Lakes are a very important habitats for fish. Florida has 7500+ lakes, which span an area of more than 2.5 million acres. Plantlife is often quite extensive in lakes, and this oxygenates the water for animals living in it, and provides hiding spaces for fish. At least 200 different species of freshwater fish make their home in Florida lakes.

Fish are integral parts of lake ecosystems; a healthy lake will have a diverse and stable community of fish living in it. However, due to their relatively small surface area and shallow depth, lakes are prone to pollution and it also takes them much longer to recover. Fish are often the first to be wiped out after pollution hits a lake, as they have no where else to go.

'Alien' fish species are also a problem in Florida's lakes. Currently more than 50 non-native fish have invaded Florida's lakes including tilapia, oscars, cichlids, piranha and Asian swamp eels. Once invasive fish become established, they compete with native species and disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem, by out-competing native fish for food and living space. Non-native fish are very difficult to remove once they become established.

Here are some links to more detailed information on specific fish that live in lakes, many of these are also freshwater spring residents:

Bass

Gar

Sunfish