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Great
Florida Fishing
Vacations
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With 400 miles of shoreline, including 35 miles of nice soft sugar sand beaches, Clearwater Florida fishing vacations include some of the best beaches in the nation.
Still not convinced that Clearwater Florida fishing vacations are exceptional? Just look at this nice beach...
Ahhhh.....yeah, that looks like a nice, relaxing day at the beach, doesn't it? That's Clearwater Beach, and you can see the pier there just past all the umbrellas. Yup, it's a very nice beach, one of the best in the nation...In fact, Clearwater Beach has received the coveted "Blue Beach" designation from the Clean Beaches Council. It's also the only beach in Pinellas County with year-round lifeguards...
But...you say want to know what the fishing's like?
All right, that's enough small talk - Let's get to it!
Florida Fishing Vacations in Clearwater: The Fish
Here's a few of the most popular gamefish you'll be after in the waters around Clearwater. Some are found inshore, some further offshore. Some species are found only by venturing out for a little deep sea fishing. Whether you bring your own boat, or hire a charter, every day spent on the water is worth every penny spent on Florida fishing vacations!| Tarpon | Kingfish |
| Found in the spring and summer months cruising near the beaches. | Trolling in the spring and fall months, with March thru June being the best months. |
| Dolphin | Barracuda |
| Trolling in the summer month using live bait and lure will reward you with a spectacular fight. | Spring, summer, and fall months are best; found offshore in the Gulf at the reefs and wrecks. |
| Sailfish | Red Snapper |
| Best fishing is in the summer, trolling out in the Gulf using live baits and lures. | Bottom fishing anytime except the winter; best bait is Spanish sardines |
| Cobia | Greater Amberjack |
| Fall and spring finds them out in the Gulf, near wrecks, either trolling or bottom fishing. Use live baits like shrimp & crabs,or lures resembling live bait. | Try trolling the Gulf near reefs and wrecks in the summer, fall, & winter months, using jigs or live bait. |
| Grey Snapper | Red Grouper |
| Bottom fish the Gulf waters all year long using sardines, squid or cut bait. | Spring, summer, & fall months are the best fishing times. Fish the bottom using Spanish sardines. |
Clearwater Florida Fishing Vacations: Pier 60 Park
Pier 60 Park is a favorite of anglers on Clearwater Florida fishing vacations. It's family-friendly, with a covered playground and fishing access to the Gulf off the pier. White sand beaches are nearby, and the popular daily Sunset Festival on the pier (beginning 2 hours before sunset every day) showcases local artists, craftsmen, and performers.
Fine dining and shopping are nearby, too.
Pier 60 is open 24/7 from April 1 thru September 30; and open daily (except Dec 25) October 1st through March 31st, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
For your convenience, there's a concession on the pier, as well as restrooms, tackle and bait, fishing rod rentals, even telescopes, too.
A small fee is charged for anglers to fish at the pier. Daily, weekly, and yearly fishing passes are available, call (727)462-6466 for current rates or more information.
Pier 60 Park
370 Mandalay Ave
Clearwater, FL 33767
(727)462-6466
Clearwater Florida Fishing Vacations: the Municipal Marina
The city's marina is situated on the renowned Clearwater Beach. It is one of the best marinas in Florida, with a 3 year waiting list for the chance to grab one of the 220 dock slips. There are also about 23 slips available for vacationers, so if you're arriving by boat, plan to book well in advance of your Florida fishing vacations.
Other features that make Clearwater Marina popular include:
- Fishing and Sailing Charters - home to a large fleet of private fishing charters, party boats, and sailing charters
- Sightseeing tours
- Dolphin tours
- Dinner cruises
- Personal watercraft rental
- Bait house
- free fishing pier
- no drawbridge between the Gulf and the marina
- accommodates up to 125 ft boat length
Clearwater Municipal Marina
25 Causeway Blvd.
Clearwater, FL 33767
(727) 462-6954
Florida Fishing Vacations and Clearwater City Parks
Clearwater has a great parks department, with plenty of fishing opportunities to be found. Here's a few of the more popular fishing holes in the Clearwater area:
Clearwater Beach Recreational Center
This waterfront park has
a boat launch and beachfront fishing.
It's nicely landscaped
with picnic areas, tennis courts, and social hall that can be booked
for events.
