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Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

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State park in Florida, United States

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
Current Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Former Northbound Skyway as seen from the North section of the Fishing Pier
Map showing the location of Skyway Fishing Pier State ParkMap showing the location of Skyway Fishing Pier State ParkSkyway Fishing Pier State Park (Florida map)Show map of FloridaMap showing the location of Skyway Fishing Pier State ParkMap showing the location of Skyway Fishing Pier State ParkSkyway Fishing Pier State Park (the United States)Show map of the United States
LocationPinellas and Manatee Counties, Florida, United States
Nearest citySt. Petersburg, Florida
Coordinates27°40′41″N 82°40′41″W / 27.67806°N 82.67806°W / 27.67806; -82.67806
Established1994
Governing bodyFlorida 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.

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 sightseeing, photography, kiteboarding, kayaking, and wind surfing.

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.

Closing of eastern portion

In August 2008, Florida Department of Transportation officials announced that the eastern part of the pier would be closed on August 29, 2008, for safety reasons. Built in 1954, after 50 years of corrosion and wear and tear, it had worn out. The western portion, built 17 years later, were still deemed safe to use. Parts of the eastern piers connected to the western one, as well as unused approaches to the original spans were demolished in 2008.

Gallery

  • Eastern pier Eastern pier
  • Western pier Western pier

References

  1. Minaya, Mariana (August 22, 2008), "Skyway Pier to Lose 2 Spans", St. Petersburg Times, pp. B 1, archived from the original on May 28, 2024, retrieved May 27, 2024

External links


Protected areas of Florida
Federal level
National parks
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National monuments
National seashores
National forests
National
wildlife refuges
Other national
protected areas
National Marine Sanctuaries
National Estuarine Research Reserves
National Wild and Scenic Rivers
State level
Parks
Botanical garden parks
Lakes, rivers
and springs parks
Recreation areas
Museums, historic sites,
and archaeological sites
Preserves and reserves
State trails
State forests
Local level
Preserves and reserves


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