Tampa Bay, Florida's largest open-water estuary, averages a depth of only 12 feet, and covers a little less than 400 square miles. With its calm warm water, myriads of inlets, and year-round availability, it is no wonder that so many fishing enthusiasts enjoy shallow water kayak fishing both on the bay itself and in the surrounding lakes and rivers especially in the fall when the weather and water cool down.
Types of Fish
The Tampa Bay Kayak Fishing website assures that Tampa Bay has over 200 species of fish including: snook, pompano, redfish, spotted sea trout, permit and tarpon.
Popular Launches/ Fishing Grounds/ Access Points
Although the Tampa Bay area offers many access points at parks, causeways and bridges, there are some popular kayak fishing launches.
Caladesi Island has dunedin/clearwater and is located off the intercostal waterway.
Ft. Desoto Park is at the St. Petersburg entrance to Tampa Bay.
Weedon Island, on Tampa Bay's St. Petersburg side has a no motor zone for quiet fishing.
Big Island has parking anywhere off the Howard Franklin Bridge.
The upper Tampa Bay area has the Upper Tampa Bay Park sporting a floating kayak launch dock and ample free parking.
Types of Kayaks
Many kayak fishing outfitters supply kayaks that the angler can try out before venturing out into the bay.
Kayaks come in three structural classifications: ridged or hardshell, inflatable and folding. Plastic shells are the least expensive and tough, but once damaged are hard to repair. Fiberglass shells are more expensive but lighter, easier to damage, but easier to repair. The most expensive but lightest hardshell kayaks would be the composites.
Folding boats, comprised of aluminum or wood framed covered with fabric, offer easy storage and portability, are stable, flexible, tough and seaworthy although a little slow.
Not surprisingly, the least expensive, portable, easily stored kayak is the inflatable boat.
Of the three types of rigid kayaks: touring, recreational and whitewater, Candace Horgan on Trails.com says that the recreational or river kayak offers features compatible with lakes, and other placid water venues and are the easiest to handle. These usually have some storage room for food, fishing gear and extra clothing as well.
Gear
Anglers who fish from kayaks in and around Tampa Bay use either standard light fishing rods, bait caster reels, and lures or fly rods, flies and jigs for fishing in the mangrove backcountry and the saltwater flats.
Rules and Regulations
The state of Florida requires the angler to have a valid saltwater fishing license to fish in Tampa Bay or in any of the areas where rivers flow into the bay. Please note that this license differs from a freshwater fishing license and is obtained through Florida's Division of Marine Fisheries Management. Josh Duvauchelle at Trails.com suggests buying the short-term three-day license which can save the nonresident quite a bit of money.
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