69 Bay Esplanade
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
727-462-6138
photo credit: Jeff Kinsey Agency: Dreamstime
Clearwater Beach Family Aquatic Center
Just up the road from the Recreation Center, the Clearwater pool is a great way to cool down after a day's fishing.Clearwater Beach Family Aquatic Center
51 Bay Esplanade
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
727-462-6020
Crest Lake Park
Fish in the lake, enjoy the fitness trail, or just bring the kids to the modern, new playground to work off some energy. Other features include a fitness trail, doggy park, restrooms, and picnic facilities. ADA accessible.Crest Lake Park
201 Glenwood Ave
Clearwater, FL 33755
Ed C. Wright Park
With plenty to do for those in your group that don't fish, be sure to stop by and try your luck. Those not fishing can: swim in the pool; play horseshoes or shuffleboard; check out the fitness trail, and even play frisbee golf or a game of tennis. Restrooms are available.Ed C. Wright Park
1326 South M L King Jr Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-562-6141 (office)
727-723-0695 (Horseshoe Club)
Ross Norton Recreational Complex
Florida fishing vacations aren't strictly for saltwater anglers - Get away from the tourist-y crowds and enjoy fresh water fishing at this facility.Plenty of picnic areas, 2 playgrounds, a pool, restrooms, horseshoes and shuffle courts are in place and make for a great day at the lake.
Ross Norton Recreational Complex
1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-462-6025 (Center)
727-462-6130 (Pool)
Sand Key Bayside Park
Located on Sand Key just off Clearwater on the mainland, anglers enjoy surf fishing the Bay waters. Restrooms available. One of the best beaches in the area is at this park. It's well worth a visit!Sand Key Bayside Park
951 Gulf Blvd.
Clearwater, FL 33767
Florida Fishing Vacations: County Parks
Several parks that are operated and maintained by various county parks & recreation departments are noteworthy for the angler:Lake Seminole Park
Located south of Clearwater down Highway 19 (alternate), Seminole Park is located at Lake Seminole. It's a popular lake with local residents for fresh water fishing. There are boat ramps for lake access, with plenty of parking for your vehicles and boat trailers.The park covers over 250 acres, and has many picnic areas, shelters with grills, restrooms, and a playground. A 2-mile multi-use trail winds through pine flatwoods for hiking and biking, rollerblading or walking; with a shorter 1-mile trail for those desiring a shorter route.
While Florida is best known for the spectular saltwater fishing, it's also host to some of the best fresh water fishing, especially bass fishing, in the U.S.A. Florida is home of the famous largemouth bass. Be sure to try your luck at Lake Seminole if you happen to be fishing the Clearwater region.
Lake Seminole Park
10015 Park Blvd. (74th Ave. N.)
Seminole FL 33777
Phone: 727-549-6156
Philippe Park
Safety Harbor is found northeast of Clearwater, and offers anglers a mile of shoreline to fish the waters of old Tampa Bay. The boat ramp there is open sunrise to sunset and puts boats into the bay waters. The 122-acre park also has a playground, nice hardwood shade trees, restrooms, picnic areas with grills, and plenty of prime bay fishing action!Philippe Park
2525 Philippe Pkwy.,
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 669-1947
Walsingham Park
The 100-acre lake is located within the 354-acre wildlife park. To preserve the natural beauty of the park, boats are allowed to use only electric motors; combustion engines are not allowed. It's an excellent county park to enjoy wildlife viewing while kayaking or paddling your small boat to choice fishing spots. Be sure to bring a camera.Other park amenities are: equestrian trail; fitness trail; dog park; playground; boat ramp; restrooms; and a fishing pier for those without boats.
Walsingham Park
12615 102nd Ave. N
Largo FL 33778
(727)549-6142
John S. Taylor Park
A 156-acre park with excellent fishing at the park's 53-acre fresh water lake. There's a concrete boat launch, playground area, restrooms, and a barrier-free walking trail that accesses the Pinellas Trail.John S. Taylor Park
1100 8th Ave. S.W.,
Largo, FL 33770
Phone 727-588-4847
Ridgecrest Park
A small neighborhood park, with a 5-acre fresh water fishing lake, it's a nice little spot to take the kids to work off some energy at the playgrounds, while Mom and Dad drop a line for a few minutes off the fishing pier.Ridgecrest Park
12000 Ulmerton Rd., (State Road 688)
Largo, FL 33774
Florida Fishing Vacations: State Parks
Caladesi Island State Park
Florida fishing vacations to Clearwater aren't complete without a fishing trip to Caladesi Island! With one of the best natural beaches in the nation, Caladesi Island is one of just a few completely natural islands on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Beach fishing and swimming are very popular activities here.
