St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2008 - (Page 61) : TRAVEL TIPS Follow Doug’s great advice for safety on a boat and in the water. On days I feel the tarpon may be elusive, I’ll charter a trip with Capt. Tommy Ziesmann. Going with him or one of the many excellent fishing guides in the area greatly increases my odds of tangling with tarpon and other great game fish like snook, redfish, trout or mackerel. It’s just one of the activities that constantly lures me back to these beautiful and tantalizing waters. Boating and charter information can be found in the Attractions & Activities section starting on p. 62. Accommodations with marinas or boat-docking facilities are identified in the listings beginning on p. 73. • You seldom can see strong undertows and swift currents when swimming. In most cases it’s wise to stay near the shoreline. It always makes sense for personal flotation devices (PFDs) to be worn by children of all ages, non-swimmers, those boating at night and during rough seas. • By law, children under 13 must wear PFDs in most cases, with sufficient U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs aboard all vessels for every passenger. • My boat includes a first-aid kit, emergency flares, flashlights, GPS and 3 Lake Tarp on good communications equipment – and I check it out each time I leave the dock. Honeymoon Island 5 Caladesi Island : MAP IT Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico 4 Clearwater Beach 2 (26.3 Miles) 1 6 Clearwater Clearwater Beach Old Tampa Bay Tampa Clearwater Sand Key Lak e Tar pon Old Tampa Bay (24.4 Miles) : ADRENALINE RUSHES • It’s cool watching skimboarders standing on the shoreline, holding a sort of miniature surfboard, waiting for an inviting wave. They race to the wet sand, drop the board, jump onto it and skim into the ocean, then paddle or ride a wave back. Sounds easy – it’s not. But the sport continues to gain in popularity, and favorite spots include John’s Pass south of Madeira Beach, Clearwater Beach (a great place to learn freestyle skimming), St. Pete Beach and Indian Shores. 1 Clearwater Beach 2 Fort De Soto Park 3 Anclote Key 4 Caladesi Island 5 Honeymoon Island 6 Egmont Key FIND it on the interactive map at www.FloridasBeach.com : FROM THE SEA TO YOUR PLATE If you’re like me, just the mention of “seafood” fires up the taste buds – I could eat it every day. Maybe that’s a bit much for some folks, but I savor the variety from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, with seemingly endless choices ranging from awesome fish chowders, fish sandwiches, fish fillets – well, you get the idea. In downtown St. Petersburg, I can’t pass up a luncheon treat of mother’s mussels at the Central Avenue Oyster Bar. My choice is the scrumptious appetizer of mussels steamed in garlic, white wine and a splash of Pernod, followed by the seared ahi tuna salad – simply delicious. 727-897-9728 I often head to the Peppermill for dinner in Clearwater, where I crave the Oysters on the half shell. • Kiteboarding involves more equipment and training than skim-boarding, but it’s no less thrilling. A special kite propels the rider across the water with feet secured on a board. It’s challenging, with the kitesurfer's body steering the board while the kite is piloted in the sky. crab-stuffed red snapper with big chunks of baked crab laced into a red snapper fillet and topped with lobster sauce. Nice atmosphere too. 727-449-2988 For more casual fare any time of day, I like The Pub in Indian Shores, with a nice locally made smoked fish spread and the oyster poor boy sandwich. 727-595-3172 www. F loridas Beach. com 61 http://www.FloridasBeach.com http://www.FloridasBeach.com
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