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6 km of the Tolomato River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 38 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Tolomato River runs 4,461 acres with 11.5 miles of edge. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 49% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 4.6 mi with a 2.2-mi widest point. For a second option, Matanzas Inlet lies 16 mi south.
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Winter largemouth bass concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.2), a prime-rated creek channel around 30 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (30 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 30 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (18 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (18 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (30 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Slackwater eddy (mile 3.6), an eddy pocket in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (18 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Slackwater eddy (mile 3.6) (22 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 25 ft, wintering in 11 to 38 ft. Fall channel catfish concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.2), a prime-rated creek channel around 30 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
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 | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 3.6) (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (30 ft) | |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (30 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: longnose gar in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 1 to 12 ft, wintering in 10 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Slackwater eddy (mile 3.6), an eddy pocket in the 22 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for midday and the evening. Summer baits: a rope lure or a small white spinner gets it done.
| 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 | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Slackwater eddy (mile 3.6) (22 ft) |
The chart marks 3 structure features on Tolomato River; the deepest is Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) at about 30 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 Tolomato River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
Tolomato River is about 38 ft (12 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 Tolomato 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.
Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Tolomato 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.
Matanzas Inlet 16 mi · Doctors Lake 29 mi · Fort George Inlet 34 mi · Crescent Lake 35 mi · Lake Stella 37 mi · Lake Howell 37 mi · Lake Margaret 38 mi · Lake Estella 39 mi · Sheeler Lake 40 mi · Nassau Sound 41 mi · Lowry Lake 42 mi · Lower Lake Louise 43 mi
See how Tolomato 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.