Anglers for Lake Okeechobee

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Anglers for Lake Okeechobee

We are a community fishing group dedicated to protecting Lake Okeechobee, the liquid heart of Florida.

08/23/2026

The Droughts That Changed Lake Okeechobee
Over the last 50 years, Lake Okeechobee has gone through several major droughts and low-water periods.

1980–82: Lake dropped to 9.79 ft
2000–01: Lake dropped to 8.97 ft
2006–08: Lake reached a historic low during the 2007 drought.

These droughts weren’t easy on the communities around the lake, but they also showed us just how resilient Lake Okeechobee can be.

After the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 and years of high water, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) had dropped to around 3,000 acres. After the 2007–08 drought, it rebounded to more than 46,000 acres by 2009.

That’s a huge recovery.

Lower water allowed sunlight to reach the bottom, exposed areas to dry out and vegetation like eelgrass, peppergrass and bulrush to come back.

And something else happened after these low-water events: the fishing got really good. As the vegetation recovered and new habitat spread around the lake, good fishing wasn’t limited to just a few areas. Productive habitat and great fishing could be found all around Lake Okeechobee.

We’re seeing another opportunity for the lake today, and everyone has a part in it. Farmers, cities, water managers, businesses and the public are all making adjustments and sacrifices to give the lake a chance to rebound.

We’ve seen what Lake Okeechobee can do when it’s given a chance to recover. Hopefully, we’re watching the beginning of another comeback.

08/07/2026

The best levels are 12-15.5ft for a healthy lake..Lake Okeechobee Was Never Meant to Stay Full or to low for too long.

For years, we’ve heard that low water is bad for Lake Okeechobee. But if you look back through history, you’ll find that the lake naturally went through periods of high water and low water. Those seasonal changes weren’t harmful. They were essential.

When water levels dropped, exposed lake bottom dried naturally, organic muck broke down, and native vegetation like eelgrass, bulrush, and peppergrass flourished. Those healthy plant communities created incredible habitat for bass, waterfowl, and countless other species. If we keep the lake too low the plants and trees that thrive on dry land will overwhelm the estuaries around the lake. We have lost some of the most famous ones over the years.

The lake wasn’t built to stay at one level year-round. It evolved through cycles of wet and dry seasons that helped keep the ecosystem in balance.

Understanding the history of Lake Okeechobee is the first step toward understanding how we can protect its future.

Next week, we’ll take a look at the three biggest droughts of the last 50 years and what they taught us.

Scott Martin

08/04/2026

I had the opportunity to share what I believe is a common sense approach to solving the water issues we’re all facing here in South Florida. It was an honor to speak with the DEP, state officials, and members of the public about real solutions that can make a lasting difference.

I truly believe we’re building momentum and getting support from the right people to create meaningful change. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand behind this effort. Your support means a lot.

Thank you Starbrite and Greggor for passionately supporting all of us on the main water issues that we’re dealing with here in Florida you guys rock! Star brite Inc

07/20/2026

I just wanted to share something that’s got me pretty excited about the future of Lake Okeechobee.

Right now the lake is sitting at around 11 feet above sea level. I know a lot of people see low water and think it’s a bad thing, but the truth is this creates an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often. With the water this low, the South Florida Water Management District and lead by Alyssa Jordan 🙌 at the FWC has been able to get into areas they normally can’t reach and do some really important restoration work.

They’ve been scraping parts of the littoral zone to give native plants a fresh start. They’ve also been planting reeds and other native vegetation along the west side of the lake to create better habitat for fish and build natural wind breaks that help keep the water clear. That’s the kind of work that makes a real difference over the long haul.

I’ve been saying for years that if we want clean water throughout South Florida, we have to start by investing in the lake itself. Lake Okeechobee is the heart of the system. When the lake is healthy, everything downstream benefits.

We’ve still got a lot of work to do though. We’ve got to stop the chemical assault on our lake.

We’ve got to invest more in mechanical harvesting instead of relying so heavily on herbicides.

We’ve got to create a dedicated fund that’s focused on projects inside Lake Okeechobee because that’s where we get the biggest return for the future.

We’ve got to manage water levels in a way that lets our submerged grasses come back. I’d love to see us get back to at least 50,000 acres of healthy underwater vegetation. That’s our natural filter and one of the biggest keys to restoring this lake.

And we’ve got to keep working north of the lake to slow the flow and reduce the nutrient load coming down the Kissimmee River before it ever reaches Okeechobee.

I really believe we’re headed in the right direction. Credit where credit is due. The South Florida Water Management District has been putting in the work and I appreciate seeing these kinds of projects happening.

