It’s officially called the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. It used to be a bridge across Tampa Bay. But when it was replaced by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge the state of Florida tore the middle out of the old bridge and left a portion standing on the North and South shores which became the Skyway Fishing Pier North and South.
Here’s the website which has lots of great information and the directions to get there. It’s a beautiful place to visit even if not interested in fishing. The pelicans, herons, gulls, dolphins, fish, sunsets, sunrise, storms and other forms of nature always put on a show. You might even see a fisherman catch a fish or two.
It’s a shame the park agents don’t give tickets for littering. But there are park officials that enforce speed limits, catch limits, no alcohol use, and will help release birds which are sometimes hooked accidentally.
No fishing License is required but there is a charge assessed when you enter the park each day.

State Park Interstate 275
St. Petersburg FL 34221
United States

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/skyway-fishing-pier-state-park

Thanks. Good to know.

I fished the Skyway South most days 1-9 of September. Wind blew from North most days. In the past I’ve caught Spanish mackerel there from like at least May - November. This year no sign of them. Puzzling. I didn’t see many fish caught at all. One morning I caught about 9 blue runners and a couple of lizard fish.
I’ve used those same lures. They work well. I’ve also used gold and silver sidewinders with great results.

I’ll get a couple of the silver lures and spray paint white and try them out.

Yes. And the money they spend on that?

They probably belong to health spas etc.

As we kill the giant fish that are the breeders eventually through genetics the population will contain smaller and smaller specimens as only the smallest will continue to produce offspring.

You are so right about shark meat and urine. I wouldn’t eat one either.

And that goes for any apex predators in salt or fresh water. Apex predators are at the top of the food chain. As a result they accumulate many toxins and chemicals in their flesh. The larger the fish the more “contaminated it is.

For instance catfish, the guys that clean and eat those 20lb fish and above are eating fish full of fat and full of contamination. Eating the 1-3 pounders taste best and there’s plenty of that size yo consume.

As for saltwater, those that eat lop predators like large tuna, swordfish, striped bass, grouper, snapper and perhaps large mahi mahi (and I’m sure there are plenty of other examples) those fish especially at larger sizes are full of contaminates. I wonder if anyone tests those huge tuba that are caught and endangered for accumulated contaminates?

I was at Skyway South Bridge the last couple of days. No one Fishing was catching much of anything while I was there regardless of tides. The wind was out of the North and weather unsettled. So I did the next useful thing. I picked up old fishing line and trash from from the entrance to the Tackle Snack store on both sides of the Bridge. What a mess! But at least all that line and plastic will not be blown into the water. 2 trash bags full of trash. One plastic bag of old fishing line. 😂😂😎😎😎
I did manage to catch several lizard fish, 3 blue runners, 1 small snapper, 2 pelicans and wrestled with Flipper who stole probably another blue runner while playing tug of war.

It looks to me Florida is trying to discourage shark fishing. I always catch and release anyway but lots of rules and regulations. So I think I'll continue surf fishing as usual and fishing for drum or catfish or whatever picks up the bait. I’m not going to target sharks at all. I love to catch fish. I love to eat fish. I will continue to catch and release while others continue to enjoy their catch on the table as they have a right to do.
We owe the shark shortage to the shark fin harvesters. Once again not Homo sapiens. Homo destroya.

Thanks.

I fished the Skyway Pier a couple of nights ago. There were not many fisherman. No sign of bait in the water that usually is surrounded by greens. The birds acted like they were starving. I’ve never seen the area so deserted.

Is this a coincidence or has the red tide and pollution of the bay killed everything.

As for bait, I guess it depends on how large a shark one wants to catch. The bigger the bait the larger the shark. Although I’d like to catch a 300lb monster and I do have surf rods in my arsenal, but nothing I’d care to use to catch a really large shark. Up to 50 lbs or so is big enough especially as I fish by myself usually. I’ve caught several on lady fish. I just chunk and store on ice during the day and fish at dusk.

I didn’t know there was a shark catching class one needed to take. I just used the methods I’ve used to catch jumbo blue cats.

Please tell me about the class.

Folks poach paddlefish and sturgeon below the Chain of Rocks Dam on the Mississippi River too.
I found a huge pile of carcasses one day. They just split the body cavities open and swiped the roe.
I called Missouri and Illinois Fish and Game guys. I waited there for them. They actually got there pretty fast. The poachers butchered male and female alike looking for roe. Then just left the corpses in a depression up the bank aways. I hope they caught them, banned them from fishing for their lifetimes, confiscated their equipment, rewarded the killers with a bit of jail time, and a huge fine as well.

Yes it’s a Pacu and reported to be delicious. They are related to piranha being in the tetra family. But pacu are omnivorous, but mainly feed on vegetation, seeds, and nuts that fall into the water.

Great place to fish. Great place to observe dolphins, pelicans all kinds of stuff. This time of year pretty hot. But Spanish mackerel should be all around. Fun to catch.

He’s welcome. You too.

Happy Birthday to Felix the Catfisherman!!!😎😎

I’ve snagged many a 30lb plus big head carp. Super fun to catch that way.

They are not to be returned to the water.

Several times I worked with a farmer. I caught the carp, hauled them up the steep bank with a gaff, he’d haul them over to his pickup truck and throw them in the back. He took them home, prepares them carefully (HA!), then heaves them into the hog pen. 😎😎oink oink says yum yum bring some more.

So if your bacon tastes a bit fishy now you know the reason.