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8 km of the Pithlachascotee River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 13 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Pithlachascotee River runs 1,494 acres with 7.8 miles of edge. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Figure 3.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.2 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Anclote Anchorage, 6 mi to the southwest.
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 13 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 13 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for fall largemouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 13 ft before dropping to 4 to 13 ft for winter. Fall crappie concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9), a prime-rated creek channel around 8 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 13 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 13 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tiny spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 13 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 13 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: longnose gar in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 1 to 12 ft before dropping to 4 to 13 ft for winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for longnose gar in fall. Plan around midday and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a rope lure or a small white spinner gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | open water | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) (8 ft) |
The chart marks 2 structure features on Pithlachascotee River; the deepest is Riffle & run (mile 0.2) at about 8 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 — and special regulations can apply to Pithlachascotee River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
Pithlachascotee River is about 13 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, longnose gar on Pithlachascotee River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Outside-bend hole (mile 1.9) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Pithlachascotee River is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Check the official Florida regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Anclote Anchorage 6 mi · North St. Joseph Sound 10 mi · Lake Tarpon 12 mi · South St. Joseph Sound 14 mi · North Clearwater Harbor 19 mi · Old Tampa Bay 25 mi · South Clearwater Harbor 25 mi · Lake Thonotosassa 32 mi · Hillsborough Bay 34 mi · Boca Ciega Bay 37 mi · Middle Tampa Bay 39 mi · Pass A Grille Channel 41 mi
See how Pithlachascotee River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Florida · best crappie lakes in Florida · best bluegill lakes in Florida · best channel catfish lakes in Florida
Browse all Florida fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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.