Lake Okeechobee is best known throughout the United States as a treasure trove of history with incredible opportunities for fishing, boating, and trails. This body of water, given the name “big water” by the indigenous Seminole, has a size of 1175 square kilometers (454 square miles) and a very low average depth of only 2.7 m. The area surrounding the lake is where sugarcane is grown, which is Florida’s largest crop covering 440,000 acres, producing 62% of the world’s sugar.
Since the early 1900s, this body of water has been a topic of discussion for its decision to create a manmade drainage system. These overflow canals run 248 km (154 miles) in total from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean and from the other side of Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. The decision to dig these channels was made during a time when Florida settlers were arriving rapidly and desired cropland. Developers at the time devised a plan to drain a portion of the Florida everglades to create new, dry, fertile pastures.
There are many ecological issues revolving around this decision, the main problem being that Lake Okeechobee fills up to 6 times faster than it can be drained. Since these areas have a very high volume of agricultural land along with residential homes, the runoff from the rapid water level increase creates extreme levels of pollutants. These areas releasing pollutants are adding large amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen, and high levels of dissolved organic materials into Lake Okeechobee’s waterways.
These hazardous wastes are harming the freshwater estuaries and in turn our oceans as well, creating detrimental lifelong effects. A few examples of these effects are the growth of toxic algae on Florida’s shores along with the mass killing of fish, seagrasses, and seabirds throughout the year in both freshwater and saltwater systems.
Besides Lake Okeechobee’s ecological issues, it is home to incredible native and exotic species of fish, reptiles, plants, and birds, and is rated number two as Florida’s best fishing spot with thousands of anglers and environmental enthusiasts visiting yearly. This place holds historical sentiment to the United States and is definitely a place you want to visit before big sugar takes its toll.
Fish Species in Lake Okeechobee
1) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
- Native range: Nearctic
- Other names: Willow cat, fork-tailed cat, fiddler, spotted cat, lady cat
The genus Ictalurus in Greek means “fish cat”, allowing for a perfect representation of these whiskered aquatic creatures. This catfish species has the highest population of any catfish throughout North America and is one of the only catfish varieties that has the most amount of albinism found in their offspring. A really interesting fact about these bottom-dwelling opportunistic feeders is that they have taste receptors all over their bodies paired with excellent eyesight which allows them to have great success when finding a meal.
Channel catfish have a spawning season from April through June and lay large clumps of eggs in all types of nests varying inside cavities in logs, rocks, or banks. These fish may have a short gestation period of one week, but that doesn’t take away from their long lifespans of 15 years, with the largest ever found weighing 26.3 kilograms (58 lbs)!
2) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Yellow cat, Opelousas cat, pied cat, Mississippi cat, mud cat, shovelhead cat
Freshwater catfish have a lot of physical similarities, the differing appearance is most obvious in the name, flathead catfish, for its bony flattened head. Along with this characteristic is also the addition of their square tail and protruding lower jaw. Spawning occurs during late spring when both the male and female prepare a nest; the female lays 100,000 eggs that are protected and agitated until they hatch.
Flathead catfish have a different approach to their diet than other members of the catfish family by strictly feeding on live prey, although juveniles will eat worms, larvae, and crayfish. These animals have been recorded to live up to 24 years and can grow to 55.79 kg (123 lbs). The largest ever recorded in Florida was 31.75 kg (70 lbs) in 2020.
3) Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Mudcat, polliwog, chucklehead cat
Yellow bullheads have always been mistaken for brown bullheads due to their features being almost identical. When looking up close at the yellow bullhead you can see that their chin and whiskers are bright yellow, which is generally hard to identify from above when looking at these bottom dwellers. They are typically found in brackish water with lots of vegetation, but studies have shown their ability to thrive in many different types of water including highly-polluted and low-oxygenated areas as well.
During the spawning season, both parents build a nest in a dark area in the mud or inside a sunken log. Once their eggs hatch they stay guarded by their parents until they reach 1 inch long. Yellow bullheads feed at night, but are generally opportunistic omnivores just like other freshwater catfish in Florida, excluding flatheads.
4) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Polliwog, chucklehead cat
This catfish has very basic markings with just a color shift down their body from dark olive to black with a white belly. The word Ameiurus in the scientific name is Greek for “curtailed”, which refers to the notch in the caudal fin. These fish spawn in late spring with both the male and females making and guarding the nests.
5) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Bows, freshwater salmon
Rainbow trout are one of the most common species in Florida to catch as they are the most widely stocked fish in North America. They are easily identified by the bright pink stripe down the sides of their body, with brown spots lining their backs.
These fish are very sought-after trophy fish, but it’s very important for anglers to know how fragile these animals are. These fish can only survive in clean water and should only be handled delicately by the mouth with wet hands. Rainbow trout can reach 41 cm (16 in) in length and average 4 kg (9 lbs), with the largest recorded at 22 kg (49 lbs)!
6) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: White perch, sac-a-lait
These 2.04 kg (4 lbs) fish are identified by the dark bands around their bodies. These fish have high reproductive potential and are known to overpopulate lakes rapidly, with fisheries advising against people adding them into their residential ponds.
Spawning season occurs in the spring with the females producing upwards of 30,000 eggs when the water temperature reaches 18.3°C. (65°F). It takes three to five days for the fry to hatch, but they are stuck for a few more days, adhering to the nest substrate before freeing themselves. Once they have left the nest they are alone until they reach the size of a fingerling. At this size, they begin to school together in the middle of lakes.
7) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: White perch, calico bass
Black crappies are commonly confused with white crappies but differ only slightly by having an upturned mouth, with 7 – 9 dorsal spines, and irregular patterns over their body versus white crappies whose bodies are lined with a pattern of vertical bars. This specific fish also extends further north, being found in Virginia and even Canada.
Crappies are cyclic spawners, meaning they are not guaranteed to spawn each year; generally they will have a clutch every 3 to 4 years. During the spring, males prepare nests for the females to lay their clutches, ranging from 11,000 – 188,000 eggs with a gestation period of only 3 – 5 days. During this time the males guard the nest with all their might, waiting for their offspring to hatch.
8) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Bream, brim, perch, sunfish, sun perch
Bluegills are generally recognized by the dark spot at the base of their dorsal fin, their small mouths, and the vertical bars on their sides. These fish can be found throughout the United States and northern Mexico, either being spread naturally or by the common occurrence of reintroduction as bait into residential ponds.
These animals have a very long spawning season that lasts from May up until the water cools down in the fall. Since bluegills have a long spawning period, high reproductive potential, and low predation rates, it creates a high probability of overpopulating a given area.
Due to the fear of overpopulation, anglers were originally encouraged to catch and keep their caught bluegills, but research conducted by Andrew Rypel at Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources suggests that fishing pressure results in decreased size of adult bluegills. This result is correlated to the predation of large male bluegills during spawning season when they are protecting their nests. So far, the best and most natural way to combat the bluegill take over is increasing their number one predator, largemouth bass, and decreasing the catch bag from 25 to 10 keepers.
9) Bowfin (Amia calva)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Beaver fish, blackfish, cotton fish, cypress trout, freshwater dogfish, grindle, mud pike, choupique, swamp trout
Bowfins are incredible animals dating back to 150 million years ago, making them the last known member of the order Amiiformes, which can be traced back to the Jurassic period. This species is easily identified by its elongated body with an eyespot on its peduncle, and an overbite.
Along with features seeming prehistoric, they have also evolved skills that have benefited their lives. One incredible skill is their ability to oscillate their fins to allow the animal to shift back and forth smoothly for a swift escape from danger. Although a quick escape is important for juveniles, adult bowfins who grow upwards of 69 cm (27 in) and 9 kg (20 lbs) lack predators, except for other adult bowfins and alligators.
10) Chain pickerel (Esox niger)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Southern pike, grass pike, jack, jack fish, eastern pickerel, gunny
Chain pickerels may not look very threatening, but this species is a top predator, feeding on anything and everything from snakes to frogs to mice, but primarily preying on other fish. They prefer shallow depths in lakes, rivers, and swamps.
They begin spawning in late winter, laying 50,000 eggs spread over the top of vegetation, and unlike other fish, these eggs are left unprotected. Although these animals put up a good fight, their lifespans typically max out around 9 years old with an average length of 76 cm (30 in).
11) Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Needle nose gar, billfish, billy gar
Longnose gars are known for their elongated bodies, diamond-shaped scales, and their prominent set of teeth. These animals are found throughout Florida in shallow ponds, lakes, and drainage areas.
They have the ability to survive in low-oxygenated areas and can even sustain life outside of the water for many hours as long as their body stays damp. Gars can be seen both day and night, stalking before lunging at and thrashing their prey. Longnose gars can live to be 20 years old and have been dated back to over 157 million years ago.
