St. Pete Beach Shore Fishing - Pass A Grille to Blind Pass

St. Pete Beach has some of the areas best spots to fish from shore. If you are landlocked, don't want to wade and love to fish St. Pete Beach is a great place to try your luck from shore. There is plenty of shoreline, good tidal flow and a tremendous number of species that inhabit the waters.

The city makes great use of it's shoreline for area and visiting fisherman. Most spots have plenty of space and many provide benches for your comfort.

The Pass A Grille Jetty: MAP IT

The Pass A Grille Jetty is located on the corner of 1st Ave. and Gulf Way on the Southwest tip of Pass A Grille Beach right next to Point Pass A Grille Condo's. There is plenty of metered parking available for the early arrivals along Gulf Way for $1.25/hr. The meters do take credit cards so don't worry about having to dig up quarters before heading out.

There is no shortage of fishing spots along the rocks to the South, the beach to the North but it seems that most find their way to the pier itself where space is limited. If you are one that can deal with elbow to elbow fishing, an occasional tangled line and having to move for those hooked up you probably won't find a better spot.

The tidal flow through Pass A Grille Pass is tremendous bringing in some of the pelagic species, and the rocks along both sides provide habitat for our native species: snook, redfish, drum, and speckled trout. I was there for about twenty minutes on Saturday and saw five different species landed and a great deal of cooperation among the fisherman.

The Merry Pier Area: MAP IT

There is unfettered sea wall available to land based fisherman surrounding the Merry Pier on Gulf Blvd from 12th Ave. to 1rst Ave. There is good tidal flow and a good variety of species available and benches are placed all along the walkway for your comfort.

Bait can be purchased at the Merry Pier, and there is plenty of structure around from rock piles, old pilings and around the pier itself. Fishermen have caught almost everything from this area but snook, trout and redfish are the staples.

Use the following link for more information and images of the Merry Pier in St. Pete Beach.

Sunset Park: MAP IT

Sunset Park is located directly next to Woody's Waterfront Cafe at 73rd Ave and Sunset Way. Parking is free in designated areas and there is plenty of room along the seawall for anglers to get a line wet. Take advantage of the tremendous tidal flow through Blind Pass without having to put a boat in the water or get your feet wet.

The Blind Pass area has long been a favorite for snook, flounder, trout, redfish as well as the Spanish mackerel when during the spring and fall kingfish runs.

The rocks along the seawall provide good structure for native species and are sure to catch a line or two in your day fishing Sunset Park

Blind Pass Park & The Ron McKenney Pier: MAP IT

Blind Pass Park is located on the corner of 93rd Ave. and Gulf Blvd directly behind the welcome to St. Pete Beach Sign. It is the closest public spot to the Blind Pass Bridge but unfortunately you're not going to be able to fish it from the pier. There wasn't anyone fishing the park when I visited but the area is known for snook and sheepshead.

The bottom around the seawall appeared to be mostly sandy but I really don't know what type of structure might be found with a decent cast so it's definitely worth a go if you're in the area

The creature comforts are beyond compare with a cleaning table, covered picnic areas, grills, public restrooms and even a full playground for the kids. It's definitely a place for the whole family to make a day of it and test the waters near the Blind Pass Bridge.

The Bayway Bridge: MAP IT

The bridge from Tierra Verde to St. Pete Beach allows anglers to give their luck a try all the way up to the draw bridge. Parking is available for a few cars on the East side of the bridge. There aren't any no parking signs on the Northeast side but there is no parking lot and I saw only one vehicle parked there.

There is also a walkway all the way around the bridge so that anglers might access the beach the bridge pilings directly from below or try the waters surrounding the seawall.

The bridge area is known for sheepshead and pompano though other species do call the area home. The favorite technique of the day was vertical jigging Doc's Goofy Jigs, with a teaser, for pompano and the fishermen that I visited were having success.