Plenty of Places to Fish!
Kinard’s Fishing Camp, south of Palatka, on the St. Johns River, 1960
Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
Fish Camps
“Fishing camps are everywhere,” wrote Gordon Lewis in his 1957, The Book of Florida Fishing. In the early and mid-twentieth century, fish camps attracted anglers from around the country. Fish camps on Lake George, Lake Apopka, Lake Okeechobee, and the Kissimmee River in central Florida, and the Apalachicola River in north Florida provided some of the more popular freshwater fishing sites. Many camps included their own bait and tackle shops where customers could rent or purchase needed gear. Anglers can still find plenty of fish camps in all regions of the state.
Bridge Fish Camp, Everglades City, ca. 1980–96
Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
Estes Fishing Camp, Islamorada, 1992
Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
Tackle shop display
Fish camps usually had tackle shops to supply their guests.
The Lure of Florida Fishing exhibit, 2014.
Piers, Bridges, and More!
Fishing from bridges and piers is a popular recreation in Florida. Though fishing piers existed before World War II, after the war more were built along the coasts of Florida. Piers and bridges opened up the sport to those who could not afford a boat or preferred to remain on shore. Freshwater fishers can partake of pier and bridge fishing along the St. Johns River, at Lake Okeechobee, and at numerous smaller lakes and rivers throughout Florida.
Municipal Pier, St. Petersburg, ca. 1940–55
In St. Petersburg, the history of piers dates to 1889 when the first of many piers on the downtown waterfront was built.
Postcard in the collection of the Museum of Florida History
Daytona Beach pier, 1991
Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
Fishing from the jetties on the St. Johns River, ca. 1930–40
Postcard in the collection of the Museum of Florida History
Fishing on the St. Johns River, 1982
Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