These animals spawn in the same way as their other gar counterparts. They begin to spawn in early spring, lay their eggs for one or many males to inseminate, and then the adhered eggs hatch from their egg sac in a week’s time and adhere to grasses via a sticky pad at the end of their noses until their yolk is fully absorbed, before being freed. The adults eat other fish while the juveniles feed on small crustaceans and insect larvae.
12) Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Molly, redeye, goggle-eye, red-eyed bream, strawberry perch
Adult warmouths are most distinctly recognized for their red eyes and large bass-like mouth. Their favorite habitats are swamps, marshes, and shallow lakes with thick vegetation, making Lake Okeechobee their ideal domain. The fish only hunt during the day and are opportunistic hunters; feeding on crayfish, insects, and other small fish.
Warmouths have a lifespan of about 8 years and only grow to about 31 cm (12 in) in length. Female warmouths will spawn multiple times a year between the months of April to August, allowing the males to only build a nest once for her to return to throughout the season.
13) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microphus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, sunny, sun perch
This fish’s physical features show tapering colors from dark green on the dorsal side to light gray on the belly, and are best known for the dimorphic color on their opercle which ranges from red for males and orange for females. When looking for this species in the off-spawning season, you will typically find them hidden in thick vegetation in the warmer depths, feasting on snails with the occasional insect larvae or cladoceran.
Spawning season begins when males build shallow nests to court the females during the months of late spring and early summer. Their eggs hatch 4 to 7 days after being laid and reach adult maturity at the age of one year.
14) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Black bass, trophy bass, lineside bass, green trout, bigmouth bass
Coming in at number one as the most popular game fish in America is the largemouth bass. These top aquatic predators are the state freshwater fish in Florida, known for being ravenous eaters and extremely protective of their nesting beds. Fishermen love to catch these animals because they put up a great fight and, when caught in a tournament, can win you upwards of 1 million USD!
You can typically find these fish in large logs, sunken debris, and manmade items. Spawning occurs in spring when the male builds its nest. After the eggs hatch, they are under the protection of the adult male until they are one month old. The fish then grow quickly and reach sexual maturity at 5 months old for females and 3 months old for males. The fish can live to be 25 years old with the record weight being 10 kg (22 lbs), caught in Georgia.
15) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Brown bass, brownie, bronze bass
Although having the word small in their name, these fish can grow upwards of 76 cm (30 in) long! Smallmouth bass are found throughout North America and are labeled as indicator species due to their low tolerance to pollution. These fish prefer warmer water, but once the temperature begins to creep closer to 16°C (61°F) they begin to spawn. The males build a nest by pushing back rocks and pebbles to attract females. Once the females have laid their clutch and the water has dropped below the 16°C (61°F) threshold, the bass will migrate into smaller tidal ponds where they enter a sluggish state until the warmth returns.
Just like their large-mouthed counterparts, the smallmouth bass is a carnivore and will inhale any animal they are able to swallow. Unlike other fish who lay dormant in the evening, these fish will hunt in the morning, at dusk, and during the night to find a meal, as they are known for being constant voracious eaters.
16) Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Spotty, spots, Kentucky bass, Kentucky spotted bass, northern spotted bass, Alabama spotted bass, Wichita spotted bass, black bass, spot
The spotted bass is named after its distinct horizontal line of broken spots going down its body. Bass tend to remain separate from other members of the bass family due to them all preferring slightly different habitats. Spotted bass can be found in areas of clear visibility with rocky bottoms in warm slow moving water, but still have a stronger current than largemouth bass prefer and in water too warm for smallmouth bass.
These fish are some of the smallest and slowest-growing members of the bass family with growth only reaching 2 inches in their first summer, with adults reaching maturity at only 17.8 cm (7 in). Spotted bass spawn during spring and have a general yield of 3,000 fry per nest.
17) White bass (Morone chrysops)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Stripe, silver bass, striper, sand bass, barfish
White bass and striped bass are commonly mistaken for one another due to their identical markings. The most noticeable differences are still hard to see when you are not able to compare the fish side by side, but when looking at a white bass you should see a shorter stockier build with a smaller head and dorsal fins that are placed closer together.
During spawning season large schools of males will move up river or canal systems, followed by females shortly after. Females lay their tenacious eggs which stick to rock or gravel while flowing down current. These fish do not protect their young once they are laid.
18) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Atlantic striped bass, linesider, rock, striper, rockfish
The striped bass was given its name due to its distinguishing characteristic of seven black stripes along each side of its body. This species is very sensitive to water temperatures over 23.9°C (75°F) and must find cooler water to stay alive. Due to the fact they are sensitive to their environment, striped bass populations in Lake Okeechobee rely solely on Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) to restock them.
These are the largest members of the bass family, growing to 45 pounds in weight with the largest recorded at 37.14 kg (82 lbs) making them one of the most sought-after game fish. These large animals are able to live for 30 years and have the ability to successfully thrive in both fresh and saltwater, but are sure to return to freshwater when they begin spawning in March.
19) Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Whiterock bass, wiper
This morphed species is a mix between a white bass and a striped bass. These hybrids benefit greatly from the addition of white bass as this allows for the fish to sustain life in water temperatures up to 32.2°C (90°F), where pure striped bass could only survive up to 23.9°C (75°F).
The general features and habits of white and striped bass are very similar but differ in three ways: body shape, stripes, and mouth. The look of the hybrid is a mixture of all these differences, starting with the hybrid bass being shorter than the white bass. They also possess lines down their body, differing from a striped bass in that they are broken stripes instead of solid. The last feature is the two sets of tooth patches on the back of the tongue that resemble the structure of a striped bass mouth.
These fish have similar spawning strategies by laying their eggs up current in freshwater so that the eggs may be inseminated and then spread naturally down current with no parental care. Unfortunately, this spawning migration is to prevail as these hybrid fish are sterile. These fish rely on Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) to place them in Lake Okeechobee.
20) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Goggle-eye, rock bass, branch perch
These sunfish hold a lot of color on their scales varying from greens to turquoise. They have a similar eating habit to those of other sunfish in that they eat crayfish, insects, snails, and smaller fish. These animals are able to tolerate a large array of environments, but in Florida, they are found in backwaters and in areas with poor water conditions such as that of Lake Okeechobee.
Green sunfish nest in shallow areas very close to each other and hybridization is very common with other sunfish. Due to their high reproductive potential, they are another fish to avoid adding to your home pond.
21) Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Yellowbelly sunfish, redbreasted bream
Redbreast sunfish have a fitting name as their chests are a beautiful bright red, but some articles believe they should be called the long-eared sunfish for their longer than normal opercle flap. The redbreast is one of the larger sunfish species, coming in at 56 cm (22 in) and 4 kg (9 lbs). The females are larger than the males and begin spawning in late spring in nests that are close together to other redbreasts. Their diets consist of the typical sunfish diet of crayfish, insects, snails, and smaller fish.
22) Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Cherry bream
Longear sunfish are an amazingly bright species with lots of turquoise-colored scales. The name is funny because although the longear has a slightly elongated ear, it doesn’t have one close to that of the redbreast sunfish. These fish prefer abundant vegetation and low currents.
They begin to spawn in late spring with a beautiful display done by the males to court a female. The male sunfish will approach the female and accelerate around her to display his beautiful bright colors. If she is interested, she will follow him back to his nest and lay her eggs for the males to guard for up to 2 weeks.
23) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Walleyed pike
These carnivorous perch with teeth on their jaws and on the roof of their mouth are nocturnal hunters feeding only on other fish. Spawning begins in spring and usually happens when a female releases her eggs around several males to fertilize them. The eggs are dispersed at random with no nest or parental protection. The young are fast growers, sometimes growing to 25.4 cm (10 in) in their first year, with mature adults reaching 11.33 kg (25 lbs) and 104.1 cm (41 in).
24) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Drum fish, gaspergou, gou, sheepshead
Freshwater drums were given their name due to the males producing a grunting or rumbling sound that attracts females. They make this incredible sound by rubbing their muscles along the swim bladder, creating a type of vibration that emits a unique sound. Another aspect of the freshwater drum is the lateral line that runs from its gills to the start of its tail. This line is a row of sensory organs that detect vibrations and pressure; it also helps the fish to better locate predators or prey.
Generally, drums feed on crustaceans, minnows, and aquatic insects, but in recent years there have been studies showing that freshwater drums have begun learning how to eat one of the most invasive mussels we are combating in the United States. The zebra mussel comes from the black sea and spreads quickly with no predation. A research study took the stomach contents of different-sized drums and found there to be zebra mussels inside, but unfortunately, no matter the size of the drum they only favored the smaller mussels, which means we don’t have an answer to decreasing the zebra mussel population quite yet, but it’s an exciting start!
25) Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Redfish, rat red, bull red, red
Red drum, known locally as redfish, is a very sought-after game fish. In the late 1980s, the red drum was overfished, creating extreme pressure on the reproduction rate. Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) took emergency action, making the season catch bag rules limited to only 1 fish per boat at 45.72 – 68.58 cm (18 – 27 in) long. This approach was a great success, exceeding the management goal of 40% of redfish making it past the age of four.
These fish are better known for their presence in saltwater systems, but don’t technically need saltwater to sustain life. Redfish only require high levels of calcium and magnesium, making them a great addition to a large home pond, but the catch is that they don’t typically have success reproducing without saltwater, so it’s important to keep in mind that they will need to be restocked.
26) Texas shiner (Notropis amabilis)
- Native range: North America
Texas shiners are very recognizable with their large eyes and faded stripe going down the side of their body getting darker toward the base of the tail. These fish lack a lot of research pertaining to spawning habits. The only study available was done in Texas and the researchers collected fish measurements and basically guessed their approximate seasonal hatching dates from their size; their approximation was that spawning begins in late March.
27) Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Pond shiner, golden, Arkansas red
Spawning begins in spring with no nest prepared. Their eggs are freely scattered over algae with a 4-day gestation period before they hatch. These shiners are opportunistic eaters, feasting on plants and other fish. Golden shiners are also known as one of the top bait fish used in the U.S., as it’s believed any fish above 4.54 kg (10 lbs) could be caught with them. These shiners can grow to 25.4 cm (10 in) and produce upwards of 200,000 eggs per season.
28) Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Redhorse minnow
This fish is often confused with the golden shiner or exotic fishes such as rudd or roach, due to the males becoming bluer with age. These fish grow to about 8.89 cm (3.5 in)and have a long spawning period starting from spring and ending in the fall months, with eggs being released near submerged logs underwater. They are said to eat small crustaceans and often school as adults along the water’s surface.
29) Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Fathead, black-headed minnow, rosy-red
These fish are always seen schooled together near the water’s surface. Their spawning season is in early spring and ends in late summer, with eggs being laid on top of sunken logs and grasses. Fathead minnows lay up to ten times per spawning season with each clutch ranging near 12,000 eggs. Once laid, the eggs are protected by the males until hatched.
These fish are herbivores in their adult and juvenile stages, with the occasional crustacean eaten. They are a favorite to put into ponds because they are slow moving and multiply fast, so they add lots of sustenance for your larger fish to consume.
30) Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense)
- Native range: North America
Threadfins thrive in Lake Okeechobee because temperatures rarely get below 32°C (89.6°F) during the winter months. Since these animals are extremely temperature sensitive, they experience mass die-offs when the water drops below 7°C (44.6°F), allowing them to thrive in southern Florida lakes.
Spawning season begins when water temperatures reach 21°C (69.8°F), which is when the females release their eggs for multiple males at a time to inseminate. The feeding habits of this species do not change as they grow in size, with their preferred meal being phytoplankton and zooplankton. These fish are a very important part of the ecosystem by feeding on microscopic animals that can rapidly take over a waterway.
31) Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Shad, hickory shad, herring, skipjack
Gizzard shads differ from the rest of the shad family by their distinguished upper jaw that projects over the bottom. This species can be found in schools of other shad and has been given the name of “skipjack” for their leaps and skips across the water.
During the spawning season, the females release eggs freely into the school with no regard for who fertilizes the eggs nor where the eggs end up. Generally, their eggs will land and adhere to grasses rather quickly, as these fish prefer to exist in the shallow areas of lakes. These fish feed by filter feeding through their close-set gill rakes, with the largest ever recorded in 2004 at 1.9 kg (4.2 lbs).
32) Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Gator gar
These fish represent their name well, with an elongated head and snout with protruding teeth, just like that of the reptilian carnivore they are named after! These are the largest gar in the gar species, growing up to 2.4 m (94.5 in) long and averaging 136 kg (300 lbs) as adults. In 2011 on Chotard Lake in Mississippi, the oldest recorded alligator gar caught was aged 94 years old with a weight of 148 kg (326 lbs)!
