About this campground
The Welaka National Fish Hatchery was built in 1928 and originally operated by the State of Florida. Welaka raises species of fish that can tolerate water temperatures up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Species on station include Gulf and Atlantic Striped Bass, Atlantic Sturgeon, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Golden Shiners, and even Eastern Indigo Snakes. We coordinate our program activities with partners that include Federal agencies, state conservation agencies, universities, and tribal nations. The species raised here are vital to the fishery resources and upland ecosystems of the Southeastern United States. New programs are added as recovery/restoration needs arise. Please visit our aquarium at the Welaka Unit. Fish raised at the hatchery as well as other native species of fish, amphibians and reptiles are on display. Information and brochures pertaining to the hatchery and it's operation are also available at this location. Aquarium Hours: 7am to 4pm daily.
Getting there
Ponds are operated at two locations. Those ponds at headquarters, near the aquarium, are called the Welaka Unit, and a second group of ponds about three miles south of headquarters is called the Beecher Unit. The Beecher Unit is named for the spring that serves as the water supply. Water for the Welaka Unit comes from a well 423 feet deep and from the St. Johns River
Activities
- FISH HATCHERY
- PICNICKING
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
- FISH VIEWING SITE
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Explore more Florida camping
Welaka National Fish Hatchery doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Florida campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Florida camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.