Arial view of Caladesi Island State Park (photo credit: Florida State Parks)
Other park amenities include swimming, showers, a 3-mile kayak/paddling trail, snack bar/concessions, restrooms, picnic areas, pavilions available for rental, and playgrounds.
It's a nice park for anglers; spotted sea trout are caught year round in the Clearwater Harbor side. But you don't have a boat (yet)? Don't let that stop you from enjoying some great beach fishing on your Florida fishing vacations!
Caladesi Island boasts nice sugar sand white beaches, so go ahead and try your hand at surf fishing.
While the beach area designated for fishing isn't ADA accessible, there is a beach wheelchair available for your use.
Accessible only by private boat or the ferry from nearby Honeymoon Island State Park, boaters may use the 108-slip marina or just drop anchor offshore if the waters are calm.
Arriving by private boat? To get to Caladesi Island, just west of the Dunedin Causeway Bridge, from channel marker #14, take a heading of approximate 212´degrees on your compass for approximately 1 mile. Follow the channel markers into the Caladesi Island State Park Marina.
The bayside marina has electric and water hookups. Overnight stays are allowed but be sure to register before sundown.
For those arriving by ferry, better plan on about a 4-hour stay for your fee. Fees are $9 per adult, $5.50 for kids age 4-13, and kids under 4 are free (the ferry fees are in addition to the $5/carload Honeymoon Island State Park entrance fee). For those vacationing with pets, please remember that pets aren't allowed on the ferry.
Beginning at 10 AM, the ferry leaves Honeymoon Island hourly. You may contact the ferry service at (727)734-1501 for more information.
Caladesi Island State Park
# 1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin, Florida 34698
(727)469-5918
Honeymoon Island State Park
Located north of Caladesi Island State Park, Honeymoon Island is just as great for saltwater fishing! Whether it's surf fishing, or trying the waters of Hurricane Pass that separates Honeymoon Island from Caladesi Island, you'll sure to land a popular Florida gamefish like snapper, flounder, cobia, snook, tarpon or sheepshead, among many other varities.What else is there to do? Rent a kayak, or even bring your surfboard (try the surfing at the north end of the island). Shelling is also particularly good on the beaches here. You might want to take a break from fishing and enjoy the nature trail - a 2 1/2 mile walk through one of south Florida's few remaining virgin slash pine stands found along the Osprey trail.
Gopher tortoises and armadillos are often seen in the picnic areas - bring a camera to capture nature pics!
Other park amenities include a playground, swimming, showers, ADA restrooms, concessions, and picnic areas.
The entrance fee to the park is $5 per carload of up to 8 people. For a single occupant car, the fee is $3.
Catch the ferry for more fishing at Caladesi Island State Park!
Honeymoon Island State Park
1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin, Florida 34698
(727)469-5942
Florida Fishing Vacations: Boat ramps, piers, and reefs
Boat Ramps/Marinas:
Dunedin Municipal Marina
51 Main St, Dunedin, FL
Paved; ADA Restrooms, Ramp, Parking
Clearwater Beach Recreational Complex
Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach, Fl
Paved; ADA Restrooms, Ramp, Parking
Seminole Boat Landing
Seminole St, Clearwater
Paved; Boats over 15', marina, gas, bait; ADA Restrooms, ramp, parking
Belleair Beach Causeway Ramp
SR 686 on Clearwater Harbor, Belleair Beach
Fishing Pier:
Clearwater Beach Municipal Pier
15 Causeway Blvd
Clearwater, Fl
Artificial Reefs:
Clearwater Reef
Where: Offshore from Clearwater Beach, Lat 28.01.55 Long -82 52.92
Material: Concrete & Cement Cut offs, 10' dia. Steel Pipes
Depth: 29'
Clearwater C Site
Where: Offshore from Clearwater Beach, south of Clearwater Reef
Lat 28.00.85 Long -82 53.53
Material: Concrete Culverts, 46 Pieces of Culverts & Boxes
Depth: 31'
Sand Key Reef #5
Where: Near Indian Rocks Beach, Lat 27 53.39, Long -82 51.17
Material: 24 Concrete Culverts, Sand Key Nourishment Reef Project
Depth: 17'
More Florida Fishing Vacations Destinations
St Petersburg and sister city Tampa Bay offer more great pier and bridge fishing in the waters of Old Tampa Bay..If you're finished learning about Clearwater Florida fishing, you may leave the Florida fishing vacations in Clearwater page and return to the Florida Gulf Coast Vacation page.
Are you a bass fisherman? Learn about Florida fishing vacations destinations just for the bass angler.
