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Florida
Fishing
Vacations...
St
Petersburg Fishing!
It just
might take a few Florida fishing
vacations to the
St. Pete area to get to fish most, or all
of the prime fishing found in
Tampa Bay and
the Gulf waters
near St Petersburg, Florida!
From
the Gandy Bridge
to the renowned Skyway
Fishing Pier, offshore south to
Edgmont
Key State Park & National Wildlife Refuge, up the Gulf side to
the
Boca Ciega Bay, and further up the Gulf Coast towards towards
Clearwater, there are many choices for the Florida angler.
Our
goal for this review of St Petersburg Florida fishing vacations
opportunities is simple:
We
want you
to leave this page with a clear picture
of the best
St
Petersburg fishing spots, and that you'll feel
confident of your plans for a fishing trip to west central
Florida.
Let's
begin
our review, okay?
There are many Florida fishing vacations opportunities
waiting for you!
First,
you'll need to know what fish you can expect to catch around the
St
Petersburg area. This is just a sampling of a few of the most
prized species that brings anglers to Florida from all over the world.
Florida
FishingVacations:
The Catch of the
Day Is...
| Tarpon
|
Spotted Seatrout |
| The silver king
is a top prize that many
anglers plan
their Florida fishing and vacations to St Petersburg in pursuit of.
Found around bridges and off the beaches, this ferocious fighter's
season is April through August. The average tarpon weight runs from 40
- 150 pounds, though there are 200 pounders caught often. |
With
a year-round season, and prime months in the fall and spring months,
the trout are found at the inshore flats; fish around white sandy
potholes. In winter you'll find the trout in the muddy bottom
at
the edges of the the sandbars by the grass. Average weight is
about 1 - 3 pounds. |
| Red
Drum |
Snook |
Juveniles
are found inshore, with bigger fish
joining
the
mature fish offshore during the spawning season. Fished
year-round mostly inshore and on the flats, the average weight of
redfish is about 2 - 10 pounds.
|
Best months for snook are in
the spring and summer, in the inshore
flats
and backcounty. The season is catch and release only during
June
to August, and closed from Dec 15 thru Jan 31. The average
weight
is 2 - 10 pounds. |
| Kingfish |
Amberjack |
| Season: March-April,
and in October-November. Found nearshore
and
offshore waters, in the Gulf anywhere from a mile to about 30 miles out
over hard bottoms. Average Size is 8-20 pounds. |
Great eating after a
tremendous fight! Found mostly
offshore near wrecks and rocky reefs. The average size is
about
40 pounds. |
That's
just a few of the most popular fish caught in the St
Petersburg area. It isn't surprising that the variety and
availibility of fish, combined with the everyday beautiful weather,
make Florida fishing vacations such a big part of the tourist trade in
the Sunshine State!
Next, let's talk about some of the best places to
go fishing
around St. Pete....
Florida
Fishing Vacations:
The
Pier
at St Petersburg Florida
If
you're a "pier rat",
be sure to stop by The Pier in downtown St Pete. A local
landmark since the late 1800's, the original fishing
pier was began back in 1926, and that pier, known as The Million Dollar
Pier, was torn down in 1973 to make room for the structure that remains
today.
For
those who will only fish for
a short time, there's
lots to keep 'em occupied while the
more dedicated anglers continue fishing on the pier!
There's
so much more to do besides the all-important fishing at the pier.
The
eyecatching, upside-down pyramid shaped building at The Pier
houses a variety of businesses, shops, a food court, restaurants, and
the Pier Aquarium.
The
Pier
Aquarium is
a marine education center, equipped with 3 large, cylindrical-shaped
fish tanks, and 8 more tanks with a variety of marine life.
Educational
exhibits are also popular with visitors.
Rent an
electric boat, or
take a dolphin sightseeing tour and enjoy the sights of the St
Petersburg area. There's even a pirate ship
docked nearby
for family-fun adventures.
Want
to rent a charter? You
can... Lots of folks can't or don't bring their own
boats with them to use during their Florida fishing vacations.
