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8,208-acre Lakes Passage fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.55% measured, 99.94% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, official exact-area and Monroe County fish occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 28 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 8,231 acres, worked by 28 miles of shoreline, broken up by 3 islands. A development index of 2.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 11.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 2 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Newfound Harbor Channel is 34 mi to the east.
Come spring, look for bonefish tight to the bank in 1 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 1 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 2 to 15 ft. Start at 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge. It's a seagrass edge holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and midday. A light shrimp jig or a sparse shrimp fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & midday | 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge (8 ft) | Small shrimp jig, Shrimp fly |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & midday | 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge (8 ft) | Light shrimp jig, Sparse shrimp fly |
| Fall | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & midday | 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge (8 ft) | Shrimp-pattern jig, Shrimp fly |
| Winter | 2 to 15 ft | midday | 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge (8 ft) | Slow shrimp jig, Small weighted shrimp fly |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic tarpon sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 28 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 28 ft. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic tarpon in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a heavy paddletail or a swimbait in pass current until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | 4-6 inch paddletail, Suspending baitfish plug |
| Summer | 3 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Swimbait in pass current |
| Fall | 3 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Mullet-profile swimbait, Surface plug |
| Winter | 4 to 28 ft | dusk | Surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Suspending plug |
Start shallow in spring: permit sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 2 to 28 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 28 ft. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted wreck, a wreck in the 6 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crab fly or a crab imitation until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn | 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge (8 ft) | Small crab fly, Shrimp-pattern jig |
| Summer | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted wreck (6 ft) | Crab fly, Crab imitation |
| Fall | 3 to 28 ft | dawn | NOAA charted wreck (6 ft) | Crab imitation, Shrimp-pattern jig |
| Winter | 7 to 28 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (8 ft) | Crab imitation worked deep |
In spring, great barracuda run shallow here, mostly 1 to 28 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 28 ft, and they winter in 2 to 28 ft. Winter great barracuda concentrate at NOAA charted hard seabed, a prime-rated hard bottom around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a fast swimbait or a spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 28 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted hard seabed (9 ft) | Fast tube lure, Long minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted hard seabed (9 ft) | Fast swimbait, Spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted hard seabed (9 ft) | Mullet-profile plug, Tube lure |
| Winter | 2 to 28 ft | midday & dusk | NOAA charted hard seabed (9 ft) | Long minnow plug, Fast jig |
Count 79 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge, sits near 15 ft.
Access data: Florida FWC — Boat Ramp Inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Florida waters are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (saltwater) — and special regulations can apply to Lakes Passage specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
Lakes Passage is about 28 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target bonefish, atlantic tarpon, permit, great barracuda on Lakes Passage.
2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge is the top-rated area: a seagrass edge in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for bonefish in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For bonefish, the summer bite is best in early morning and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lakes Passage is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (saltwater). Check the official Florida regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Newfound Harbor Channel 34 mi · East Central Florida Bay 95 mi · Gordon Pass 107 mi · Card Sound 115 mi · South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay 121 mi · South-Central Inshore Biscayne Bay 122 mi · South-Central Outer Biscayne Bay 126 mi · Estero Bay 128 mi · North-Central Inshore Biscayne Bay 130 mi · Lake Trafford 132 mi · San Carlos Bay 134 mi · North-Central Outer Biscayne Bay 135 mi
See how Lakes Passage stacks up: best permit lakes in Florida
Browse all Florida fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.