FLORIDA – The Florida Fishing Trail is winding its way to Hardee County.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said it has joined together with The Mosaic Company and Hardee County to establish a new freshwater fishing destination in central Florida that will feature several freshwater lakes.
The Florida Fishing Trail is estimated to be complete in Spring 2024.
According to the FWC, anglers can cast a line along the shore of the nine freshwater lakes or from one of the planned fishing piers. There will also be ramps to launch boats and kayaks.
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Sportfish, including largemouth bass, crappie (specks) bream, and catfish, are swimming throughout the waterbodies, including these trophy-sized bass documented by FWC biologists during a recent sampling trip.
The project partners held a groundbreaking event on March 24 to celebrate the new collaborative project, where representatives from each organization highlighted their support.
“The Florida Fishing Trail will be a premier freshwater fishing destination in the region and will offer a variety of unique angling opportunities in one place,” said FWC Commissioner Gary Lester.
“This exciting project is bringing new fishing opportunities to the Sunshine State and is made possible by our fisheries management staff and dedicated partners at Mosaic and Hardee County.”
“The lakes that make up this phase of the trail provide an excellent example of the quality fish habitat found on reclaimed land,” said Russell Schweiss, Mosaic’s Vice President of Land and Resource Strategies.
“This partnership will drive public utilization of these reclaimed lands and will become a growing economic driver for Hardee County as the trail continues to grow in future phases. We look forward to seeing the benefits this trail will bring the region in the years to come.”
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To learn more about FWC’s freshwater fisheries management and conservation work, visit MyFWC/Freshwater.
