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Old 02-15-2011, 09:32 AM
 
6 posts, read 19,220 times
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Hi,

We (family of 5 w/ 3 young boys) will be coming down from DC area for a week (around the Memorial Day weekend) and camping at the Fort De Soto park. We will bring our kayak with us.

Would appreciate info on what to expect for kayaking around the park (tides, launch points aside from the Kayak rental, etc). Also we will be looking to fish some too (from Kayak and from surf & Skyview pier). Any info on what to expect and especially tips on honey holes will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

John
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Old 02-15-2011, 10:04 AM
 
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Sharks, stingrays, jellyfish......
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Old 02-15-2011, 10:12 AM
 
Location: Owasso, OK
1,224 posts, read 4,000,401 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by juankim View Post
Hi,

We (family of 5 w/ 3 young boys) will be coming down from DC area for a week (around the Memorial Day weekend) and camping at the Fort De Soto park. We will bring our kayak with us.

Would appreciate info on what to expect for kayaking around the park (tides, launch points aside from the Kayak rental, etc). Also we will be looking to fish some too (from Kayak and from surf & Skyview pier). Any info on what to expect and especially tips on honey holes will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

John
I cannot address your specific questions regarding fishing and boating, but Ft. DeSoto is spectacular. It is truly one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Very clean and lots of shells. We were there last July and there were thousands of sand dollars. Make sure you check out the pier. The dolphins swim right up and you can see schools or Jack and Sardines. We checked out the camping areas while there and they are very shaded. There is a small toll to get on the island so make sure you have change available. Have fun! I can't wait to go back.
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Old 02-15-2011, 10:16 AM
 
Location: Owasso, OK
1,224 posts, read 4,000,401 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Audioslave1981 View Post
Sharks, stingrays, jellyfish......
We spent two full days on the beach and in the water and only encountered a couple of stingrays and they were very small. The sharks come up usually after dark, but they are small.

It's a great place to take a family. Every saltwater area is going to have it's fair share of these creatures. I wouldn't consider it dangerous at all though. There were rip warnings while we were there, so you will want to be aware of that. The currents we experienced were mild, although rips can vary.
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Old 02-15-2011, 10:55 AM
 
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Hillsborough River is nice for Kayaking, peaceful. Pinnelas County has a lot of nice and peaceful places to kayak. A lot of them are around Tarpon Springs/Palm Harbor...

FDS will be crowded then...
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:32 AM
 
Location: Tampa Bay Area
494 posts, read 1,676,519 times
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The campground there is really nice looking but I think it's no doggies
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:35 AM
 
6 posts, read 19,220 times
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Algia - thanks for the suggestion. How far of a drive would these places be from Ft De Soto park?

Also, would there be a chance for us to catch a glimpse or two of the Manatees either around Ft De Soto or other nearby rivers, bays?

Thanks everyone for your info/suggestions!

John
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Old 02-15-2011, 12:08 PM
 
35,309 posts, read 52,299,308 times
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Never heard of Manatees around Ft Desoto, If you go up north a few miles(50 miles) to Weeki Wachee you can rent a Kayak or canoe from the Weeki Wachee park parking lot and float down the river, takes about 4 hours,you might get to see a manatee, further north in Homossassa you can do the same but you have more chance to see a manatee..
If you rent a Kayak at Ft Desoto you'll have plenty of areas to paddle around and the fishing is good just about everywhere..
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Old 02-15-2011, 06:26 PM
 
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it depends where you'd be staying but they are whitin an our or so maybe, depending on time of day/traffic....

From St Pete to Tarpon Springs is about 40 minutes, im thinking about the same from St Pete to Hillsborough river....

Quote:
Originally Posted by juankim View Post
Algia - thanks for the suggestion. How far of a drive would these places be from Ft De Soto park?

Also, would there be a chance for us to catch a glimpse or two of the Manatees either around Ft De Soto or other nearby rivers, bays?

Thanks everyone for your info/suggestions!

John
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Old 02-15-2011, 06:46 PM
 
5,453 posts, read 9,300,717 times
Reputation: 2141
I also second the Weeki Watchee it is beautiful up there...the water is super clear, but you have to watch out for snakes, as long as you don't get to close to the bushes you're fine...
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