Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report: Largemouth and Crappie Bonanza in the Big O

Good morning from the Big O. This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Sunrise came up bright at 6:47 AM today, and you will have good light all the way through sunset at 8:03 PM. Weather is just about perfect for a day on the water with light winds and temperatures peaking in the low 80s. Water levels keep dropping, sitting just above 11 feet now. That has pushed the fish into tighter areas, so once you find them, it’s action-packed.

Bass fishing is as hot as it gets this week. Most days, boats are pulling in 50 to 100 quality largemouth bass, with a lot in the 5 to 8 pound range and plenty of trophy fish over 8 pounds landed recently. Reports show the FWC TrophyCatch program already has over 400 “Lunker Club” entries so far this season, so it is a banner spring for big bass[2][5].

Crappie fishing is just as strong. Anglers are reporting 100-150 fish days with slab crappie up to 14 inches and pushing 2 pounds. The bite is especially good around the edges of the grass and in the open patches in the morning before the sun gets too high[2][3].

For bait, you can’t go wrong with live wild shiners if you’re after big bass. If you prefer artificials, try white or chartreuse spinnerbaits and swimbaits along the grass lines, or pitch a black and blue jig into the thicker cover. For crappie, small jigs tipped with minnows or straight live minnows are both working well, especially around Kissimmee grass and bulrush edges[5][1].

Two of my go-to hot spots right now are the South Bay area for both bass and crappie, and the Tin House Cove section on the northern rim. Both have concentrated fish thanks to dropping water and healthy grass beds. The outside grass lines are holding strong schools of bass, and the open pockets are loaded with crappie this week[4][5].

Tide isn’t a factor here on the lake itself, but wind direction can push bait and muddy up certain areas, so pay attention if it picks up.

If you are heading out, be cautious running the lake with water this low. Stick to known routes and outside grass lines to avoid rocks.

That’s the scoop from Lake Okeechobee today. Tight lines and good luck from Artificial Lure.