The Pier is home to a fleet of charter boats just waiting to
take you to the hot fishing spots! Charter
fishing is available from May
through August in Tampa Bay and the Gulf. Details are available from
The Pier Bait House. You may also rent poles and and buy
bait there.
To
get to The Pier,
take I-275 and Exit at 23A, which is the
Pier/4th Ave NE exit. This is I-375, which becomes 4th Avenue
North in downtown St Pete. This road gets you to Beach Drive.
Turn right on Beach, and then at the next light, turn left on 2nd
Avenue NE. You'll see The Pier ahead of you, extending a
quarter mile out into Tampa Bay. If there is some
construction on Beach Drive, as has been the case recently, turn LEFT
(instead of right) on Beach and go to 5th Avenue NE, and then turn
right onto Bayshore. Either way, The Pier is at the end of
2nd Avenue N.E. on the water.
The Pier is open every day,
year-round, rain or shine.
Monday - Thursday 10:00
am to 9:00 pm
Friday
& Saturday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sundays 11:00 am to
7:00 pm.
The
Gandy
Bridge
The
Gandy
Bridge connects Tampa
with St Petersburg, spanning Old Tampa Bay. The bridge has
existed in one form or another since 1924.
The
last time the Gandy bridge was repaired, in the late
90's, instead of tearing down the old bridge and rebuilding on
the same site, the new Gandy bridge was built along side the old one.
That's just another reason to add St. Petersburg to your Florida
fishing vacations list of 'favorite places to fish' !
These days, following the renovation of
the
old Gandy bridge, the locals know the bridge as "The Friendship Trail".
The bridge is popular for joggers, bikers, and
walkers...
... And for anglers, a
favorite honey hole was preserved - the old Gandy Bridge is equipped
with catwalks that get the fishers close to the bay waters.
Way
out at the end of the catwalks is some prime snook fishing.
Tarpon are also plentiful around the pilings - maybe not
trophy sized, but plenty big enough for a fun fight. Bluefish
are appearing in greater numbers around the Gandy and in the bay, too,
over the last couple of years.
Florida
Fishing Vacations at Florida
State Parks
Skyway
Fishing Pier State Park
The world's longest
fishing pier is found at St.
Petersburg! Ater construction of the new Sunshine Skyway
bridge was completed, the old bridge was turned into a fishing pier.
There's no long walk from your car to a good fishing spot -
you may park on the pier itself within just a few feet of
where you plan to fish. Night fishing from the bridge is
good, too - the bridge is lighted!
Skyway
Bridge Fishing Pier, photo credit Florida Parks
The bridge lighting also draws in a variety of game fish after sundown.
Species typically caught are snook, red
snapper, pompano, sheepshead, mackerel, and the prized fighting tarpon,
too, to name only a few.
Snacks, drinks, bait and fishing supplies can be purchased at either
the north or south piers. The Skyway Fishing Pier is open 24
hours a day, 7 days a week year round.
When coming to the Tampa/St Pete area for Florida fishing vacations,
don't overlook a fishing trip to the Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier; make
time for this one!
The pier is found on the north and south sides of the Skyway Bridge
spanning Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, along I-275 (US
19).
Skyway
Fishing Pier State Park
4905 34th Street South, #5000
St. Petersburg, Florida 33711
Phone: 727-865-0668
St
Petersburg Florida fishing vacations
at County parks
Weedon Island Preserve
A
little south of the Gandy Bridge in north St Pete, the 3,000-acre
Weedon Island Wildlife preserve and Natural History Center has
plenty of natural beauty to enjoy. There's a 50-foot
long
fishing pier available.
photo
credit: Pinellas County Parks
Weedon
Island Preserve Fishing Pier
There are
restrooms at the fishing pier. A launch for canoes and kayaks
is
also near the pier. The pier is available from dawn to dusk.
