St. Pete advise please

[mdglaw]

I am heading to a conference on 10/26 at Tampa/St.Pete. I am going to pack the old #8 weight. Any advise. Anything I can do without charter. Or is charter around and who would you recommend. Inshore. I am a boston striper man.
Thanks for the help
Mike

[dskins]

Hi Mike,
I'm also live in MA but have a place in St.Pete. I think that the easiest walk and wade in the area would be Fort DeSoto State Park on Mullet Key. It is at the tip of St. Pete at the entrance to Tampa Bay. It has MILES of wadeable flats on all sides.You will find seatrout, jacks and ladyfish on the flats....blues, spanish macks and tarpon in the deeper water nearer the channel. Clousers, crazy charlies, glass minnows and shrimp patterns work well here. I prefer "shrimpy" colors.
To get there take I-275 south from Tampa to St.Pete. Right before you hit the entrance to Tampa bay you take the exit for the Pinellas Bayway (54thAVE) West. Go through the toll booth and then there will be signs to Fort DeSoto/Tierra Verde(Left hand turn). Follow this all the way into the park and pick any flat you see...you can park anywhere on the side of the road. Incoming tide always fishes well...

If you want to find something closer to Tampa, you could fish along the Howard franklin Bridge(I-275) coming south from Tampa. Also weedon Island Park in NE St.Pete is just off of the Gandy Blvd. Bridge heading South from Tampa. I can't recall the streets well enough to give you exact directions but its easy enough with a map.

Drop me a line if you have any questions.

Good luck,

dave

[fishselly]

Dave, read your note to Mike. I am Bill S. also from Haverhill, NH. I fish out of a 20' center console up here for stripers, but also have place in Longboat Key, I usually fish around Sarasota Bay wading and tubing. I am intersted in the area you described to Mike. Looking at my chart I see bounces pass channel. How is that to wade. I also looking at Bishop Harbor north of Skyway Bridge. I will be down from Nov 9th to the22nd. I like to try new spots and will appreciate any help i can get. Maybe can repay with a trip to Casco Bay Maine,next summer, There is almost no boat traffic and the fishing is superb!
Bill