Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated
Merritt's Mill Pond is a 202-acre spring-fed pond with crystal clear water at Marianna, Florida. It holds the state record redear sunfish at 4.86 pounds. The redear limit is 10 a day, each 10 inches or longer.
Merritt's Mill Pond today
Measured readings, not a bite prediction. Where each number comes from · All Alabama lakes today
- Acreage
- 202 acres
- Max Depth
- N/A (not published by the state)
- Length
- N/A (not published by the state)
- Shoreline
- N/A (not published by the state)
- Impounded
- A spring-fed impoundment near the city limits of Marianna, Florida
- River System
- Public water; ramp and spring park run by Jackson County
- Access
- Public — one county ramp, a seasonal county hand launch at Blue Springs, and a private fee ramp near the dam
The Water
Merritt's Mill Pond map: hotspots, ramps and more
Numbers = fishing hotspots · R = boat ramp · C = campground · P = fishing pier · B = bait shop · M = marina. Tap a pin.
Merritt's Mill Pond is a 202-acre spring-fed impoundment near the city limits of Marianna, in Jackson County, Florida, and its water is crystal clear. Florida's wildlife agency says the pond was historically known for trophy redear sunfish, the shellcracker. It holds the state record for the species at 4.86 pounds and until recently held the world record. It still produces quality redear, the agency says, and quality largemouth bass as well. Clear water makes the fish wary: the agency's advice is to cast far from the boat, and to pick cloudy or rainy days or times when there is a ripple on the surface. A special rule protects the redear here, with a daily limit of 10 and every fish under 10 inches released. Two ramps and one seasonal hand launch are mapped on this page with GPS. Nobody publishes a regular dated report we can cite, so the spots here are access points, not promises.
“Merritt's Mill Pond holds fish in patterns you can set your watch to. The bite isn't a secret — it's what most fishermen don't know about where the grass thins onto a hard ledge.”
Alabama Fishing Atlas Editorial
Today's Conditions
Major and minor solunar windows shift daily with the moon’s transit. Fish the windows above, or check the Seasonal Playbook below for Merritt's Mill Pond’s current pattern.
Seasonal Playbook
Florida's wildlife agency gives no spring pattern of its own for Merritt's Mill Pond, and no dated spring report is published that we can cite, so this section keeps to its standing advice. The pond is spring-fed and crystal clear, and that shapes everything. Cast far from your boat. Fish on cloudy or rainy days, or when there is a ripple on the water, for the best results. For bluegill, redear sunfish and spotted sunfish, the stumpknocker, use crickets or worms around the eelgrass beds and approach quietly. The redear rule is special to this pond: no more than 10 a day, and every redear under 10 inches in total length goes back at once. The pond holds the state record redear at 4.86 pounds, so a measuring board is worth carrying. The public ramp is at Hunter Fish Camp Landing, reached from State Road 164 north of Marianna. Bass follow the statewide rule of five a day.
No dated summer report is published for Merritt's Mill Pond that we can cite. Summer is when the upper end is busiest: Jackson Blue Springs Recreation Area, run by Jackson County at the head of the pond, is open in the summer months only, with canoe rentals and swimming, and the state boat ramp inventory lists a seasonal hand launch there. For fishing, the agency's clear-water rules apply all year. The best time for Florida bass is early morning and late evening. Try a variety of baits on light line, because the agency says bass here can be tough to catch in water this clear. Cast far from the boat, and favor cloudy or rainy days or a ripple on the surface. Bream take crickets or worms around the eelgrass beds. Tilapia live in the pond too, and the agency encourages anglers to keep every one they catch. The redear limit is 10 a day, each 10 inches or longer.
Fall is the season the state agency speaks to directly. It says bluegill, redear sunfish and spotted sunfish, the stumpknocker, should be good throughout the fall on Merritt's Mill Pond. Fish crickets or worms around the eelgrass beds, and take a stealthy approach in the clear water. For Florida bass the best times are early morning and late evening. The agency suggests trying a variety of baits with light line, since bass in this pond can be tough to catch because of the water clarity. Keep the redear rule in mind: the daily limit is 10, and all redear under 10 inches must be released. Tilapia are present as well, and anglers are encouraged to harvest every tilapia they catch. Hunter Fish Camp Landing is the public ramp, and Florida Caverns RV Resort near the dam has a fee ramp, canoe rentals and shoreline access. This is the agency's standing forecast, not a dated catch report.