(Florida
residents only may fish from your kayaks/canoes)
For those
who aren't fishing, the preserve has kayak rentals, over 5 miles of
paddling trails, and over a mile of boardwalk for hiking and
enjoying
the natural beauty of the preserve.
Weedon
Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
1800
Weedon Drive NE
St.
Petersburg, FL 33702
727-453-6500
~~~
War Veterans' Memorial
Park
A nice park on Boca
Ciega
Bay provides boat and canoe access to the Intercoastal
Waterways.
Be sure to check out the patriotic displays, including an
Army tank dating back to the Koren War days.
Do you plan to bring their boat with them for your Florida fishing
vacations? This park has a nice boat launch are. The six-lane
boat ramp is well-lit, and open 24 hours a day.
Restrooms, a play area and walking trail give family members a break
while the anglers do what they love - go fishing!
There's also a separate canoe/kayak launch site for motorless boaters,
too.
War
Veterans' Memorial Park
9600
Bay Pines Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
(727)549-6165
~~~
Fort
DeSoto Park
Not
far from St Petersburg is one of the most popular parks in the
continental United States, with over 2 million visitors annually.
Some plan their Florida fishing vacations with this park as
the highlight of their fishing trip!
Fort De Soto Park is a unique
and historic park, consisting of a series of five interconnecting
islands. Main attractions include the old fort that the park
is named for, and a Quartermaster Museum for history buffs to explore.
Well-known
for its 3 miles of white-sand beaches,
Fort DeSoto Park has plenty of
fishing action, too...
Enjoy
fishing the waters of either the Gulf or Tampa Bay from one of two
fishing piers. The 500-foot Tampa Bay
fishing pier,
as well as the 1,000-foot fishing pier on the Gulf
side, each have
concessions and bait for purchase.
For boaters,
there's an 800-foot long boat launching facility, with eleven floating
docks.
Other park features include:
- a 238-site
full campground, with full facilities
- 20 modern,
storm-proof restroom buildings
- two large
swimming centers
- a
2,200-foot long barrier-free nature trail
- a nearly
seven-mile long, paved recreation trail connecting the campgrounds with
the north and east swim centers and the historic fort
- 7 miles of
waterfront, including 3 miles of memorable,
white-sand beaches
There's
certainly plenty to explore in this 1,136-acre park! While
you're
there, be sure to check out the old fort, the museum, and for military
history students, there's even a 12-inch mortar battery that's been
listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.
Fans of Florida fishing vacations to West Central Florida rate Fort
De Soto State Park as a top pick for family fun!
Fort
De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S.,
Tierra Verde,
FL 33715
Park Office 727-582-2267
Campground Office
727-582-2267
St
Petersburg Florida fishing vacations
at City parks
When
you're in town for even a small part of your Florida fishing vacations,
remember that the city of St Petersburg maintains a variety of fishing
lakes, for both fresh water fishing and saltwater angling.
There
are two saltwater lakes, and you can fish
year-round from the shore for
silver trout, sheepshead, speckled trout, red fish, and mullet at Bartlett Lake,
located at 22nd Avenue. & Fifth Street South; and Fossil Park Lake, at
70th Avenue and Seventh Street North.
But, Florida fishing vacations aren't just about saltwater angling!
Several fresh water lakes are open for
fishing
year-round bank fishing,
too:
- Walter
Fuller Lake, 26th Avenue & 78th Street
North
- Lake
Maggiore, 38th Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Street
S.
- Lake
Eli (Little Lake Maggiore), 25th St. & Lamparilla
Way S.
