A Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay A Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Logo Tampa Bay Estuary Program Logo Florida Department of Environmental Protection Logo Sport Fish Restoration Logo Southwest Florida Water Management District Logo
About This Guide
Boating
Fishing
Maps
Natural Resources
Managed Areas
Resource Directory
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CONTACT US:
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission

Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-896-8626
http://MyFWC.com/
BoatingGuides
Boating_Guides@
MyFWC.com


Tampa Bay Estuary Program
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-893-2765
http://www.tbep.org
saveit@tbep.org


Tampa Bay Estuary Program License Plate
Funding for this project was obtained through Tampa Bay Estuary Program specialty license plate funds.


Sport Fish Restoration Logo
Additional funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
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This Web site contains maps showing the entire Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay, detailed inset maps, and an interactive map allowing users to zoom in or out, as well as navigate around the map. Additional information was added to the site to enhance the user’s experience. Some of the elements added include additional fish to the Popular Sport Fish section, links for the various organizations in the Resource Directory, and fishing regulations specific to the Tampa Bay area. At the bottom of each page, a link is provided for users to send comments, questions, or suggestions.

The information provided by this Web site is grouped into the following categories:

BOATING
Safety and Courtesy – General information about boating safely on Tampa Bay.
Share the Nautical Road – Helpful tips for safely operating boats around the cargo vessels that operate in and around the bay.
Marinas – A list of Clean Marinas (as designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) found on the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay. Marinas with pumpouts are identified.
Boat Ramps – A list of public access boat ramps and associated facility information found on the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay.
Paddling Trails – Information and links for some managed canoe and kayak trails around Tampa Bay

FISHING
Catch and Release: Important tips for properly handling and releasing saltwater fish.
Popular Sport Fish: A list of popular sport fish caught in and around Tampa Bay, including pictures.
Fishing Regulations: An up-to-date list of fishing regulations (state and federal) specific to Tampa Bay, includes pictures.
Fishing Piers: A list of fishing piers found on the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay.
Artificial Reefs: A list of artificial reefs found in the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay.

MAPS
Interactive: Two interactive maps of the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay that allows users to zoom in and out and move around the map.
Detailed Maps: Maps of popular areas of the bay that show more detail than the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay. These can be downloaded to a computer and printed on any desktop printer.
Marine Zones: Maps showing boating regulation zones for popular areas around Tampa Bay. These zones include safety and security zones, manatee speed zones, and seagrass protection areas.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Native Habitats: Information describing the coastal habitats of Tampa Bay including seagrass, mangroves, salt marsh and mudflats, and oysters.
Animals of the Bay: Highlights various animals of Tampa Bay, specifically sea turtles, manatees, and coastal birds.

MANAGED AREAS
County Parks and Preserves: Information for, and links to, county parks that provide boating and fishing access.
State Parks and Preserves: Information for, and links to, state parks that provide boating and fishing access.
Aquatic Preserves: Descriptions and lists of aquatic preserves around Tampa Bay.
National Wildlife Refuges: A list of the National Wildlife Refuges around Tampa Bay.

Web site designed and produced by Chris Anderson, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). Printed Guide designed and produced by Chris Anderson, Kathleen O’Keife, and Henry Norris, FWC FWRI. Projects managed by Misty Cladas (Web) and Nanette O'Hara (print), Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Funding provided by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund. The Sport Fish Restoration Program collects money from taxes on fishing equipment and boat fuel and distributes the funds to projects that improve fishing and boating opportunities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa Bay Estuary Program are not responsible for omissions, misrepresentations, or factual errors.

Maps available through this Web site should not be used for navigation.

All photographs in this Web site are courtesy of FWC, unless otherwise specified.

Copies of the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay are available from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program or the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.


If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this Web site, please e-mail us at Boating_Guides@MyFWC.com.

Would you like to receive notices of changes to this Web site and the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay? If so, please e-mail us and include SUBSCRIBE-TAMPA in the subject line.