in 2016

106,600

Fish stocked in 2017

127,300

Fish stocked in 2018

78,300

Fish stocked in 2019

54,240

Fish stocked in 2020

35,500

Fish stocked in 2021

62,460

Fish stocked in 2023

26,853

Fish stocked in 2024

40,226

Fish stocked in 2025

40,600

Stocking history

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
FY 2025Redear Sunfish40,600–report
FY 2024Striped Bass15,546–report
FY 2024Striped Bass15,320–report
FY 2024Bluegill9,360–report
FY 2023Striped Bass5,000–report
FY 2023Striped Bass21,853–report
FY 2021Striped Bass62,460–report
FY 2020Striped Bass35,500–report
FY 2019Striped Bass1,240–report
FY 2019Redear Sunfish37,200–report
FY 2019Bluegill15,800–report
FY 2018Striped Bass78,300–report
FY 2017Striped Bass3,000–report
FY 2017Striped Bass72,300–report
FY 2017Striped Bass52,000–report
FY 2016Striped Bass60,800–report
FY 2016Striped Bass45,800–report
FY 2015Striped Bass23,520–report
FY 2014Sunshine Bass59,060–report
FY 2013Striped Bass95,000–report
FY 2012Striped Bass130,850–report
FY 2011Channel Catfish44,614–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass36,254–report
FY 2010Striped Bass25,026–report
FY 2010Sunshine Bass76,500–report
FY 2009Sunshine Bass93,800–report
FY 2009Channel Catfish6,223–report
FY 2009Channel Catfish11,340–report
FY 2009Channel Catfish12,106–report
FY 2009Channel Catfish28,000–report
FY 2009Channel Catfish18,000–report

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Milton, FL

58-mile Panhandle river (49 miles in Florida) through Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Lower-river ramps at Carpenters Park and Russell Harbor Park in Milton plus an improved Bagdad landing.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you go.

Nearest lakes

Becks Lake 14 mi last stocked FY 2020 Yellow River 15.8 mi last stocked FY 2025 Bear Lake 20.6 mi last stocked FY 2024 Hurricane Lake 27.3 mi last stocked FY 2025 Lake Stone 28.4 mi last stocked FY 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Blackwater River?

Fishing Blackwater River usually means Striped Bass: Striped Bass accounts for 17 of 31 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish and 3 more. Striped Bass was last stocked FY 2024. Channel Catfish was last stocked FY 2011. Sunshine Bass was last stocked FY 2014. Bluegill was last stocked FY 2024. 1 more species is on the stocking report.

When is Blackwater River stocked?

Last stocked FY 2025. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2009. No plants recorded in 2022.

How do you get on Blackwater River?

The nearest town is Milton, FL. 58-mile Panhandle river (49 miles in Florida) through Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Lower-river ramps at Carpenters Park and Russell Harbor Park in Milton plus an improved Bagdad landing.

Sources (1) +