Live 1/2 hour south of Tampa. Anywhere closer w/"Blue" Water?

ExCon · 08-02-2009, 08:29 AM

I can launch from EG Simmons park which is 5 minutes away but it is in Tampa Bay and the water quality is piss poor. I want to launch north of Sarasota but in an area that has bright and clear water. Fort Desoto is an option but it still is aver 30 minutes to get there. Are there any places to lauch that are close to Apollo Beach off Rt 41 (Tamiami Trail) ?

mirror · 08-02-2009, 09:27 AM

Cross the skyway and take the first right hand exit to Skyway lane and turn left and the bottom and go straight into Maximo park. There is a launch ramp there that is free and it will take you right out to nice water.

NRG · 08-02-2009, 10:37 AM

Around here? You are going to have to go to the Keys or SFL. All the water around this area is pretty murky. Seriously though, Three Rooker/Anclote has some nicer water, Jewfish Key is OK. We just got back from a trip to Homosassa, and the spring water is some of the clearest I have ever seen.

my00b16si · 08-02-2009, 10:50 AM

we need to get you out of the bay and in to the gulf. i started posting links to all the ramps but something happened to them... i will find them later a repost them.... Egmont and jewfishkey are a few must see places

madscientist · 08-02-2009, 12:49 PM

there is a launch at the far south end of siesta key in sarasota that heads to a pass.

my00b16si · 08-02-2009, 06:21 PM

copy and paste in to google maps

27.447934, -82.688427 longboat key
27.447934, -82.688427 king fish
27.712292, -82.682832 Maximo
27.725450, -82.470959 Seagrape?
27.745820, -82.473443 E. G. Simmons?looks dirty
27.860067, -82.384814 williams park? looks dirty

ExCon · 08-03-2009, 07:17 AM

We launch off Manasota bridge just north of Stump Pass and it gets you to top notch spots in 10 minutes but it takes 1 hour to drive there. We hit Eggmont yesterday and was a nice ride considering it's close but once you ride Stumps Pass and Boca Grande I guess everything else looks like Hell. We did have a great ride though, riding around Anna Maria and over to Eggmont. Saw a Loggerhead Turtle and the regular asst. of dolphins. Only bad part was being SLAMMED by a rogue wave and getting knocked off my ski so hard I have black and blue all over my ***. First time I ever got knocked off in 5 years even being forced to use one hand to hold on.

David3aces · 09-18-2009, 10:27 PM

Free ramp and parking at bridge to Anna Maria Island Manatee County
Ride around north end of Island into Gulf. Water very nice.
Try to go on weekday. Avoid Spring time.

ctheodores · 11-15-2009, 11:55 PM

I dont know if you still look at this but APollo Beach has a launch ramp. Its private but right across from Beer Can Island.
10 bucks for launching for the day. Its on Surfside blvd all the way at the end of Apollo Beach BLVD