This gar species is able to withstand extreme levels of salinity and obtain oxygen from the water and air at the surface by having a modified swim bladder. These fish typically don’t spawn until they are 10 years old, but when they do it usually takes place in the months of April to May. During that time it is the rainy season, giving Lake Okeechobee a high water level, allowing yard debris to enter the water. The alligator gar females lay their eggs on the floating debris around the edges for any males to fertilize. After they hatch they grow extremely fast, with juveniles growing 12 inches in their first year of life. The rule of thumb for alligator gar is that for every additional 0.3 m (12 in) the fish grows, its age doubles.
33) Florida gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Spotted gar
When the general public sees a gar in a ditch, canal, or lake in Florida, this is generally what they ID it as. These fish have thick armor for scales and are covered in spots, which helps greatly for camouflage in the vegetated areas they prefer to live, unless they are basking on the surface during warm days. They are generally slow movers unless they are attacking prey in which they grab, slash and then generally swallow head first.
These fish have a similar spawning habit to other gars, in which they release 20,000 eggs from early spring to late fall. Miscellaneous males fertilize the eggs and they hatch within 10 to 14 days. The interesting thing about this type of gar is that when they are born they have a mucilaginous pad exposed on the front of their heads that adheres to grasses until their egg sac has been completely absorbed before setting free. The juveniles eat small fish and larvae, while adults are strictly piscivores.
34) Shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Billy gar, short-billed gar, stub-nose gar
The only distinguishing characteristic of this gar that separates it from the others is the missing double row of teeth on the upper jaw that most gars possess, along with their ability to withstand high turbidity compared to other gar species. These fish reach sexual maturity at 38 cm (15 in) and have a similar laying schedule and pattern to those of other gars. They lay their eggs in shallow water over grasses to allow two or more males to fertilize through the months of early spring and late fall. Shortnose eggs hatch after a week and begin feeding on small crustaceans and larvae.
35) Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Roach-back, razor-backed buffalo, hump-backed buffalo, liner, blue pancake
This opportunistic bottom feeder with long filaments on its gills dines on algae and crustaceans, and can even be seen eating large amounts of detritus and sand from the lake floor. There isn’t much research on the life cycles of these animals but they are said to spawn during late spring. The females spread their eggs in 1 – 6 meters (3.3 – 19.7 ft) of water for many males to fertilize. The eggs are left with no parental care and once hatched the young grow rapidly. A smallmouth has been recorded to still be rapidly growing at the age of 13 years old!
36) Bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Gourdhead, redmouth buffalo, common buffalo
The smallmouth and largemouth buffalo have a very similar look to them, but the main differing features of bigmouths are their rounded blocky heads that flow into their body shape with a mouth that is located terminally (on the bottom end of their snout). This species can be found in schools of other bottom feeders eating crustaceans, detritus, and insect larvae.
They spawn in late spring and can be seen releasing eggs for two males that court her by aligning on each side of her body. The eggs hatch within 10 days with no parental care. The juveniles grow rapidly and may live up to the age of 10.
37) Black buffalo (Ictiobus niger)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Mongrel buffalo, current buffalo, round buffalo, blue rooter
This species of buffalo looks almost identical to the bigmouth buffalo but differs in its horizontal mouth and thick lips. These buffalo are given the common name “current buffalo” for their desire for high-current areas. These bottom feeders are very similar to other members of the genus Ictiobus, but differ slightly in that black buffalo hunt in deeper waters and have been known to eat introduced clam species more than crustaceans, algae, and detritus.
These fish spawn in shallow flooded areas with over several hundred other adult fish, freely releasing eggs to be inseminated. These fish have a very long lifespan, with the oldest recorded at 56 years old in 2018!
38) American eel (Anguilla rostrata)
- Native range: North America
- Other names: Freshwater eel, pencil eel, yellow eel, black eel, silver eel, Boston eel, Atlantic eel, common eel
These slender, scaleless, snake-like eels are olive-green in color, with a long fin that runs over half the length of their bodies. These IUCN-listed endangered animals have a very interesting spawning season beginning in the winter months. Although there have not been many studies done on the American eels in Florida, it is understood that in their spawning season in Cuba they travel from freshwater rivers to the salty ocean. This journey begins with the females metamorphosing on their way to freshwater into a silver color where they lose their sight and quit eating, alongside the males whose sex organs begin to swell.
When they arrive around January to release over 4 million eggs per female and the males have inseminated as many as they can, the adults die. The eggs are left with no parental care and hatch around 17 months later into leptocephalus larvae. The larvae then drift with the current for 9 to 12 months until they come into contact with freshwater, where they begin their next leptocephalus metamorphoses into “glass eels”, then into pigmented pencil eels, until they have migrated up river to find a place to rest until they are sexually mature to make the journey to spawn for themselves.
