Tampa Fishing Piers and Boating Parks for Homebuyers

Published by nora | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Communities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

If you buy a Tampa home and live here, you’ll get Tampa fishing and boating privileges not available to residents of other states.

First of all, you’re already here, so you don’t have to book a flight or reserve a hotel room to enjoy Tampa’s beautiful lakes and rivers. The Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough Bay, two bayous and the Gulf of Mexico are either within walking or driving distance to you.

There are lots of gated communities of Tampa homes here with private lakes where you and your children can boat and fish even without a license. If you like to explore bigger lakes, or want to experience the Gulf waters, you can choose from the many licensed for-hire fishing and boating services here.

Most for-hire operators have been here for years in Tampa, loving the life here, and wanting to share with others their fishing and boating adventures. If you like to explore Tampa’s waters farther out on your own, you can buy a boat, register it, and then get a fishing license.

Following are some of the more popular Tampa fishing piers, boating parks, camping and picnic grounds and places with activities such as biking, bird watching, boardwalk, horse riding, disc golf, and walking through the woods. The entrance fees and rental fees are very affordable. What’s a $2-fee per vehicle with 8 people for you? If you fall in love with one or two of these parks, you can pay the annual pass, and enjoy the parks’ attractions all-year round.

Al Lopez Park in Tampa

This park offers about 132 acres of Florida wildlife, with two large ponds for fishing.
Activities: fishing, grilling, jogging, picnicking
Amenities: shelters, ball fields, playground, trails, dog park, play courts, pier
Program: Hunt Community Center, site of the city’s After School Activity Program

Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa

Activities: fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, nature trails, picnicking, viewing exhibits, holding meetings or retreats
Tours: Enjoy the Ranger-led Historic Fort Foster every Saturday and Sunday. Hike more than seven miles of nature trails via the Rapids Trail and Baynard Trail offer.
ADA note: Beach wheelchairs are available if you request in advance.

Lowry Park in Tampa, along the western bank of the Hillsborough River

This is run by the city of Tampa and it’s different from the Lowry Park Zoo, which is run by Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoological Society in partnership with the city.
Activities: canoeing, boating, fishing, picnicking

Edward Medard Park in Plant City

This park sits on 1,284 acres of land and water owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and includes the popular 700-acre water reservoir that offers flood protection for areas along the Alafia River.

Activities: fishing, camping, boating, canoeing, mountain biking, horse riding and hiking through acres of pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks
Amenities: camp sites for recreational vehicles, primitive camping sites, picnic shelters, playground, beach volleyball court, viewing platform overlooking the reservoir

There are lots of other parks in the Tampa area that offer similar amenities, attractions and some more opportunities for adventure and recreation, such as the following:

Other Parks Run by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department:
Morris Bridge Road Park
Trout Creek Park
John B Sergeant Park

Other Parks Run by the city of Tampa:
Ballast Point Park
Copeland Park
Cypress Point Park
Fred Ball Park Gazebo
Macfarlane Park
Picnic Island Beach
Rowlett Park
Sulphur Springs Park

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