Lake Ida

Boat Ramps: 6
Access Points: 6
Species: 12

Lake Ida is an urban freshwater fishing destination located in Palm Beach County, Florida, specifically in Delray Beach. This 189-acre lake is part of the diverse E-4 Canal System that flows through eastern Palm Beach County, connecting the West Palm Beach Canal near Palm Beach International Airport with the Hillsboro Canal in Boca Raton. Despite its modest size, Lake Ida offers nearly 17 miles of fishable waters through its interconnected canal system, providing access to 670 acres of lakes and 23 additional miles of boatable canals. The lake averages 9.5 feet in depth with water clarity reaching up to 3 feet on good days, featuring a sandy bottom and concrete revetment-stabilized canal sides that range from 50 to 180 feet in width. Maintained by South Florida Water Management, this year-round fishery represents one of the most diverse urban fishing opportunities in the state, offering both seasoned anglers and families an accessible gateway to Florida's freshwater fishing scene.

Florida licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Lake Ida and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Blue Tilapia

Oreochromis aureus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Brown Bullhead

Ameiurus nebulosus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Nile Tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus

Peacock Bass

Cichla ocellaris

Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Spotted Sunfish

Lepomis punctatus

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Warmouth Sunfish

Lepomis gulosus

Fish stocking schedule

Latest 5 stockings

Sunshine Bass8,500 fish2024–25
Hybrid Striped Bass9,315 fish · Fingerlings2023–24
Sunshine Bass8,500 fish · Fingerlings2022–23
Sunshine Bass8,604 fish · Fingerlings2021–22
Sunshine Bass8,500 fish2020–21

Source

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

Open stocking page

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Lake Ida. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Lake Ida

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Florida licenses and regulations

Florida Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Florida Fishing License

Youth under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license, although they must abide by all other fishing regulations such as gear type, bag and size limits. They may, however, be asked to provide proof of age.

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Florida Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Florida Stream Access Laws

Florida access law holds pretty close to the federal definition of navigability, but some state cases suggest that it’s a bit more lenient, and recognizes recreation as a determinant of what’s navigable. The public may use navigable waters up to the high water mark so long as they access through public lands. There are, however, some exceptions where submerged land was either granted into private control before statehood, or sold by the state into private hands.

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Take Lake Ida with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Lake Ida to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Lake Ida to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.