O/T Kayaking?
- Thread starter jrizo1
- Start date
listen2bob
- David
I work out of kayak 3 days a week. Fred Howard park, double branch creek, ft. Desoto are all pretty nice.
listen2bob
- David
Weeki wachie is also nice and convenient
St Pete John
New member
Fresh/brackish - chassahowitzka (hope i spelled that right lol) river.
Fresh - rainbow river.
Salt - Gotta second weedon island, the kayak trail is killer, tunnels of mangroves and life everywhere. I live right by there and see everything from 10 ft bull sharks to bald eagles.
Fresh - rainbow river.
Salt - Gotta second weedon island, the kayak trail is killer, tunnels of mangroves and life everywhere. I live right by there and see everything from 10 ft bull sharks to bald eagles.
Egkid
New member
You gotta be careful at double branch on an outgoing tide when you're trying to come back in, especially with a 12 year old. The tide RIPS through there, also make sure you have a GPS it is extremely easy to get lost in the mangroves. An opening that you just went through will disappear against the background of other trees 100ft away.
Double Branch has some awesome scenery and it's really quiet as it's too shallow for any boats to get back there, it's in Oldsmar actually not too far from FAOIS and Coral Corral. This is probably one of the more secluded areas, if you go on a weekday there's a chance you won't see another person all day, even on the weekend you won't see too many people.
In Pinellas your best bet is Ft. Desto it's very open so no chance of getting lost, but won't be as fun as going through some mangrove tunnels or forest. This is a good start cause you'll usually be in less than 5 feet of water and there's lots of good things to see in the flats. This is probably going to be one of the busier places, if you're not fishing it shouldn't matter though.
Then in Tampa there's Weedon Island this has some of the best mangrove tunnels, there's one that's only about 3 feet wide and the mangroves close right above you. The little tunnels are blast as you feel like you're about to enter some lost paradise when you get to the other side. I always launched from Gandy and made the 2.5-3 mile paddle over , but there is a launch in the park somewhere. The no see-ums are brutal here in the Summer so bring bug spray.
Always make sure to check the forecast before going out, the wind is the biggest pain and always told me where I was going to go. It can also change direction out of nowhere and make the paddle back a nightmare. Anything more than 15mph just stay in, you have to paddle hard against the wind and cannot stop cause it'll just blow you back and fast. You can usually stick close to mangroves to stay out of the wind, which is where Double Branch came in handy.
Double Branch has some awesome scenery and it's really quiet as it's too shallow for any boats to get back there, it's in Oldsmar actually not too far from FAOIS and Coral Corral. This is probably one of the more secluded areas, if you go on a weekday there's a chance you won't see another person all day, even on the weekend you won't see too many people.
In Pinellas your best bet is Ft. Desto it's very open so no chance of getting lost, but won't be as fun as going through some mangrove tunnels or forest. This is a good start cause you'll usually be in less than 5 feet of water and there's lots of good things to see in the flats. This is probably going to be one of the busier places, if you're not fishing it shouldn't matter though.
Then in Tampa there's Weedon Island this has some of the best mangrove tunnels, there's one that's only about 3 feet wide and the mangroves close right above you. The little tunnels are blast as you feel like you're about to enter some lost paradise when you get to the other side. I always launched from Gandy and made the 2.5-3 mile paddle over , but there is a launch in the park somewhere. The no see-ums are brutal here in the Summer so bring bug spray.
Always make sure to check the forecast before going out, the wind is the biggest pain and always told me where I was going to go. It can also change direction out of nowhere and make the paddle back a nightmare. Anything more than 15mph just stay in, you have to paddle hard against the wind and cannot stop cause it'll just blow you back and fast. You can usually stick close to mangroves to stay out of the wind, which is where Double Branch came in handy.
listen2bob
- David
http://www.hillsborough.wateratlas.usf.edu/river/hydrology.asp?wbodyid=30&wbodyatlas=river
My bathymetry maps for double branch in case you get lost.
Also, weedon is in Pinellas
My bathymetry maps for double branch in case you get lost.
Also, weedon is in Pinellas
BlueCoast
New member
For quick trips, I love this place.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//27.8278816,-82.7541399/@27.8279038,-82.7535469,287m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0
Lots of calm water back in the mangroves, you find lots of schools of smaller fish, the water is pretty clear since it moves pretty slow. People park on the side of the road and drop in, you can park all of 10' from the drop in spot.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//27.8278816,-82.7541399/@27.8279038,-82.7535469,287m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0
Lots of calm water back in the mangroves, you find lots of schools of smaller fish, the water is pretty clear since it moves pretty slow. People park on the side of the road and drop in, you can park all of 10' from the drop in spot.
If you're ever down in Fort Lauderdale area, hit me up... I know a few, and can go down to Everglades national park if the timing's right. Look me up in the FMAS forum.
bwalders65
New member
+1 for Weeki Wachee its the best kayaking you will get the water is amazing.
jrizo1
New member
Thanks for the GPS suggestion I will be looking to buy one this week
