Live Oak — The Suwannee Lake Fish Management Area (FMA) will be closed for renovations beginning this fall, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials.
Suwannee Lake, near Live Oak in Suwannee County, is a 63-acre lake constructed by the FWC in 1967.
A drawdown of the lake level has already begun and boat access may be limited to smaller vessels in the near future.
Bag limits and size limits on the lake have been temporarily suspended, allowing anglers to keep any fish they catch until the area is closed.
“Suwannee Lake FMA anglers can keep all the fish they catch as long as these fish are caught by hook and line, hand, or dip net,” said Dan Dorosheff, FWC Freshwater Fisheries biologist.
Anglers will still need a freshwater fishing license to take or attempt to take fish unless exempt by law.
“It is estimated the FMA will be closed for one to two years,” Dorosheff said.
Biologists plan to completely drain the lake and remove organic material from the lake bottom and woody vegetation along the shoreline. Some areas of the lake will be deepened and enhancements such as shallow, submerged islands, brush piles and larger bank-fishing-access points will be created.
“This will improve the fishery as well as shoreline bank fishing access for our anglers,” Dorosheff said. “After the renovations are completed, the lake will be restocked with native Florida sportfish, and beneficial native vegetation will be planted.”
For more information about this project, contact the FWC’s North Central Regional Office at 386-758-0525.
