CONTACT US:
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-896-8626
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Tampa Bay Estuary Program
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-893-2765
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Funding for this project was obtained through Tampa Bay Estuary Program specialty license plate funds.
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Additional funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
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At high tide, Florida’s largest open-water estuary stretches 398 square miles. Popular for sport and recreation, the bay also supports one of the world’s most productive natural systems. Estuaries like Tampa Bay, where salt water from the sea meets and mixes with fresh water from rivers and uplands, are nurseries for young fish, shrimp, and crabs. More than 70 percent of all fish, shellfish, and crustaceans spend some critical stage of their development in these nearshore waters, protected from larger predators that swim the open sea.
Wildlife abounds along the shores of Tampa Bay. As many as 40,000 pairs of birds – from the familiar brown pelican to the colorful roseate spoonbill – nest in Tampa Bay every year. Others, including sandpipers and white pelicans, are seasonal visitors.
By boating safely and with greater awareness of the natural environment, you can help protect Tampa Bay and the wildlife that depends on these waters for survival.
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The interactive Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay Web site was created to complement the printed Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay. To access the features of this Web site, please select one of the subject headings to the left or click on the icon below.
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This Web site was last updated on August 27, 2013.
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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.
Photo credits: Black skimmer © Bryon Chamberlin, Sunshine Skyway Bridge © Chris Anderson, Angler with red drum © OsbornePhtography.com, Mangrove prop roots © Chris Anderson
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