Skyway Bridge Is Tampa Bay’s Most Underrated Tourism Attraction

15 min readJan 22, 2023

International, national and local travel and tourism aficionados plan specific visits to the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. So why aren’t the Tampa Bay County Visitor’s Bureaus, Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay doing more to promote the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which is a tourism market discriminator. Do you see any advertising at any of these locations?

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The South and North Skyway Fishing Pier are 1.5 miles and 0.67 mile long, respectively. The Skyway South Fishing Pier is the longest in the world. After paying a nominal fee to gain access, you can drive onto the pier, park and fish or sightsee.

The admission for fishing and sightseeing differ. The fishing admission provides fishing license and the option to fish on either the North or South Pier for 24 hours. A sightseeing admission fee costs less and provides access to one pier. Both piers operate 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.

Stunning views of cruise ship sailing under the Skyway Bridge at night with the light theme.

View from South Skyway Pier of Serenade of the Seas. January 14, 2023

Visible From Many Vantage Points

While the Skyway Fishing Piers known for the world-class fishing, the North and South Fishing Pier offer tourists majestic vista views at all hours of the day and night.

The theme “Purple Majestic” captured at dusk.

On a still night, seems you can reach out and touch the reflection. Skyway Theme is Water Waves. View is from North Skyway Fishing Pier.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is the Gateway to Tampa Bay, Florida’s iconic bridge, and voted one of top ten bridges in the world. The iconic Skyway Bridge offers iconic views of Tampa Bay. The Skyway State Park has new rest stops with restrooms, memorials, markers, fishing and two piers for sightseeing.

The Skyway Bridge crosses three counties and offers quick access from St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton and Sarasota, Tampa Bay County’s travel and tourism bureaus seem to consider the Skyway Bridge to be the step-child. Each city has stiff competition with world-class museums, sports venues and vibrant entertainment and dining districts, and beaches constantly rated best in the world. From the hotel, AirBNB, or VBRO visitors can explore the area’s museum, night life and entertainment.

The Boston Globe article With bragging rights on the line, two beginners seek great fishing in Tampa, by Daniel McGinn is an executive editor of Harvard Business Review, makes a solid case for fishing Tampa Bay. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.

Many consider Key West to be Florida’s premier fishing spot. But for those of all levels, this destination [Tampa Bay] is a gem.

My question for the County Visitor Centers is what does the Boston Globe and YouTube know that you don’t? Besides marketing articles state that Key West hotels are rentals are one of the nation’s highest.

I met many anglers new to the Skyway and tourist who shared they found the Skyway Bridge on YouTube. I have met international travelers from Brazil, Columbia, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and countless other countries.

Whether you want to fish or watch game fish being caught, a fisherman throw the cast net for bait fish, or enjoy the cruise ships and freighters sailing under the Skyway Bridge during the day or during the night. There is always a a new perspective. Dolphin and sharks frequent the waters around the piers. On just about any night, at least one drone can be seen capturing the cruise ships, or fog. Plus there is so much more to see.

North Rest Area—Blackthorne Memorial

North Rest Area — Coast Guard Memorial

Bird Watcher Paradise

Hundreds of Royal Terns taking a break from fishing.

Tern sees a school of fish and is slowing down, preparing to dive.

Snowy egrets are perched on the North Pier’s Bait and Gift Shop’s rootop.

Sunrise. Pelicans head out to the Skyway Bridge to dive for fish amongst the rish fishing gorunds.

Sunsets and sunrises are worth it.

The fog adds an interesting perspective.

Fog can delay freighters and cruise ships.

Moon rises are remarkable.

Suspension Cables Are Being Painted

The cables are being painted and the work should be completed this Spring. The North and South Span each have twenty-one cables that are encased in 9' steel casings. They steel must be scraped, coated and painted. This requires dollies to move up and down the cable. Work is stopped when the winds are over 20 mph.

Skyway Bridge Light Display Themes

In 2019, the $15 million light display was installed and over 1800 LEDs illuminated the Skyway Bridge with a dynamic light displays. Each day has a theme. In addition, There are special themes to support causes, such as, Move Over for Law enforcement, breast cancer, Fourth of July, LGS, Red Ribbon, St Pete Pride Week, and more.

