Skyway Fishing Pier State Park | |
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Location | Pinellas and Manatee Counties, Florida, United States |
Nearest city | St. Petersburg, Florida |
Coordinates | 27°40′41″N 82°40′41″W / 27.67806°N 82.67806°W |
Established | 1994 |
Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is a Florida State Park located on the north and south sides of the mouth of Tampa Bay. When the original cantilevered Sunshine Skyway Bridge, carrying I-275 (US 19), partially collapsed in 1980, due to the collision of a freighter on one of its pilings, it was replaced by the current bridges. The approaches to the old bridge, however, were left in place and converted into the longest fishing pier in the world.[citation needed]
The most common activity on the pier is fishing. Common catches include snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, grunts, sharks, Goliath Grouper, Lane Snapper, flounder, and many more.
Other pier activities include site seeing and photography.
Before the bridge are good flats to fish at, kite board, kayak, and wind surf.
Snacks, drinks, bait, and fishing supplies can be purchased on the pier, which has a fee for admission. The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.