Lake Okeechobee Guided Fishing Trips and Rates

Artificial trips are always available. Your guide will provide the baits and tackle. Parties are welcome to bring their own rods and reels, but it is not required.

Species we target on a regular basis include; largemouth bass, peacock bass, black crappie (speck), bluegill, red ear (shell cracker), sunshine bass, catfish, mudfish (bowfin), chain pickerel, and gar.

A $100 deposit is required per boat, per day. Guides are NOT considered reserved until the deposit is collected. Deposits can be paid online or by phone. We recommend clients use our online booking interface to book and pay their deposit.

• On the date of your trip, you will meet your guide at Fast Break Bait and Tackle, located at: 1505 State Road 78 West, Okeechobee, FL.
• Morning trips will meet approximately 30 minutes prior to sunrise. Afternoon trips typically meet 4-6 hours prior to sunset.
• Parties that do not already have a Florida fishing license, may purchase one at this time.
• Your guide will meet with you at Fast Break and will recommend how much bait to purchase. Your guide makes this recommendation based on current feeding trends. For two anglers using wild shiners, you can estimate approximately one dozen shiners per hour. You may round up for additional anglers or round down for just one. This is simply an estimation. Ultimately, your guide will have the most accurate recommendation based on conditions and patterns. 

• Once the amount of bait is decided on, clients will pay for the remaining balance of their trip, bait, license(s) and any other items.
• You can purchase everything from artificial baits to snacks and drinks at this location. Performance hats, sunglasses, and apparel can also be purchased at Fast Break.
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled meeting time as this helps keep everyone on time.
• Parties may ride with their guide or follow them in their own vehicle to the boat ramp. Your trip time begins once you are on the water.
• Tipping is not mandatory. A tip is defined as a gift of money, over and above payment due for services. Customers should tip when they feel the guide has worked hard for them. Remember tipping is based on service not just catching fish. So if your guide has worked hard for you let them know you appreciate it by giving them a tip. Industry standard runs 15% – 20% for tipping.
• Crappie and Pan-Fishing parties that require fish cleaning services should bring something to transport the meat in. Fast Break has Styrofoam coolers available for purchase. Most guides charge a cleaning fee of $1 per fish, which is not included in the cost of the trip.
• Every guide will make every effort to make this a memorable trip. Keep an open mind and let the guide teach you about Lake Okeechobee or just sit back and relax while listening to nature at its best. Just remember your next cast could be that monster largemouth you’ve been dreaming about.
• Lake Okeechobee: “The “Big O” is so big it’s sometimes called Florida’s “inland sea.” But most of the bass fishing takes place from the edge of the vegetation lines shoreward. The biggest fish are caught flipping heavy cover from January through early April. Later in the spring, it’s not uncommon for anglers to release more than 50 fish per day, as the schoolies gang up. Accommodations range from hotels and lodges to RV Parks to condos. Clewiston and Okeechobee offer the most amenities.” (Visit Florida)

Florida fishing licenses are required for fishing on Lake Okeechobee, these can be purchased at Fast Break, where the parties meet their guides, or at www.myfwc.com. Customers who wish to purchase license on site will need to have a driver’s license and social security number for US residents. Non US residents will need passport to purchase a fishing license.

Every guide provides a cooler with ice for parties to store cold beverages and food items. Parties may bring their own snacks and drinks, or they can be purchased at Fast Break, where you will be meeting your guide. Fast Break has a full array of convenient store items, available for purchase.

Sunscreen is a must; the Florida rays are very powerful. Although the weather tends to be warm, the mornings can be a little cool. So a light jacket for the morning ride is recommended. Additionally, we recommend clients have a hat, sunglasses and a rain jacket. All of these items can be purchased at Fast Break, as well.

A 48 + hours cancellation policy applies to all bookings. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice will forfeit their deposit. Any party that no shows with no contact, will be charged the full amount of the trip price.

A cancellation request may be submitted by clicking here or by calling 863-763-0973.

Weather cancellations are often made by the guide. Cancellations due to weather will be rescheduled, if possible. If parties are unable to reschedule, a full refund of the deposit will be issued.  We strongly recommend that parties allow their guides to make weather decisions. Florida’s weather is unpredictable, and often times these decisions are made within 24 hours of your scheduled trip.