North or South

[FeedingFrenzy]

Where do you like to be? I keep my boat in St. Pete, and hang out mostly around Egmont Key. I like the access to Ana Maria and that general area. We've got 2 small children, so being able to get onto a family beach is why we keep going to Egmont. I don't beach the boat, but anchor just off the beach and swim/wade in. My wife wants to head up north once in a while. Hows the area north of Clearwater? I checked out the Honeymoon area, but discovered a lot of rocks along the beaches. What do you prefer and why? We're thinking of moving our boat to that area. What's your experience and why do you like certain areas?
thanks
JW

 

[Fishermark]

I don't know about North... but South of you I highly recommend Cayo Costa for a nice family friendly area to take the boat. There is a nice anchorage on the intracoastal side, or many do as you do and anchor off the beach on the gulf side. It is a very nice and secluded destination.

 

[Aquaholic101]

Ditto Cayo Costa, State park there as well. Boca Grande is right there. Use the public dock rent a golf cart and cruise the island. The kids will get a kick out of the huge iguanas. Cabbage key to the north tourist trap but its worth the visit

 

[cmariner32]

3 Rooker Bar near Tarpon Springs is a favorite for people in the Clearwater and north area. Also, the key where the Anclote River empties into the gulf has lots of visitors. I keep my boat in Gulfport Marina and Shell Key north end and the south end (across from Fort Desoto) in the Bunces Pass area are close and have nice sandy beach area. The tidal currents get pretty swift at times and backing in to beach can be a challenge.

 

[tcijoe]

tripple that on cayo costa if you want to run that far south.

if not try jewfish key just inside of longboat pass. nice little island.

 

[caltexfla]

Quadruple that on Cayo Costa and Pine Island sound in general. I come all the way from Dallas just to be there!

George

 

[pdecat]

off the icw south of boca grand pass. Marker 72 or so IIRC

 

[Larryo]

I boat in the Maderia Beach area and get up to Clearwater a lot. There's a few small islands to beach on. There's on just north of the entrance to Bay Pines, south of the Bay Pines hosiptal. There's several in Clearwater harbor, but can be shallow.

Caladesi State Park is great, south of Honeymoon Island, has hooks ups, cheap, walk the beach, spend the nite.

Three Rookers, north of Honeymoon, anchorage.