Best crappie lake close to the ocean?

[GRIZZ]

Hey CC'rs, what's the best crappie lake within close range of saltwater fishing as well?

[Jeepster04]

Arkabutla!:p

[Cane Pole]

Puzzle Lake, Florida...

[skiptomylu]

Well Toledo Bend is about 100 miles from here to Sabine Lake which is great red fish, speckled trout and flounder. Well actually the actual South end of T-Bend is probably not quite 100 miles and more like 80ish.

From that to Gulf is a bit more, but Sabine Lake does empty into the Gulf, but fishing off shore is good several places along the coast South of here. Louisiana coast is right there too and Sabine Lake East side is LA.

Skip

[foul hook]

lake kississimee and toho in central Fla. You can fish eatherand east and west coast of fla in the same day. thats a fact.

[smoothlures]

Anywhere in Florida is my vote. The saltwater fishing they have there year round is insane. They catch pompano in January!

[GRIZZ]

But how are the Florida lakes after the hurricanes?

Lets also split this up because Florida only has specks. Best white crappie lake close to the ocean and best black crappie lake, which I'm sure will be in Florida or does TX, LA, or AL have a lake that beats Florida. Lets put a mileage limit of 50 on it. Personally, if we can get them to say anything, I think LA might have some unsung crappie havens, but that's just a hunch.

Arka is a long stinkin ways from the ocean. I'm looking for lakes CLOSE to the ocean.

[crappiefarmer]

East Lake in N.C. is only 30 minutes drive to the Ocean. Only about 10 or 15 as the crow flies. I don't know about best crappie lake but it has some good fishing in it. These are black crappie.CF

[PawPaw Gene]

Hey Grizz, south Louisiana isn't known so much for it's lakes but we have a lot of tidal marsh that turns to fresh water marsh as you move inland. From a central boat launch I can be fishing either fresh or salt water with a 20 to 30 minute boat ride. In fact in some places you can catch both redfish and crappie side by side. I done that on many occasions. Here is the result of one trip.

Here is a mess of sac-au-lait, large one 15" plus a little.



Big pile of bluegill, bass and the one redfish.



These were caught on a different day.
Nice bunch of speckled trout and a flounder caught about 5 minute boat ride from the above.

[TreednNC]

Now I wouldnt mind switchin from crappie minnows and crappies to finger mullet or mud minnows and flounder, all without taking the boat out of the water!

Santee Cooper Lakes....can come from anywhere in the world via the ocean, in theory, and get all the way to the upper end of the upper lake via the same boat, and never leave the water.