STICKY - Pier info and links

[GoinDeep]

...........Local Tides: www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/tampabaysites.html
.Fish Identification: indian-river.fl.us/fishing/fish/index.html
.......Local weather: www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Saint_Petersburg.html
................My FWC: www.myfwc.com/
Fishing Regulations: www.fishingregulations.org/

Pier contact info:

North Pier: 727-865-0668
South Pier: 941-729-0117
Piers Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Pier Associates, Inc.
Skyway State Fishing Pier
P.O. Box 146
Terra Ceia Island, FL 34250

The prices for pier access are as follows:

$4 per adult over 12
$2 per child 6-12
Kids 5 and under are free
Plus +$4 for your vehicle

There is no room to turn around RV's, so they are not allowed. Slide on campers and Vans are welcome.

24 hour sightseeing passes may be purchased for $3.00. Group rates may be available with advanced notice. The above prices do not include Florida state sales tax.

General pier info and rules:

The Skyway State Fishing Pier is located in 3 counties on Tampa Bay. A unique fishing location between Bradenton and St. Petersburg with easy access off I-275.

The South Fishing Pier is the longest Fishing Pier in the world and has parking for 571 vehicles. The North Fishing Pier has parking for over 200 vehicles. Both piers are open 24 hours a day. 7 days a week and offer a complete bait store, rod rentals, souvenirs, public telephone, snacks and restrooms. No alcohol or pets are allowed on either pier.

For the forty plus years since the original span of the Skyway Bridge was built, fisherman have been visiting the bridge to fight with a tremendous variety of fish, from Shark, Tarpon, and Jewfish, to the King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Grouper, and Sea Bass.

Once a man caught a 1,200 pound Tiger Shark while traffic was whizzing by, he stood behind an angler, while battling this master of the oceans.

The Skyway bridge has always had a reputation for producing a large variety of fish, but now with the additions of artificial reefs, the fishing is really beginning to boom.

The Skyway State Fishing Pier was constructed by removing all the material from the center of the original steel and concrete bridges, placing it in strategic locations both around the fishing piers and off shore in the gulf, and tying the dead ends of each of the spans together to create a three quarter mile long pier on the north and one and one half mile long pier on the south side of Tampa Bay.

Both bridges are the the width of the original four lanes of the two old bridges, and you can drive your car onto the pier and park it right next to the area you wish to fish.

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Skyway State Fishing Piers
This Pier Is A State Park
The Following Activities and Products Are prohibited by State Park Regulations

(1) No Alcoholic Beverages Allowed State Parks.
(2) No Glass Containers.
(3) No Firearms, or any Explosive Devices.
(4) No Open Fires or Grills.
(5) No Diving or Jumping From Pier.
(6) Feeding Birds Prohibited.
(7) No Animals (Unless Trained For Aid to
Handicapped)
(8) No Tents tarps or canopy's allowed

ADDITIONAL PIER RULES

(1) No PROFANITY
(2) No Loud Music
(3) No pinfish traps Except in Designated areas
(4) No Littering
(5) Please Observe Speed Limits And Parking Zones
(6) Misconduct Toward Pier Visitors or Facilities Will Not Be Tolerated.
(7) No Running, Roller Skating, Skateboarding,
Bicycling, Roller blading or Scooters.
(8) All Children Must Be Carefully Attended By
Parents or Guardians at all times.

[Kracker]

every time i go to the pier i always see alcohol containers in the trash. and every once in a while i see people skateboarding, riding bikes, razor skooters, and on the 9th i saw plenty of canopies and tents being used. do people not read the rules? i mean youre handed a paper with the rules on it every time you enter the pier.

[bigcatcatcher]

Some people just dont care about the rules.When i worked on Big Pier 60 i was a stickler to the no alcohol rule because i work nights including weekend nights and man when these guys brought on the alcohol before i got there(the other employes were kinda lax on this rule) they would end up fighting around midnight. I had to call the police out there several times on these kind of fools. Now i am not a drinker and i know that my opinon on what drinking and fishing will be biased but here goes. The drinkers wouldent bring a fishing rod to the bar so why would you bring a beer to the pier or any where else you go fishing. Boating and drinking is even worse. Hope no offense was taken its just an opinon everbody has em.

[bcr213]

Just found a cool weather link for the Skyway…

www.windalert.com/spot/43804

[Mackerelman]

Some People Ask; Will We Need a Florida Non-Resident or Resident Fishing License when We Are Fishing at the Piers ?

ANSWER:

1. When You are Fishing at the NS & SS Skyway Fishing Piers, You Do Not Need a Fishing License.
                      But, If You are Fishing Any Waterway that is Close to the NS & SS Piers & You are Younger than 65 years old You Will Need a Florida Resident or Non-Resident Fishing License.

2. When You are Fishing at Fort Desoto State Park, A Fishing license is not needed when fishing from the Gulf Pier or the Bay Pier only;
                      But, if you fish from the Beach next to either of the Piers & You are Younger than 65 years old, a Fishing License is Required

3. If You are Fishing the Dunedin Causeway, You will Need Either a Florida Resident or Non-Resident Fishing License unless You are 65 years old or Older or Younger than 16 years old.