Monday: Water Waves
Tuesday: Elegant Sparkle
Wednesday: Warm Gateway
Thursday: Water Waves
Friday: Verdant Green
Saturday: Sunset Sunrise
Sunday: Purple Majestic

Water Waves

The “Water Waves” theme mimics a white-crested blue wave approaching the beach and retreating. This wave is mirrored along the north and south’s high approach. The wave starts from the center span moving outward along the columns. The white necklace lights move outward in groups along the top bridge deck, simulating the blue wave’s white crest. The blue waves soften its hue as it approach the shoreline. When the group of white necklace lights reaches the end of the bridge’s high approach, the blue columns change to white to simulate the wave washing ashore and retreating. As the wave retreats, the waves is met by the next incoming wave. This is a timed sequence. There are multiple white crested waves on the bridge at one time. Both the necklace lights and the column lights are used.

Warm Gateway.

“Warm Gateway” scene that symbolizes welcoming cruise ships and visitors to Tampa Bay. Colors are hues of yellow, orange and white.

Elegant Sparkle Theme

Piers and Necklace Lights are white and subdued pink. Loops are 30 seconds long and seamless with “Shimmering effect used to create a sparkling motion.”

Verdant Green

A dynamic presentation simulating palm fronds swaying against a blue Florida sky.

Sunset Sunrise

The theme cycles through the colors of sunrise and sunset.

Purple Majestic

Purple and white race across the Skyway Bridge’s bridge profile lights and the column lights to create a majestic effect along the 4.14-mile-long bridge.

Special Themes

St. Petersburg Pride Week illuminates the Skyway Bridge with the colors of the rainbow and

Red Ribbon Week “serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.”

Yellow was for “Move Over” supporting Law Enforcement and First Responders

What is the low and high approach?

The Skyway Bridge is segmented into three areas, low approach, high approach and main span.

Low approach. In the foreground is the end of the Skyway North Fishing Pier, and the Bait and Gift shop.

Main span is 1,200 and supported by the two columns. The northbound and southbound bridges are joined here.

What is the Skyway’s Clearance?

The Skyway Bridge requires a clearance of at least one meter. The clearance below the main span is 180.5 meters.

Being on the ship offers a diferrent perspective.

Skyway Bridge Added A Fence.

Summer 2021, FDOT installed new fencing along the Skyway Bridge. The 11 feet tall and difficult to climb fence was added to deter suicide attempts. The fencing spans over a mile and a half on both sides of the bridge. finished a $3 million project. To date, the fencing has deterred suicides.

The fencing is along the high approach and main spans. The high approach has a 4% grade.

Vehicle lights illuminate the barrier fence.

During the day the barrier fencing is visible.

Views from Skyway South Fishing Pier

The Skyway South Fishing Pier is the longest pier in the world at 1.5 miles.

Admission booth ahead for the Skyway South Fishing Pier.

Vista views of the clouds and short-lived rainbow.

From the end of the Skyway North Fishing Pier, two miles across Tampa Bay is the South Skyway Fishing Pier.

The South Skyway Fishing Pier has a great curve.

Carnival Paradise with the new cruise ship markings—blue wave and branding on the stern.

From the end of the South Skyway Pier, the end of the North Skyway Pier is visibile.

Algoma Victory is a bulk carrier outbound for Pueerto Bolivar, Columbia

Container ships, bulk carriers, oil/chemical tankers are part of Florida’s busiest port.

On the horizon are two outbound container shipsi n the shipping channel between Egmont Key and Fort DeSoto County Park.

Surprising perspectives can be sen. This is downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

The 1.5. mile fishing pier offers unique views along the way to the end of the pier.

Views from Skyway North Fishing Pier

The Skyway North Fishing Pier is also one of the longest piers in the world at 0.67 miles long.

The exits for both Skyway Fishing Piers are clearly marked.

Admission booth is ahead. There are markers that commemorate the previous bridges.

North Skyway Fishing Pier parallels the Skyway Bridge.

Look under the Skyway’s low approach to watch the cruise ship turn at the channel markers, Tampa Bay has a total of nine cuts (turns) for cruise ships to make before reaching the Skyway Bridge.

Carnival Pride sailing under the Skyway Bridge at night.

A passing fishing boat creates a ripple in the Skyway Bridge Light Theme “Water Waves.” View is rom North Skyway Fishing Pier.

Typical vista view of the Skyway Bridge.

2020 Daily traffic estimated 63,607 per day.

The fishing piers offer more than just one perspective.

