Continent
North America
Country
Florida (USA)
Next Big City
Tampa, St. Petersburg
Next Town
St. Petersburg
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Food, Parking

Water

Type:
Shallow, Chop
Hazards:
Currents, Mole
Quality:
Clean
Best Tide:
Tide independent

Tends to get choppy and disorganized on SW winds. The north end near the point is shallow. The south end closer to the pier is deeper with strong currents. The middle of the cove is great. Stay away from the pier due to Biggers fishes. Beginner to advanced area.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Big
Hazards:
Bystanders
Beach Users:
March, April, May, June, July, August

Huge, wide and sandy beach.

Weather

Spring:
Shorts
Summer:
Shorts
Fall:
Shorts
Winter:
Shorts, Shorty

Usually just shorts. A couple of cold weeks in the winter, but very warm compared to anywhere not tropical. Then a shorty should be fine.

Wind

Best Months:
January, February, March, November, December
Wind Type:
Thermal, Frontal
Best Direction:
SW, NW
Main Direction:
No information

The strong winds come in the winter and are frontal, so not really predictable. A nice sea breeze comes in during the spring and fall, but summer has very light winds. Best on NW and SW winds.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Medium walk

Take I-4 west to 275 south, to exit # 4 (Pinellas Bayway) go west, pass the toll booth (.50 cents), turn left at the second light onto "679" heading south toward fort Desoto. You will have another toll (.35 cents) at the entrance to the Park. Take a right at the "T" junction go 1.5 to 2 miles. This area is just north of the snack bar, at the middle to upper end of the cove, and approx 1-2 miles south of North Beach. Park on the left, and take a path over the sand dune. Stay on the path, and wear shoes, so you don't get splintered with those nasty sand-spurs.

Extra information

Rules
None

Still sorting them out, but no real problems for now. Just be respectful to tourists on the beach if the seasons overlap, but usually winter is kiting season and the beaches aren't very full. The beaches can get really crowed with sunbathers and swimmers during the spring and summer months. Avoid Mid-day on sunny weekends. After 5 pm the crowds are mostly gone. Watch out for stone crap traps, your lines can get tangled in the buoys.

Nightlife

Lots of nightlife in town.