Lake Okeechobee was once considered the epicenter of the shellcracker fishery, but nowadays, other locations share the limelight. The day I caught the four dozen, my guide and I were staked-out in a broad, shallow expanse where spawning beds stood out like underwater road signs.

Bluegills and shellcrackers represent the royalty of the sunfish clan. But several smaller species are equally important to anglers. These include the red-breasted and spotted sunfish, as well as the ubiquitous warmouth.

The spotted sunfish or stumpknocker gets its name from its habit of feeding by knocking insects off vegetation. I can't say I've seen it happen. However, I've unhooked enough stumpknockers to know that just about anything that lands in the shallows is fair game for these gluttonous feeders.

In the Everglades, stumpknockers are the first panfish to show up along the brushy banks. I don't know when, or if the spawning period begins or ends, because it seems they're always swarming the shallows. At times, they are so abundant that it's impossible to catch anything else. There is, however, one other panfish that stumpies can't beat to the punch-the warmouth. The warmouth has a bass-like mouth, but alas, the horsepower of an undernourished crappie. Yet while Florida's warmouth may not be the quintessential gamefish, it provides anglers enough entertainment to easily forgive any shortcomings. How do you target warmouth? Look for a marshy area, and then toss anything from a bass bug to a streamer. Incidentally, I agree with Jack Allen that low-water periods are best. As a point of interest, the late Broward County fly fisher and fly tyer Bob Kay insisted that wherever you find warmouths, you won't find many bass. For the record, I agree.

Redbreasts are more of a North Florida native than the other species. My personal experience is limited to the St. Johns River, where I occasionally catch them, along with shellcrackers, while fishing for American shad. According to the biologists, redbreasts are primarily a river species, but what can I add? I know they're both feisty and beautiful and they fall for the same subsurface patterns as shellcrackers.

Bream Hotspots

Top panfish waters vary from year to year. With that in mind, FWC biologists Mark Trainor and Steve Crawford compiled a list of top panfish waters in anticipation of the 2004 season. Overall, the current prognosis is good, considering last year's high-water conditions.

Here are this year's top panfish locales (in no particular order):

St. Johns River-Look for bluegills between SR 50 and Lake Monroe. The area between Astor and Sanford is also worth investigating. Incidentally, don't forget to check out the banks for stumpknockers.

Lake Kissimmee-After the recent drawdown, Kissimmee may offer the best bluegill and shellcracker fishing in the state.

Lake Okeechobee-Once again, a strong contender for bluegills and shellcrackers. Water levels will be down by April, so look for firm, sandy bottom in two to five feet of water. Top locations should include the Rim Canal, Indian Prairie, Fisheating Bay, West Wall, Bay Bottom and Pelican Bay.

Lake Panasoffkee-Look for shellcrackers at Shell Point, Grassy Point and Tracy's Point. Also, warmouths in Little Jones Creek.

Lake Talquin-Should be a good year. Try the upper end of the reservoir for bluegills and shellcrackers.

Tenoroc-This 13 lake management area near Lakeland has the highest bluegill and shellcracker catch ratio in the state.

Lake Harris-Both "large" and "small" Lake Harris boast heavier than average bluegills and shellcrackers.

Lake Marian-Good bluegill fishing turns off and on without warning. However, this Osceola County "sleeper" should offer memorable action with shellcrackers.

Lake Istokpoga-Best-known for its bass fishing, Istokpoga supports good bluegill and shellcracker populations. Check cattail areas from April through June; otherwise, look around sandbars and edges of eelgrass.

Lake Jesup-Between April and July, a top bluegill and shellcracker hotspot.

Choctawatchee River-A shellcracker fisherman's dream. Also known for redbreast, stumpknockers and warmouth.

Suwannee River-A good bluegill and shellcracker river. Truly celebrated, however, for its stumpknockers and redbreast. Best fishing is in the lower section.

Aliens Abound

Like it or not, exotics are here to stay. Traditionalists may wince at the thought, but pound-for-pound, exotics out-fight most native panfish. Of the several species fly fishermen are likely to encounter, oscars and Mayan cichlids are the most common. Still, there's a short list of incidental panfish that includes several varieties of tilapia, the jaguar guapote and the colorful Midas cichlid.

While the Midas has gained a modicum of regional popularity as a sportfish, a number of subsistence fishermen actually target oscars and Mayans. How prevalent are these two species? During a single 3-month period, creel census figures disclosed that nearly a hundred thousand were taken from Broward County's Everglades Holiday Park alone.

Local anglers recognize that oscars and Mayans become more active in hot weather, when they'll strike surface lures with abandon. During winter, both species are partial to small nymph or streamer patterns worked around deep vegetation.

Just for the record, the Mozambique, blue and spotted tilapia are vegetarians. Nevertheless, I once caught a spotted tilapia on a popper, which serves as a reminder that even vegetarians have attitudes.

FS