These eels grow to be about 0.3 m (12 in) in length for males and 1.2 m (47 in) for females, with the longest age recorded at 43 years old, but due to their spawning habits, most American eels don’t live past the age of 10.
Invasive Fish Species in Lake Okeechobee
1) Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
- Native range: Asia
- Other names: Spoonbill, spoonbill cat, shovelnose cat
- Recorded in Florida: 1997
Paddlefish are easily identified by their flat paddle-like snout which is one-third of their shark-like body length. This paddle is actually said to work as an electrosensory organ, making it easier for paddlefish to feel out the plankton floating in the water around them. These fish have no teeth and feed by swimming with their mouths open, filtering free-flowing fish and plants through their closely set gill rakes.
These fish spawn during late spring when the tides are high. This allows for their eggs to rest right at the water level with some eggs exposed to the air. Once attached they drift down current where they reside until adulthood. Paddlefish can live to be 30 years old with the largest ever caught in 2021 weighing 74 kg (163 lbs).
2) Rio Grande cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus)
- Native range: Northeastern Mexico and the Rio Grande River in Texas
- Other names: Rio Grande perch, Texas cichlid
- Recorded in Florida: 1941
These exotic fish were first observed in the early 1940s with an extreme sensitivity to cold weather. Due to Florida’s warm climate, they are now considered established by how quickly they have multiplied in Lake Okeechobee and other freshwater ecosystems.
These rather small aquatic animals are monogamous and spawn during the spring. The adults will both build a nest of rocks together and guard the area up to 3 m (10 ft) away to claim territory before laying 2,500 – 3,000 eggs, which they take turns protecting until they hatch. These fish can live to be 20 years old and weigh around 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
3) Mayan cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus)
- Native range: Central and South America
- Other names: Mexican mojarra, orange tiger
- Recorded in Florida: 1983
Mayan cichlids average 25 cm (9.8 in) long with stripes going down their side and a spot on their tail that mimics an eye to confuse predators. This species is able to withstand a wide range of environments and can be found in just about any fresh body of water in Florida but favors brackish. These fish have a life expectancy of 7 years in the wild and 11 years in captivity, with the largest recorded at 38 cm (15 in). Mayan cichlids spawn once a year with parental protection by both parents for up to 6 weeks and have a general diet of small crustaceans, algae, and small fish.
4) Plecostomus (Pterygoplichthys spp.)
- Native range: South America
- Other names: Armored catfish, suckermouth catfish, pleco
- Recorded in Florida: 1950s
Plecos are a very common animal in the pet trade around the world and are sought after for how rapidly they can clean up algae in a tank. These suckerfish adults average in size around 31 – 56 cm (12.2 – 22 in) and can be identified by their spotted scales, large dorsal sailfin, and their bony armor. Due to the fast rate at which they multiply and consume vegetation, they are a serious competitor for native fish from resources to occasional egg consumption.
This fish has very few predators outside alligators and turtles and creates a plethora of ecological disturbances. These animals are able to live if salinity is increased, gulp air when oxygen levels are low, and burrow in lake edges, creating erosion that also allows them to survive temperature fluctuations and drought. They also have a body exterior that has the ability to kill native fish if the pleco is consumed.
5) Spotted tilapia (Pelmatolapia mariae)
- Native range: West Africa
- Recorded in Florida: 1974
This type of tilapia is identified by the 6 black spots going down the center of their body. Their spawning habits differ from other tilapia in that they lay their eggs on hard flat surfaces with both parents guarding aggressively until they are about 2.5 cm (1 in) long. These fish are omnivores and feed low on the food chain, mainly consuming algae, diatoms, and detritus. This is another fish that is illegal to transport or possess alive without a special permit, unless dead on the ice.
6) Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)
- Native range: Southeast Asia
- Recorded in Florida: 1967
These large-mouthed, elongated, scaleless catfish are bottom dwellers and move around using their pectoral fins to pull themselves on the floor. This skill is also used above water on ground as these fish move, or “walk”, across land to get to other bodies of water, hence their name.
These animals are illegal to own or transport in the United States without special state and federal permits, unless the fish are dead and on ice. There is not much research on the spawning habits of these animals, but according to reports in India, spawning occurs in the rainy months, and eggs are laid and adhered to submerged vegetation and are guarded by the males.