4. If You are Younger than 65 years Old, You Only Need a Florida Fishing License if You are:  Fishing Other than on a Licensed Fishing Pier or a Chartered Boat.

Who Does Not Need a Fishing License ?

Answer:

1.  Children under the age of 16 and If You are 65 Years Old or Older, You Do Not Need a Florida Fishing License.  The FWC will only ask You for Your Drivers License or State ID for Proof of Age.
             The State of Florida has Done Away with the "Life Time Permit" for being 65 Years of Age or Older.

NOTE:

1. If You are Under the Age of 65, It is always best to have a Florida Resident or Non-Resident Fishing License because there are Many Places to Fish here in Florida such as the Waterways & Bridges & Parks.

Persons with Disabilities, Click on the Following Link for the Details:

myfwc.com/license/accessibility/license/

Other Fishing License Information Can be Found at:

myfwc.com/license/recreational/do-i-need-a-license/

[patrickt]

How are the prices in the Bait shop? I haven't been in it yet,. too crowded when I was there. heading back with my sons in a few weeks,. just trying to see if worth looking around for bait elsewhere, Thanks

[tears143]

Apr 19, 2018 7:41:34 GMT -5 patrickt said:

How are the prices in the Bait shop? I haven't been in it yet,. too crowded when I was there. heading back with my sons in a few weeks,. just trying to see if worth looking around for bait elsewhere, Thanks

cost you an arm and an leg.

catch your own bait there unless it is shrimp. There are a few shop around there that has shrimp for cheap.

[seabird]

If you are coming from the north en route to the piers, there is a bait shop called Tatums on the right hand of US 19 (34th street). Here is a link, I often stop there. Prices much lower...good place to get snacks too.

www.yelp.com/biz/tatums-bait-and-tackle-st-petersburg

[tears143]

If heading south from st peter, I would stop by gator jim. 5 dozens for $10 shrimp.

[shadowxmas]

Re the NSP and SSP, I can not tell you how many times we have seen alcohol containers in the trash cans and not only beer cans and glass bottles and we have seen a Crown Royal bottle or more. Also the stuff just dropped on the ground and not put in the trash cans is ridiculous, tackle wrappers,candy wrappers, soda bottles etc. We have also found some really good stuff like knives,gloves,hooks,sinkers,sabiki rigs, beads and other fishing stuff that can be reused. We have even also found bait left behind. We have also seen people driving way too fast and some people on bicycles. Re the bicycles why did the toll booth for the pier not say anything to the people unless they pulled the bikes out of their truck/SUV after they parked their vehicles.

[shadowxmas]

The bait shop prices are higher than other places. They do sell cut squid pieces that work really well and will stay on the hook better than squid bought elsewhere. They are a thicker cut of squid and I think one of the employees told us it was Humbolt squid which is a tougher meat. Seabird mentioned Tatum's which is on 34th St on the right hand side going South has a lot of tackle and bait. I think they also have live shrimp. We have stopped there to check them out and were pleased with the prices. We got some bait and tackle there and will shop there again.

[shadowxmas]

May 11, 2008 20:52:36 GMT -5 Kracker said:

every time i go to the pier i always see alcohol containers in the trash. and every once in a while i see people skateboarding, riding bikes, razor skooters, and on the 9th i saw plenty of canopies and tents being used. do people not read the rules? i mean you're handed a paper with the rules on it every time you enter the pier.

Kracker,  There are those that think the rules do not apply to them.  I have seen many bicyclists run red lights on Gulf Blvd.  I also see other rules broken  re people bringing so called service animals into stores and other places when the animal is not a true service animal.  That hurts the people who have true service animals.  There are disabilities that are not visable ie a person who is diabetic or subject  to seizures and the dogs are trained to act when the handler's blood sugar drops or a person is about to have a seizure or has another medical complication that the dog is trained to react to.    

[ez2cdave]

Apr 25, 2018 22:35:10 GMT -5 shadowxmas said:

The bait shop prices are higher than other places. They do sell cut squid pieces that work really well and will stay on the hook better than squid bought elsewhere. They are a thicker cut of squid and I think one of the employees told us it was Humbolt squid which is a tougher meat. Seabird mentioned Tatum's which is on 34th St on the right hand side going South has a lot of tackle and bait. I think they also have live shrimp. We have stopped there to check them out and were pleased with the prices. We got some bait and tackle there and will shop there again.

TATUM's has been added to my list of places to get bait . . . Great info !

[SkyJay]

www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/skyway-fishing-pier-state-park

[tears143]

Mar 11, 2020 14:32:53 GMT -5 SkyJay said:

www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/skyway-fishing-pier-state-park

You can catch red snapper at the pier... Guess I suck at fishing.. never caught one there.

[SkyJay]

lol give it time Tears.
If the present trends of the last few years
continue they'll be in the Bay soon enough.

[tears143]

Mar 16, 2020 19:40:36 GMT -5 SkyJay said:

lol give it time Tears.
If the present trends of the last few years
continue they'll be in the Bay soon enough.

they are already in the bay... just not at the skyway bridge that I promise you.

[alamofishslayer]

Is there a place to clean/filet fish at the south pier?