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Parks	Modified: Oct 5, 2009 04:49 PM

Fishing / Boating

Fishing in St. Petersburg's
Freshwater Lakes and Water Ways

Fishing is allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily at designated lakes in St. Petersburg during the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. At other times of the year, park hours are observed with fishing allowed from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

A Fresh Water Fishing License is required at all fresh water lakes except for children ages 15 and under or anyone using a cane pole. Florida residents over age 65 do not need a fishing license, but must show proof of age and residency if requested. Please review the fishing licence exemptions at the Florida Fish and Wildlife website.

Fishing Licenses are available at Pinellas County Tax Collector Offices in St. Petersburg located at

• 1800 66th Street N.
• 501 First Avenue N.
• 1067 62nd Avenue S.

Additional offices include:
3025 Starkey Road in Largo;
1663 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard in Clearwater;
29399 US Highway 19 N.(Suite 100) in Clearwater;
743 South Pinellas Ave.(Suite #A-7) in Tarpon Springs

as well as from selected bait and sporting goods stores. For more fishing license information, call Pinellas County at 727-562-3262.

The following four lakes are open for fishing year-round:

Bartlett Lake - 22nd Ave. & Fifth St. S.
Fossil Park Lake -70th Ave. & Seventh St. N.
Walter Fuller Lake - 26th Ave. & 78th St. N.
Lake Maggiore -38th Ave. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., St. S.
Lake Eli (Little Lake Maggiore - 25th St. & Lamparilla Way S.

The following fresh water lakes are open for shoreline fishing only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The lakes are usually stocked with bass, bream, catfish and Nile perch.

Booker Creek Park - 13th Ave. & 22nd St. N.
Childs Park Lake -11th Ave. & 42nd St. S.
Crescent Lake Park - 22nd Ave. & Fifth St. N.
Eagle Crest Lake - Sixth Ave. & 66th St. N.
Euclid Lake - 25th Ave. & 17th St. N.
Moon Lake - 13th Ave. & 42nd St. N.
Kelley Lake - 40th Ave. & 20th St. N.
Lake Jude - Sixth Ave. & 55th St. N.
Lake Vista Park - 62nd Ave. & 14th St. S.
Lynch Lake - 70th Ave. & 18th St. N.
Mastry Lake - 64th Ave. & 14th St. N.
Mirror Lake - Second Ave. & Mirror Lake Dr. N.
Ruby Lake - 26th Ave. & 35th St.
Sheffield Lake - 24th Ave. & 49th St. N.
Sirmons Lake - 33rd Ave. & 41st St. N.
Teresa Gardens Lake - 32nd Ave. & 71st St. N.
Viking Lake - 75th Ave. & 14th St. N.

Fishing in St. Petersburg's 
Saltwater Lakes and Water Ways

A Salt Water Fishing License is required at all saltwater lakes and shorelines except for children ages 15 and under or anyone using a cane pole. Florida residents over age 65 do not need a fishing license, but must show proof of age and residency if requested. Please review the fishing licence exemptions at the Florida Fish and Wildlife website.

Salt water lakes generally have speckled trout, silver trout, red fish, sheepshead, mullet, catfish and nile perch. 

Bartlett Lake - 22nd Ave. & Fifth St. S.
Fossil Park Lake - 70th Ave. & Seventh St. N.

The Parks Department reminds anglers who fish in city lakes to observe the following guidelines:

Cast netting is permitted at Lake Maggiore only.
Crab traps are not allowed in any city lake.
Obey all posted signs.
Fish only from the shore.
Clean fish at home.
Use trash container.
Remove litter from your fishing outing.
Do not encroach upon private property.
Be considerate of the surrounding neighborhood.
Do not create excessive noise.

For more information, call the St. Petersburg Parks Department at (727) 893-7335.

Boat Ramps

The following boat ramps are open 24 hours:

Demens Landing Park, Bayshore Dr. & 2nd Ave. S. - 2 ramps.
Grandview Park, 6th St. & 39th Ave. S. - 2 ramps.
Jungle Prada Park, Park St. & Elbow Lane N. - 2 ramps.
Maximo Park, Pinellas Point Dr. & 34th St. S. - 7 ramps.

The following boat ramps are closed from 11 p.m. each night until 30 minutes before sunrise the following day:

• Bay Vista Park, 4th St. & Pinellas Point Dr. S. - 2 ramps
• Coffee Pot Park, 1st St. & 31st Ave. NE - 1 ramp
• Crisp Park, Poplar St. & 35th Ave. NE - 2 ramps*
• Lake Maggiore Park, 9th St. & 38th Ave. S. - 2 ramps
• Sunlit Cove, Sunlit Cove Dr. & Bay St. NE or 89 Ave. NE & 1st St. NE - 1 ramp
  *See also Commercial Vessel Section

 Pinellas County Parks Boat Ramps

Commercial Vessel/Wharf Use (Permit)

 Download Application (PDF)

Commercial vessel users may only use the five (5) public wharves at the locations listed below for the purpose of launching or retrieving boats. No person will use the public wharves of the city for the purpose of storage of any matter except for such reasonable time as may be absolutely necessary for the launching or retrieving of boats.

Before using the above listed public wharves, the operators of commercial vessels must obtain a permit. The annual permit is $235 (pro-rated at $20 per month) and the use permit sticker must be affixed to the commecial vessel on the port side adjacent to the Florida registration and must be visable at all times. Each vessel requires its own permit which is valid from January 1 to December 31.

An application for a commercial vessel permit may be obtained by completing an application in the Parks Administration Office, 1400 19th Street N., St. Petersburg, FL, 33713 or by downloading, printing and completing the application and faxing to our office at (727) 892-5103. Your Commercial Vessel Permit will be sent via certified mail to the address noted on the application.

Only the following boat ramps are available for commercial use:

Crisp Park, 36th Avenue and Poplar Street North (can only be used for commercial purposes from February 1 through September 30, between 30 minutes before sunrise and 6 p.m. each day)
Demens Landing Park, East end of First Avenue South
Grandview Park, Sixth Street and 39th Avenue South
Jungle Prada Park, West end of 22nd Avenue North
Maximo Park, 34th Street and Pinellas Point Drive South..

Boat Titles / Registration / Decals
Fishing Licenses
Florida Boating Course
Florida Fish and Wildlife Cons. Comm.
State Boating Laws (Summary)