Now we need everyone to lock arms. Anglers, farmers, businesses, conservation groups, local communities, anybody whose life is touched by this lake. We all ha

07/01/2026

One of the biggest mysteries in Lake Okeechobee isn’t what’s swimming in it...it’s what’s underneath it.

Thousands of acres of limestone lie hidden beneath the lake, and most people have no idea it’s there. That hard bottom is one of the foundations of a healthy Lake Okeechobee.

As tough as these low water levels are, they do provide one important benefit. Exposing the lake bottom allows years of built-up organic muck to dry, decompose naturally, and help recharge the lake.

It’s also why we need to rethink widespread aquatic plant spraying. Dead vegetation doesn’t just disappear. It settles to the bottom, adding more organic material that can bury valuable hard bottom and contribute to long-term lake issues.

Another key is slowing the flow of water coming from the north. More water storage, stormwater treatment areas, and ASR wells can help manage water before it reaches the lake, giving us a healthier and more natural water cycle.

We don’t need the lake this low very often, but an occasional natural reset can be a good thing. I’m hopeful the State of Florida and Governor DeSantis will continue investing in restoration projects north of and within Lake Okeechobee. Together, we can bring back the glory of one of America’s greatest lakes.

Yamaha Rightwaters BAJÍO Sunglasses Scott Martin

06/28/2026

We got 50 Million!! This is SO Important for the future of the Lake Okeechobee. We have to keep focusing on these types of projects. What projects do you think would be good to focus on next?

06/08/2026

Do you agree? Lake Okeechobee is currently sitting around 11 feet, and that’s exactly where we need it heading into the rainy season. We’ve made a lot of progress over the last couple of years, and now the challenge is protecting it.

We’re expecting plenty of rain this summer, and hopefully we can avoid any major hurricanes. The key is making sure the lake rises slowly, not all at once. A slow rise allows the habitat to adjust and continue recovering. A rapid rise can wipe out a lot of the gains we’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Let’s stay patient, manage the water wisely, and keep this lake moving in the right direction.

Big News about some very important projects inside Lake Okeechobee going on right now..more to come!

05/12/2026

Okeechobee is showing some REAL signs of recovery..but beware!
A huge thank you to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District, FWC, Sugar Farmers, ranchers, local communities, and all of the stakeholders who have made difficult decisions, unwavering support and sacrifices over the last 24 months to help give the lake a chance to heal.

Because of those efforts, we are seeing SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) rebound, hard bottom areas returning, and healthier habitat developing around the littoral zones of the lake.

But now comes the challenge.

With a potential SUPER El Niño rainy season ahead, we must be extremely careful not to lose all of the progress we’ve made..because we still a very long way to go to gain back what we really need. I estimate we have about 5,000 acres of SAV back which is far from the 50,000 we used to have and need back.

If the lake rises too fast, too high, and stays above its natural ecological range too long, we risk destroying the SAV and habitat that the lake desperately needs to function as a healthy filter for the Everglades system.

We must:
• Slow the flow into the lake
• Protect the SAV and littoral habitat
• Manage lake levels with ecology as the #1 priority
• Make difficult discharge decisions when needed to protect the habitat
• Complete the ASR Wells for water storage
• Focus on north of the lake solutions

And we also have to rethink invasive plant management.

We cannot continue relying so heavily on chemical spraying while trying to restore the lake’s natural ecosystem. It’s time to invest more into mechanical harvesting and smarter long-term solutions that remove invasive plants while protecting native habitat.

We’ve all sacrificed to help this lake recover.

Now we have to protect the gains.

Conservation Everglades BassFishing

04/21/2026

Everyone asks… “What can we actually do?”

Here’s the truth—this lake can be fixed.

But it takes ALL of us pushing in the same direction.

We need to:
• Stop the Spraying
• Speak up for better water management
• Support vegetation growth - not destroy it
• Push for funding dedicated to the lake
• Educate others on what’s really happening

Lake Okeechobee is one of the most important fisheries in the country.

And right now… it’s at a turning point.

We either build it back stronger than ever…

Or we watch it fade.

We’re not letting that happen!

04/14/2026

Why WATER Levels Matter! Water level might be the MOST important factor on Lake Okeechobee.

Too high?
Light can’t reach the bottom. Vegetation dies. Water gets dirty.

Too low?
Grass dries out. Habitat disappears.

There’s a balance - and when we hit it, the lake THRIVES.

Right now, we’re seeing what happens when things line up:
• Better water clarity
• Grass starting to return
• Strong fishing

This isn’t luck. This is management.

We need to keep the lake in that sweet zone so it can rebuild naturally.

Pay attention. This matters more than you think.

Address

920 E. Del Monte Avenue
Clewiston, FL
33440

Website

http://www.anglersforlakeo.org/

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