Your shoreline field guide
Fort De Soto Bay Pier
Pinellas · pier
Call ahead7 a.m. to sunset (County listed pier hours)Paid: County beach parking fee $6 per day through November 30, 2026; $3.50/hour capped at $12/day beginning December 1, 2026.
Good for
Target species
Style
pierflatsstructure
Officially listed features
restrooms
From the official source linked below.
General guidance: Faces the grass flats of the inner bay; drift shrimp near the pilings for trout and flounder when the tide is moving.
Wind & weather
Forecast from National Weather Service, updated Oct 25, 7:36 PM ET
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Conditions can change; check the official source before you go.
| Status | Call ahead Fort De Soto Park (Pinellas County) · (727) 582-2100 · website |
|---|---|
| Status note | County repair project for the Hurricane Helene-damaged Bay Pier lists construction for Summer 2026 to Fall 2026. |
| Address | 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (park address) |
| Hours | 7 a.m. to sunset (County listed pier hours) |
| Parking / fees | Paid: County beach parking fee $6 per day through November 30, 2026; $3.50/hour capped at $12/day beginning December 1, 2026. |
| Amenities | Restrooms |
| Fishing license | County states a fishing license is required throughout the park, including fishing piers. Fishing license: who needs one |
Last checked Oct 2026 from Pinellas County: Fort De Soto Park Repairs
Fish to target here
General habitat guidance; confirm access and regulations before fishing.
- Spotted seatrout Grass flats in calmer bay water suit shrimp suspended just above vegetation for trout.
- Sheepshead Faces the grass flats of the inner bay; drift shrimp near the pilings for trout and flounder when the tide is moving.
- Flounder Grass flats in calmer water let anglers search the sand boundaries where flounder ambush prey.
- Ladyfish Calmer bay water and grass flats suit small jigs retrieved above the vegetation for ladyfish.
Tide chart, next 48 hours
7-day high/low table
Station: Mullet Key Channel (Skyway) (8726364) · 0.1 km away. Heights in feet above MLLW; station local time (EST/EDT). Predictions are not observed conditions.
| Date / time | Tide | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-26 06:51 | Low | -0.482 |
| 2026-10-26 13:54 | High | 1.59 |
| 2026-10-26 18:02 | Low | 1.039 |
| 2026-10-27 00:02 | High | 2.397 |
| 2026-10-27 07:38 | Low | -0.618 |
| 2026-10-27 14:50 | High | 1.458 |
| 2026-10-27 18:21 | Low | 1.109 |
| 2026-10-28 00:33 | High | 2.526 |
| 2026-10-28 08:29 | Low | -0.64 |
| 2026-10-28 15:51 | High | 1.31 |
| 2026-10-28 18:39 | Low | 1.136 |
| 2026-10-29 01:11 | High | 2.569 |
| 2026-10-29 09:25 | Low | -0.556 |
| 2026-10-30 01:55 | High | 2.507 |
| 2026-10-30 10:27 | Low | -0.394 |
| 2026-10-31 02:49 | High | 2.34 |
| 2026-10-31 11:37 | Low | -0.198 |
| 2026-11-01 03:03 | High | 2.094 |
| 2026-11-01 11:49 | Low | -0.004 |
Red tide (FWC samples, last 8 days)
Nearest sample: Mullet Key; Gulf Pier, Oct 19 2026; not present/background (0-1,000); 1.3 km away. Maximum within 15 km: not present/background (0-1,000) (6 samples).
Samples are point-in-time observations; missing samples do not establish safe conditions. Check FWC’s current report.
Sources
OpenClosedCall ahead
Map requires an internet connection. Spot details are listed below.
Spot a change? Email [email protected]
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