- Bass Fishing at Walt Disney World
Disney. The sights, the sounds, the characters, the adventure, …..the fishing?! That’s right, fishing. Many people are surprised to learn that in addition to the theme parks and water parks at the Walt Disney World® Resort, there is also an outdoor recreation department that offers events such as guided fishing excursions. These tours are available on the lakes at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Downtown Disney® Area , and on the Seven Seas Lagoon/Bay Lake. Because of their combined size, Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon get most of the fishing attention.
Bay Lake was the only natural body of water on the Disney property when construction began in the late 1960s. Although you would never know by looking at it or fishing on it, it was drained with pumps and its bottom layer of muck was scooped out. Next to it, more than 7 million cubic yards of earth were dug up for the lagoon and used as a foundation for the Magic Kingdom Park. Sand from underneath the muck was used to line 4½ miles of beach around the newly created 172-acre Seven Seas Lagoon. Bay Lake and the lagoon were then refilled with water from the surrounding wetlands and stocked with more than 70,000 fish.
Disney’s fishing excursions are almost entirely oriented toward bass, but there are bluegills and crappies in these lakes as well.You can expect to catch a fair number of 2- to 4-pounders, although 8- to 10-pounders are occasionally caught here. A 14-pound, 6-ounce bass was once caught here, although it’s unclear how long ago that was.
Guided fishing tours are open year-round and are available to guests staying in Walt Disney World® Resorts or for those in the area for non-vacation reasons who have some free time in their day to fish. All excursions leave from the resort docks located on each of the lakes; however, tours leaving from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are only available to guests staying at that resort. It is recommended that you book your excursion well in advance, as the spots fill quickly. You can do this up to 90 days prior. Guided fishing excursions are booked year-round and the two-hour excursion includes boat, guide, fishing equipment and non-alcoholic refreshments for up to five people.
Guided Bass Fishing Excursion Times & Prices:
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – $260 USD for one to five anglers
10:00 a.m. – 12 noon – $260 USD for one to five anglers
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – $230 USD for one to five anglers
$445 USD four hour trip (7:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.)
Extended excursions are also available.
- Fishing for all species is strictly catch and release, and you do not need to obtain a Florida fishing license.
- Children 17 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
- There is no wheelchair access on the boat itself, so you must be able to walk around while on the boat.
- You don’t have to be an experienced angler and you may bring your own tackle, but it helps if you can use spinning tackle or, preferably, baitcasting gear if you fish with the provided equipment.
- Plastic worms are by far the most effective artificial bait on these lakes.
- Bass fishing is generally good at all times, but if you have the choice, go out on the first shift of the day, which begins at 7 a.m.
For more information or to book a guided excursion, call 1-800-WDW- BASS. Good luck landing the ‘Big One’.
(Special thanks to Jay at the Outdoor Rec dept for your help with this blog.)
Discover the magic of Walt Disney World® Resorts and parks on a Walt Disney World® family vacation, and share the joy of Mickey Mouse and company with your kids. Let The Mouse Experts plan the perfect Disney trip for you and your loved ones. Contact us today at 1-877-80MOUSE. We look forward to sending you on the magical vacation of a lifetime.
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