Wade or Kayak St. Pete or other options?

[kirbyt]

Looking at taking a few days after a conference in late October to do a bit of fishing in the St. Pete or Tampa Bay area. Any suggestions on places to either wade fish or rent kayak to fish these areas? Other suggestions are welcomed.

[Mark Cahill]

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm
Haven't been out there, but it looks prime...supposedly great wading and kayak rentals are available.

[eng5]

I don't know much about it, but my son who is stationed in the CG in St. Pete's fishes the Ft. Desoto are.If you want more info I will ask my son. Joe.

[dskins]

I would second the suggestion for Fort Desoto. I have had a place in St.Pete for many years and it by far my favorite place to shore fish in the area.It would take years to explore all of the flats there. You can rent a canoe or kayak inside the park-you will see a bus or van parked on the right as you head toward the west end- or just wade . I would recommend the flats on either side of the road after you go through the toll booth or the point at the far east end of the park facing the Skyway bridge. The bottom is mostly turtlegrass and potholes but it is pretty solid footing. The area holds mostly trout, redfish, snook and ladyfish(great fun on light tackle). Dark(brown,orange,tan) shrimpy looking flies work well as do small bait fish patterns and poppers. If you are spinning you can't go wrong with a pink rubber shrimp jig(or real shrimp tail) with a styrofoam popper/float rigged about 20" up the line - they sell this rig in most of the shops. Try to find an incoming tide - early or late if possible. If you go mid day you might think about using a canoe and trying to pull snook out of the mangroves. I will be there just after Columbus day for a few days if you want some updated info let me know.

Dave

[kirbyt]

I'm arriving on 22nd of October so any reports are welcomed. Plan to just do wade fish or rent kayak. Are stingrays' a big problem in that area? Plan also to try the Gulf side at the Tradewinds Resort in the early or late evenings if possible. I heard there are some good fish in the cuts on the beach. Sometimes big snook? Thanks for the tips.

Kirby

[dskins]

I have seen lots of stingrays at Fort Desoto but if you do the "Stingray Shuffle" while wading you won't have a problem.I have never come close to stepping on one. If you see one swimming by it is worth a cast into it's mud trail....lots of times there are fish feeding in it's wake.
The cuts on the Gulf side can be good, however if you fish one with a large marina on the inside, traffic can be heavy at times. Also,try under the bridge lights at night especially near the pilings.Lots of bait congregates around them.

Dave