[MrChip72]

I've notice several ponds where people have caught decent sized fish around the Villages. Does anyone know what kinds of fish people are catching? Also, are they mostly just using lures or live bait? I'm thinking of getting back into fishing. I have no idea where I could buy live bait even around here.

[Topspinmo]

Generally bass, crappie, perch, and the invasive catfish. Some retention ponds can go dry or get drained from maintenance/ground collapse. A good sign there fish in pond are water birds that eat fish are landing on pond and fishing. Pelicans are good sign. Lures and I see some using chuck hotdogs. If you have grass in yard look in street for worms after heavy rain/watering.

I have retention ponds close to me where when I first got here had 3 or 4 pound bass crappie and perch, it was drained 4 times for maintenance. Most all large fish are gone with smaller Fish remaining, the birds periodically flock it and reduce larger ones. So rarely seen any fish caught in it now.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by MrChip72

I've notice several ponds where people have caught decent sized fish around the Villages. Does anyone know what kinds of fish people are catching? Also, are they mostly just using lures or live bait? I'm thinking of getting back into fishing. I have no idea where I could buy live bait even around here.

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

[Davonu]

Originally Posted by mraines

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

Whoa. The catching of the fish is the whole point! I’m a catch-and-release guy. 🤓

[MrFlorida]

I've caught Bass in these ponds, usually on a lure or rubber worm.

[MrFlorida]

Originally Posted by mraines

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

It's fun just to catch them !

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by mraines

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

Why would you want to keep the fish? You would have a death wish if you ate anything coming out of these ponds with all the pesticides and lawn treatments that wash into them. That being said, I’ve pulled many largemouth bass from the ponds over the years using soft plastic lures.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by mraines

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

Sport/fun Maybe?

[Road-Runner]

Stay alert for potential alligators, someone lost a hand not that long ago. And if you see one, PLEASE don't call the police, The gator is where he is supposed to be.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by mraines

My understanding is that you cannot keep the fish that you catch so what is the point?

Some people think it's fun to trick an animal into hooking their mouth around a razor-sharp barb that rips at their lips the more they try to pull away, and then show off what they've caught by dangling it over their head, while the animal is unable to breathe and slowly starts to suffocate. And then they say "just kidding!" and toss the animal back into the water.

The people who like doing that, are the ones who will defend the barbarism. Sort of like hunting, when you aren't actually trying to get your dinner. You just want to kill stuff.

Hunting for food is another matter entirely. Hunting for the fun of it, or for "trophies" is, and will always be, barbaric.

[La lamy]

A lot of bass. Tilapia when they don't die off from freezing.

[vintageogauge]

You will need a list of the few ponds that allow fishing, most of them are surrounded by private property and trespassing is not allowed.

[crash]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Some people think it's fun to trick an animal into hooking their mouth around a razor-sharp barb that rips at their lips the more they try to pull away, and then show off what they've caught by dangling it over their head, while the animal is unable to breathe and slowly starts to suffocate. And then they say "just kidding!" and toss the animal back into the water.

The people who like doing that, are the ones who will defend the barbarism. Sort of like hunting, when you aren't actually trying to get your dinner. You just want to kill stuff.

Hunting for food is another matter entirely. Hunting for the fun of it, or for "trophies" is, and will always be, barbaric.

Most of us who catch and release use barbless hooks it does not kill the fish. If we didn’t release them how many fish would be left in the ponds few to none.

[Babbs1957]

Originally Posted by orangeblossombaby

some people think it's fun to trick an animal into hooking their mouth around a razor-sharp barb that rips at their lips the more they try to pull away, and then show off what they've caught by dangling it over their head, while the animal is unable to breathe and slowly starts to suffocate. And then they say "just kidding!" and toss the animal back into the water.

The people who like doing that, are the ones who will defend the barbarism. Sort of like hunting, when you aren't actually trying to get your dinner. You just want to kill stuff.

Hunting for food is another matter entirely. Hunting for the fun of it, or for "trophies" is, and will always be, barbaric.

flm! Flm! Flm! Flm!

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by road-runner

stay alert for potential alligators, someone lost a hand not that long ago. And if you see one, please don't call the police, the gator is where he is supposed to be.

exactly, who's fishing for who?