Other
fresh water lakes are only open for fishing from Memorial Day through
Labor Day. Shorefishing will reward you
with bream, catfish,
Nile
perch and bass. The following fresh water lakes owned and
managed by the city of
St. Petersburg are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily:
- Booker
Creek Park:
13th Avenue & 22nd Street North
- Childs
Park Lake:
11th Avenue & 42nd Street South
- Crescent
Lake Park:
22nd Avenue &
Fifth Street North
- Eagle
Crest Lake:
Sixth Avenue &
66th Street North
- Euclid
Lake:
25th Avenue &
17th Street North
- Moon
Lake:
13th Avenue &
42nd Street North
- Kelley
Lake -
40th Avenue & 20th Street North
- Lake
Jude: Sixth Avenue
& 55th Street North
- Lake
Vista Park:
62nd Avenue & 14th Street South
- Lynch
Lake:
70th Avenue &
18th Street North
- Mastry
Lake: 64th Avenue
& 14th Street North
- Mirror
Lake: Second Avenue
& Mirror Lake Drive North
- Ruby
Lake:
26th Avenue & 35th Street
- Sheffield
Lake:
24th Avenue & 49th Street North
- Sirmons
Lake: 33rd Avenue
& 41st Street North
- Teresa
Gardens Lake:
32nd Avenue &
71st Street North
- Viking
Lake: 75th Avenue
& 14th Street North
For
details, please phone the St. Petersburg Parks Department at
(727)
893-7335.
Florida
Fishing Vacations:
Boat
Ramps & Marinas...
Need
a place
to launch your boat? Don't waste your valuable Florida
fishing vacations time by driving around looking for a place to put
into the water! Check out these public boat
ramps and marinas, in the St Pete region.
Below, in no particular order, is a fairly complete listing
of
ramps and marinas by name or location; where each is located,
and
also a few of the ramp features, including ADA
accessibility.
St Pete Beach Ramp
East
33rd Ave, St Pete Beach
Paved ramp
Fort De Soto Park Ramp
SR
679 on Mullet Key, St Petersburg
Paved; accommodates boats greater than 15'; ADA ramp,
restrooms, ramp
Maximo Park
34th St S, Pinellas Point Dr, Boca Ciega Bay, St Petersburg
Paved ramp accommodates 15' or longer boats; ADA restrooms &
parking
O'Neill's Skyway Boat Basin
6701
34th St S, St Petersburg
Paved ramp; ramp fee; boats greater than 15'; Marina, Gas, Bait; ADA
parking
Bay Vista Park
500
Pinellas Point Dr & 4th St S., St Petersburg
Paved ramp; boats greater than 15', ADA restrooms, ramp &
parking
Grandview Park
6th
St & 39th Ave S. Big Bayou, St Petersburg
Paved ramp; boats greater than 15', ADA ramp & parking
Demens Landing
End
of 1st Ave S., St Petersburg
Paved ramp, boats greater than 15', Marina, gas, bait; ADA
restrooms & parking
Coffee Pot Bayou Ramp
31st Ave N.E. & 1st St., St Petersburg
Paved ramp
Crisp
Park Ramp
Poplar St & 35th Ave N.E., St Petersburg
Paved ramp, ramp fee, boats greater than 15'; ADA restrooms, ramp
& parking
Sunlit Cove Ramp
Sunlit
Cove Dr & Bay St N.E., St Petersburg
Paved ramp
Gandy Wayside Park
SR
92 on West End of Gandy Bridge, St Petersburg
unpaved, not ADA accessible
...
And Artifical Reefs*
Egmont Key Reef
Where: Southwest of Egmont Key, Lat. 27 34.99 Long. -82 44.59
350
Pieces of Pipe & 22 Concrete Pyramids (6' H x 8'B)
Depth: 18 feet
Port
Manatee Reef
Where: northwest of Port Manatee in Tampa Bay
Concrete Decking, Railings & Rubble from Bayway
Depth: 19 feet
*Please see our Tampa, Florida fishing vacations
page for more artificial reef locations.
More
Florida Fishing Vacations Destinations in the West Central Gulf Coast
Tampa
Florida fishing vacations: Just
across the bay, the city of Tampa
is a favorite with saltwater and fresh water anglers from all over the
United States.
Clearwater
Florida fishing vacations: Clearwater is home to a
fleet of deep sea fishing charters just waiting to take
you on the fishing trip of a lifetime!
If you're done learning about all the fishing spots around the St Pete
area, you may return
to the Florida Gulf Coast Vacation page.
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