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Play > Water Sports
/ Recreation |
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With 62 miles of waterfront, and some of the best fishing
around, South Tampa Bay is a boater's paradaise. |
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SALTWATER AND
FRESHWATER FISHING |
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For fishing the Gulf of
Mexico, sometimes called blue water fishing, you’ll want a charter boat or
party boat to take you to the best known deep water spots. A charter will
take up to six fishermen while the party boats take as many as 50. Both
types leave from marinas in both counties. An advantage to the angler is
that the captains and crews of these boats generously give guidance and
advice.
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Anglers visiting local waters soon
discover they've landed in fisherman's heaven. The area's bays, bayous and
the Gulf of Mexico provide some of the most challenging and successful
fishing in Southwest Florida.
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KAYAK &
CANOEING |
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Florida's Sea Kayaking Association |
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Florida
Canoe Trails |
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Scuba Diving |
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Florida Scuba
Diving |
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Scuba Diving & Snorkeling -
FloridaGame |
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PUBLIC BEACHES |
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Welcome to some of the
world's most beautiful beaches! Enjoy picnicking, shelling, swimming,
walking . . . or whatever you'd like on these sugar-sand beaches bordered
by crystal-blue waters. We've indicated below the variety of amenities
you'll find at our lovely beaches, so you can plan ahead. Enjoy!
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Manatee County |
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Anna Maria Bayfront Park, on the northern end of Anna Maria Island, is
a secluded beach that fronts both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of
Mexico. According to the locals, this is the best beach in the area for
finding unbroken sand dollars and scalloped cockleshells.
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Beer Can Island, located in Longboat Pass, is a remote island
inhabited only by native vegetation and accessible only by boat. It is a serene spot for picnics and sunny
naps. |
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Coquina Beach, on Anna Maria's southern tip, is a lovely
and popular public beach lined with towering Australian pines. Families
enjoy this park because of its full-service concession stand, ample
parking, barbecue pits, picnic facilities, boat ramp, playground, restrooms,
showers and lifeguards.
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Cortez Beach,
also known as Bradenton Beach, is located just north of Coquina on Gulf Blvd.
and boasts three-fourths of a mile of sugar-white sand. No facilities or
lifeguards are available. |
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Greer Island at
the north end of the Key (accessed by boat or North Shore Blvd.) is a
beautiful, secluded peninsula with a wide beach and excellent shelling. No
facilities or lifeguards are available. |
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 Longboat Key is
for those who prefer seclusion. These pristine beaches are a well kept
secret, though, (so don't tell anyone!) and public access is at a minimum. |
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Manatee Beach
is found at the end of Manatee Ave. in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. A
full range of amenities include: restrooms, an outdoor shower, shaded picnic
areas with grills, shaded parking, playgrounds, a volleyball net and
lifeguards. |
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Sarasota County |
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Lido Beach is located mid-island on Lido Key only
minutes from St. Armands Circle, the facilities here are outstanding.
Besides the beautiful sand and sea, also provided are showers, lockers,
dressing rooms, a 25-meter swimming pool, concession stand, public meeting
rooms, beachwear souvenir boutique, and children's playground.
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Nokomis Beaches. To hit the beaches, turn west on Albee Road
off U.S. 41 and cross over the Nokomis Bridge. In front of you, you'll find
Nokomis Beach, with ample parking in two lots, lifeguards, picnic tables,
grills and bathrooms. To your right is Casey Key.
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North Lido Beach is a gorgeous half-mile stretch of beach and is the area's most
famous. A few years ago, this beach spurred controversy with an ordinance
against nudity. Nudity on this and other Florida beaches is illegal. |
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Siesta Key Beach is located on Beach Road on Siesta Key.
Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the
world. At the "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge"
held in 1987, it was recognized as having the "whitest and finest sand
in the world."
Unlike beaches elsewhere that are made up mostly of coral, Siesta Beach's
sand is 99% quartz. Even on the hottest days, the sand is so reflective
that it feels cool underfoot.
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South Lido Beach is a county-owned park located at the
southern tip of Lido Key on Benjamin Franklin Drive. There is ample parking
(much of it in the shade of Australian pines), lots of picnic sites with
built-in grills, a volleyball net, a playground, changing rooms and a
lovely nature trail.
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Turtle Beach is a tranquil beach located on the
southernmost tip of Siesta Key on Midnight Pass Road, about two and
one-half miles south of Stickney Point Road. Less crowded than Siesta
Beach, it is a wonderful place to spend a few hours sunbathing, reading or
picnicking under its covered shelter.
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Venice Beaches. Fossilized sharks' teeth are the main
attraction at Casperson Beach, near the airport off Harbor Drive in Venice.
It also features a fishing pier, nature trail and a restaurant. If you want
to sunbathe on smooth, white sand or enjoy crystal-blue waters, Venice
Public Beach, offers picnic benches, bathrooms and outdoor showers.
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Other Links |
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Florida's Beaches |
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