Florida's wildlife agency gives no winter pattern for Merritt's Mill Pond, and no dated winter report is published that we can cite, so this section sticks to what the agency and the map support. The pond is spring-fed and crystal clear, and the clear-water advice does not change with the season: cast far from the boat, use light line, and fish early or late, or on cloudy or rainy days when the surface is broken by a ripple. Black crappie are on the agency's species list for the pond, though it gives no pattern for them. The Jackson Blue Springs launch at the head of the pond is seasonal and open in summer only, so winter access is from Hunter Fish Camp Landing, the Jackson County ramp, or the fee ramp at Florida Caverns RV Resort near the dam. The redear limit is 10 a day and each fish must be 10 inches or longer. Bass follow the statewide rule.
Species on this water
Bluegill
Redear sunfish (shellcracker) are the pond's name fish: state record 4.86 pounds. Limit 10 a day, each 10 inches or longer. Crickets or worms around the eelgrass beds.
- Creel limit
- No statewide limit
- Best season
- Spring/Summer
Largemouth Bass
Quality bass, but tough in clear water. Early morning and late evening, a variety of baits on light line, per Florida's wildlife agency.
- Creel limit
- 5/day (combined)
- Best season
- Spring
- State record
- 16 lbs 8 oz
Crappie
Black crappie are on the agency's species list for the pond. It gives no pattern for them.
- Creel limit
- 30/day, 9-inch min
- Best season
- Spring/Winter
Fishing Guides
Stay & Eat
On the Water
Boat ramps
Hunter Fish Camp Landing Public Boat Ramp
Marianna, FL
- Parking
- spots
- Fee
Jackson County ramp, one launch lane, no launch fee listed in the state inventory.
DirectionsFlorida Caverns RV Resort at Merritt's Mill Pond
Marianna, FL
- Parking
- spots
- Fee
- Launch fee (private)
Private campground near the dam with a ramp, canoe rentals and shoreline access. 850-482-5583.
DirectionsBlue Springs Recreational Area (seasonal)
Marianna, FL
- Parking
- spots
- Fee
Jackson County hand launch at the head of the pond. Open summer months only. 850-482-2114.
Directions➤ Map of all 3 boat ramps on Merritt's Mill Pond
Bait shops near the lake
Regulations
Regulations on Merritt's Mill Pond
- Bass (combined)
- 5 black bass per day under Florida's statewide rule. · No statewide minimum length for largemouth bass; only 1 of the 5 may be 16 inches or longer.
- Crappie
- No minimum or special daily number for crappie is given on the state's Merritt's Mill Pond page; Florida's statewide freshwater bag limit applies. · No minimum length for crappie is given on the state's Merritt's Mill Pond page.
- Striped/White Bass
Redear sunfish (shellcracker): daily bag limit 10, and every redear under 10 inches in total length must be released immediately. Bass follow the statewide rule: 5 a day, only 1 of them 16 inches or longer.
A Florida freshwater fishing license. The whole water is in Florida, in Jackson County.. Always verify current rules before your trip.
Full Alabama fishing regulations ›Nearby Waters
Merritt's Mill Pond questions
Fishing regulations, water conditions, and seasonal patterns change. Alabama Fishing Atlas provides informational content only. Verify all regulations with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before fishing, keeping any fish, or launching watercraft. We are not liable for decisions made based on information published here. Full disclaimer →
Data sources
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Merritt's Mill Pond — https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecasts/nw/merritts-mill-pond/ (size, record redear, special redear rule, clear-water advice, contacts; checked 2026-11-12)
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Boat Ramp Inventory — https://gis.myfwc.com (ramp names, positions, lanes, fees, managers; retrieved 2026-11-12)
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Northwest Region Fishing Forecasts — https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecasts/nw/ (list of state-managed fishing sites in the region; checked 2026-11-12)
Data last reviewed: 2026-11-12