Beach Guide

What’s On

This week on the beach

Something
every night

7 AM

Fort De Soto Fishing Pier

Gulf Pier, Fort Area · Family

Free to fish from the 500-ft Gulf pier — early morning is best for pompano, snook and snapper. No fishing license required from the pier.

8 AM

Birding — Fort De Soto

Throughout the park · Family

Fort De Soto is one of Florida's top migration birding sites — spring (Apr–May) brings hundreds of species through the park's hammocks and shores.

9 AM

Kayak the Bay Side

East Beach Boat Ramp · Family

Launch a kayak from the east beach ramp and paddle the protected Tampa Bay side — mangroves, sea turtles and calm, clear water.

10 AM

Egmont Key Ferry

North Beach boat dock · Family

Seasonal ferry to Egmont Key — an uninhabited barrier island with a historic lighthouse, sea turtle nesting and snorkeling.

7:28 PM

sun-timed

Gulf Sunset at North Beach

Fort De Soto North Beach · Sunset

No structures, no vendors — just seven miles of unobstructed Gulf waterfront and the sunset that earned Fort De Soto its #1 US beach ranking.

Big Days

annual
Apr

Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Festival (nearby)

The statewide birding event — Fort De Soto is a primary site, considered one of the best spring migration spots in the eastern US.

Dec

Holiday Campground Events

The Fort De Soto campground runs seasonal events for campers during the holidays — check Pinellas County Parks calendar.

see you out there

Real recurring local happenings — schedules can change, so check the venue. Sun-timed events track each day’s real sunset and the countdown runs on the live local clock.