7) Brown hoplo (Hoplosternum littorale)
- Native range: South America
- Other names: Currito, atipa, cascudo, kwikwi
- Recorded in Florida: 1995
Brown hoplos thrive in many freshwater habitats due to this species being a facultative air breather which allows them to breathe in low-oxygenated areas. This species is part of the armored catfish family and is generally a benthic scavenger, eating crustaceans, plant matter, and detritus. These animals are sexually dimorphic with the males being larger and possessing more swollen pectoral fins.
Spawning takes place from May to September and begins with the males building floating nests near the shore that consist of bubbles covering the plants. The females lay their eggs under the nest and after the male fertilizes them, he fills his mouth and blows them into the floating nest, and then the eggs hatch after 4 days.
8) Pacu (Colossoma macropomum)
- Native range: South America
- Recorded in Florida: 1965
Pacu look very similar to piranhas but have human-like teeth instead of the typical sharp piranha teeth. There are 8 species of pacu, but the ones found in Lake Okeechobee are black pacu. These opportunistic eaters can be found munching on seeds, snails, detritus, and other fish, but mainly plants which has given them their title as “the vegetarian piranha”.
They never stop growing throughout their lives with the oldest recorded at 43 years old, with a weight of 20 kg (44 lbs). The range of these animals is huge and spreads from South America to Europe, all over the United States, and into Canada as well.
9) Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
- Native range: South America
- Recorded in Florida: 1960
These omnivorous fish are not very picky eaters, with a diet of insects, larvae shrimp, snails, and detritus. These fish are specifically affected by certain parasites such as Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and trematodes along with extreme vulnerability to Dactylogyrus gill flukes disease and a malady called hole-in-the-head disease.
These fish are considered to be monogamous and are documented breeding with the same fish for many years. Their breeding age is around 14 months and begins when the water temperature reaches 25°C (77°F) in spring. The male and female create a nest and begin to court each other by circling and flaring their gills along with showing their increased scale pigments. Once the eggs are laid, the male and female protect them for a year after they hatch. Oscars have a lifespan of 20 years, with the largest recorded at 46 cm (18 in) and 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs).
10) Butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris)
- Native range: South America
- Other names: Peacock bass, butterfly peacock, tucunare comun, eyespot cichlid
- Recorded in Florida: 1984
Peacock bass are extremely beautiful, with vibrant colors and three black vertical blotches along their sides. These fish were introduced to Southeast Florida by Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) in 1984 to combat the tilapia spread, but just like any other non-native species introduced to combat another, they multiplied. Now people travel to Florida specifically for the opportunity to catch this amazing invasive species.
Peacock bass are extremely sensitive to salinity and temperature, which made FWC believe they would stay in close range of where they were released but managed to travel all the way into Lake Okeechobee. During spawning season, the mating pair creates a hard surface near the shore to lay their eggs. The female lays 4,000 to 10,000 eggs which are guarded by both parents for several months. The largest world record for peacock bass is 5.7 kg (12.6 lbs).
11) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
- Native range: Europe
- Other names: German carp, European carp
- Recorded in Florida: Late 1800s
Common carps are considered a nuisance to U.S. fishermen but are highly prized as sportfish in Europe since they put up such a good fight! These fish can live to 50 years old with the largest ever caught weighing in at 34 kg (75 lbs). These fish are native to Asia and Europe and were brought to the U.S. in 1877. The stock was so valuable that they had armed guards protecting the fisheries. The mating ritual for these fish is also interesting, with the males bumping into the females, hoping for her to release her eggs to allow him to fertilize them freely.
12) Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
- Native range: Siberia and China
- Other names: White amur, waan ue
This fish is one of the largest members of the minnow family, reaching sizes averaging 36.28 kg (80 lbs), with the largest ever recorded weighing 181 kg (399 lbs). Spawning occurs in the spring, with eggs requiring 20 – 40 hours of suspended flow to incubate, before attaching to the substrate. Once the grass carp reaches 7.62 cm (3 in) they become 100% herbivores.
These animals are extremely important as vegetation control agents and have been legally introduced into 35 U.S. states to control aquatic plant growth. The introduced specimens are generally sterile triploid grass carps due to their ability to take out the native plants as well in an ecosystem. If a grass carp is caught in the public domain, you are required by law to gut them and remove them from the vicinity; if in a pond with triploid carp, you should release them back into the waters you found them.
