St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2009 - (Page 62) into the entrance to Tampa Bay, and the swift tidal currents attract big fish, but it takes a heavy sinker to hold bottom. Next time! As my three-day adventure suggests, there is almost no end to fishing possibilities in and around St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Weather is often a limiting factor in fishing elsewhere, but because Pinellas County is mostly on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Mexico from Tampa Bay, seldom are the winds and waves able to spoil all fishing opportunities. A strong westerly that makes the Gulf untenable is barely a zephyr on the shoreline inside in the bay. And vice versa. If an easterly spoils the bay fishing, close-in Gulf fishermen barely feel it. You can bring your own boat – ramps and marinas abound – or rent a power boat and head out on your own. But the truth is, life is a lot simpler when somebody else is doing the driving. Whether it’s an inshore or offshore charter, the captains know the waters better than you ever will. They can put you on fish faster than you could probably launch your own boat. The added benefit is that they provide the bait, the tackle and even the fishing license. All you have to do is bring your lunch, a hat and some sun block. Pier fishing is even easier. The piers rent rods and reels, you don’t need a license to fish from the piers, and all sorts of bait is available in the bait shops. If you’re looking for some advice, stop by local bait-and-tackle shops such as Mastry’s Bait and Tackle on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg. Proprietor Larry Mastry can tell you what’s biting and show you the best combination of tackle to catch it. I’m a fishing fool, and that’s how I spend the majority of my leisure time. But, know that, whatever you want to do on Crabs are your best bait for catching tarpon. the water, you can do in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the communities around them. Boating and charter information can be found in the Attractions & Activities section starting on p. 72. Accommodations with marinas and boat-docking facilities are identified in the listings beginning on p. 83. Tarpon fishing off of Egmont Key. 62 : It’s a l l a b o u t t h e wa te r
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.