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Lake Jesup, Florida, USA

At 16,000 acres, Lake Jesup is one of central Florida’s largest lakes and, indeed, one of the largest lakes in the state. Though not a swimming lake, due to its large alligator population, Lake Jesup is still a recreational playground for many area residents. In the 1960’s, Lake Jesup was a thriving body of water, attracting thousands of boaters and anglers to the area every year. Unfortunately,…
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    • All About Lake Jesup, FL

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Florida - East Central Florida -

    At 16,000 acres, Lake Jesup is one of central Florida’s largest lakes and, indeed, one of the largest lakes in the state. Though not a swimming lake, due to its large alligator population, Lake Jesup is still a recreational playground for many area residents.

    In the 1960’s, Lake Jesup was a thriving body of water, attracting thousands of boaters and anglers to the area every year. Unfortunately, with the surrounding area under extreme development, the lake quality degraded to a poor state by the early 1980’s. However, the area’s residents banded together in the past two decades in an effort to restore Lake Jesup to its original splendor.

    The lake is not without its attractions, though. On the north shore lies Lake Lake Jesup Wilderness Area, a 490-acre park dedicated to helping preserve the natural habitats of this central Florida ecosystem. An incredibly diverse array of animals make their home here, and visitors will share quiet moments with nature during their visit. A
    3-mile hiking trail, also accessible to mountain bikers and horseback riders, winds its way through tree hammocks and wet prairies of the Lake Jesup Wilderness Area, giving you an up-close look at animals you may never have seen before.

    Magnificent American Alligators sun themselves on rocks, in shallow waters, and along the shores of Lake Jesup. Though they appear to be completely asleep, watch in part-fascination, part-fear as their one open eye follows your every move. Look skywards to discover bald eagles, hawks, and other swooping birds of prey as they circle, fly, and call out orders to each other. Wintering birds also come here, fleeing from the northern cold, and adding spots of color to the wintry Florida landscape.

    Though this Seminole County lake is not at its optimal cleanliness level, efforts to clean it up have not gone unrewarded: Lake Jesup is one of the best lakes in the state for bluegill and shellcracker, especially between April and July. In 2002, it was declared that the lake had some of the biggest, heaviest sunfish in the state, a fact which did not escape eager angling ears. In fact, during late spring and early summer months, you’ll see plenty of fishing boats near the shores, concentrating on the cattails and sandy areas, where the schools are known to lurk.

    Come down to Lake Jesup and enjoy an ecological adventure. Learn about the aquatic habitats and the efforts to restore them, take a restorative hike, and fish for your dinner. Like almost every visitor, you’ll find that communing with nature is a very relaxing endeavor.

    Things to Do at Lake Jesup

    These are some activities in the Lake Jesup, FL area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Jesup?

    Lake Jesup has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bluegill
    • Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)
    • Sunfish
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Jesup

    If you’re considering a Lake Jesup lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Jesup Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Jesup lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Jesup Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Water Level Control: St. Johns River Water Management District

    Shoreline Length: 31 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 3 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 7 feet

    Average Depth: 6 feet

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Lake Jesup Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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