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Fishing Offshore From Land

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By MEL BERMAN, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 23, 2007

As fishery managers ponder closed offshore fishing seasons, the ever-increasing price of fuel has imposed its own restrictions. Many deep-water aficionados have been scrambling to sell their fuel-guzzling offshore vessels so they can switch to much more affordable inshore rigs.

So what are avid bottoming anglers to do for their big grouper fix?

Well, they could get in their vehicles and drive to the Skyway fishing piers, where one can fish for offshore species without setting foot on a boat.

After May 9, 1980, when the 20,000-ton freighter Summit Venture crashed into a support of the old Skyway bridge, a new bridge rose from that tragedy and has become the graceful symbol of the Tampa Bay area.

Meanwhile, the ends of the older bridge remain. Today, they are the Skyway fishing piers - a remarkable fishing venue, providing a platform where one can catch everything from smaller inshore species to jumbo ocean-sized fish without getting on a boat.

The south pier is actually the world's longest fishing pier - a bit more than 1 1/2 miles long. The north pier, though much shorter, also can be quite productive.

This time of year, both are crowded with people from all walks of life who, for a small admission price, can take the entire family for a full day of fun in the sun and a great fishing experience. And there's no need to park in a distant outside lot; everyone is permitted to drive their cars to a favorite location, walk across the way and start fishing.

"Here on the north pier," General Manager Mike Tyson said, "everybody wants to fish on the end - sort of like getting the stern position on a party boat. That's where the deeper waters hold a great variety of big Gulf gamefish. But I can tell you that there are also many other locations on both piers that are also quite productive."

Setting up all the way down to, and including, the toll booth area where folks enter the pier, there are available extended areas of grass flats where anglers catch lots of trout, snook and reds.

There are also sheepshead, mangrove snapper, good-sized grouper, Key West grunts, sharks, cobia, sea trout and just about every other kind of Gulf species available to keep pier fishers busy. And right now, great schools of king mackerel swarm in on the late-morning tide.

A typical Skyway piers aficionado is Jim Parrish of Tampa.

Parrish is boatless and does most of his fishing there. He made a recent trip to the south pier in search of his first fall kingfish.

"I fished from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by mid-morning, as the tide slacked, I tossed out a 5-inch greenback," he said. "As soon as the bait hit the water it was inhaled by a huge king."

Parrish said he could see why they call the big ones smokers.

"I thought my reel was going to melt," he said. "Luckily, some guys around me had a drop gaff and helped me get it in."

The huge mack was Parrish's personal best - 32 pounds and 52 inches. To round out his Skyway fishing day he caught 10 gag and three red grouper, plus a half-dozen snapper.

The Skyway is also known as "baitfish central." Giant schools of pilchards, threadfins, sardines and other forage species gather in the waters around the structure. It's a feast that attracts many gamefish.

"When we catch larger, heavier fish like big sharks, cobia and tarpon, I tell folks to let the fish break off so that it can continue on its merry way," Tyson said. "And, if necessary, folks can always get a hoop net from the nearby bait shops on both piers. Then the big fish can be safely lowered into the waters below."

AT A GLANCE

•Thousands of locals and tourists fish the Sunshine Skyway piers every year. Except for hurricanes and other emergencies, the piers are always open.

•The piers are located between Bradenton and St. Petersburg, with access off Interstate 275.

•Many people call it the biggest fishing bargain in Florida at $3 per vehicle ($10 for oversized vehicles) plus a small admission charge for a full day of angling: $2 for ages 12-64, and $1 for ages 6-11 and 65 and older. It is free for children 6 and younger.

•No fishing license is required.

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