Skyway Bridge appears to split the Carnival Pride

Celebrity Constellation sails under the Skyway Bridge lit with the “Verdant Green” theme.

Norwegian Dawn is about to sail past the Skyway South Fishing Pier.

The fishing piers can be busy and cruise ships can sneak up on you.

The cruise ship provides an optical illusion. Looks as if Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas is docking a the end of the Skyway North Pier.

Skyway Bridge appears to split the Nrowegian Dawn

Majesty of the Seas’s funnel clears the Skyway Bridge’s main span.

World-class kiteboarding

The area is just not about the Fishing Piers. On the north side are two beaches that feature world-class kiteboarding. THey can be seen from Interstate 275 before reaching the Skyway Bridge’s low approach.

Some of the best come from Tampa Bay and come here to train.

The kites can be seen from Fort DeSoto County Park.

More Views

When on the cruise ship, catch sunset behind St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida’s skyline had dramatically changed since 2019.

Skyway Fishing Piers are not the only locations to view the Skyway Bridge light display and cruise ships, but they offer the closest views.

This location is 6.2 miles from the Skyway Bridge.

Fort DeSoto County Park Offers Unique 180˚ Views

The end of the Gulf Pier allows the photographer to move the camera to capture the cruise ship sneaking up behind the concession stand, moving around he pint, past the Egmont Key Lighthouse and follow the channel markers to Tampa Bay’s outer marker, 20 miles away. This is where all shipping traffic enters and exits Tampa Bay.

Fort DeSoto’s Easternmost point offers stunning views.

Fort DeSoto’s Gulf Pier

Gulf Pier extends into the Glf of Mexico.The end of th pier offers unique views of the crsuir ship behind the concession stand.

Fort DeSoto’s County Park is on Mullet Key, which is shaped like an elbow. The cruise ship is rounding the elbow.

Carnival Paradise moves Egmont Key Lighthouse.

Pilot boat comeing along the windward side but sped up to move to the leeward side to pick up the Tampa Bay Pilot.

On the cruise ship’s port side is the Tampa Bay Pilot Boat’s pilot. The Pilot had guided the cruise ship from the Tampa Cruise Terminal through the Tampa Bay Shipping Channel. The pilot climbs down a ladder to reach the pilot boat.

Tugs are always on standby. Here, the high winds and strong currents winds can require a tug assist. Tugs are always on standby.

The shipping lane is wide enough for ships to safely pass.

Cruise Ship Perspectives

I enjoy capturing sequences that show different perspectives of the cruise ships.

Beach Bird Nesting Is Protected

During the summer I volunteer with the Florida Audubon to bird steward on St. Pete Beach. A birds stewards role is to educate the public and monitor the birds. Learn more about Coastal Bird Stewardship.

During Fourth of July a barrier is paced around the black skimmer colony. While fireworks are illegal, not everyone obeys the law and respects the bird habitat. If fireworks flush the colony, the chicks are contained in the barrier,

The chick’sfirst visit to the water. The beach area between the nest and water gets busy. Audubon Florida post chcik crossing signs and brird stewards monitor and educate the area. One of the most difficult challenges is communicating with walkers and joggers who wear earbuds.

Stormchaser’s Paradise

Storms can be seen across the state and well into the Gulf of Mexico.

Enjoying The Traffic On The Low Approach

The high approach is the 4% grade from thee low approach to the main spans.

The low approach is the section where the bridge starts and the incline begins.

The low nd high approach and the main span.

The end of the South Skyway Fishing Pier has an angle that show more spacing between the columns.

Tampa Bay Pilots

Tampa Bay Pilots are ferried to the ship, where they climb the ladder to get on or off the ship.

Skyway 10k

Every March the Skyway 10K benefits the ARMED FORCES FAMILIES FOUNDATION, AFFF. The Skyway Bridg’e’s Northbound lane and both rest areas are closed for the event. The Skyway Bridge is lit with the Patriotic THeme.

Support for Anglers

Skyway Bridge even had a postage stamp

The United States Postal Service issued a Stamp Announcement. I was first in line for the First Day Covers and have the first one issued at the unveiling. The stamp, designed by Carl T. Hermann of North Las Vegas, NV, showcases a digital illustration created by artist Dan Cosgrove of Chicago, according to the article, Florida Bridge Honored on U.S. Postal Service Stamp.