Skyway Fishing Piers Break Visitor Record

January 18, 2024.

In 2023, Skyway Fishing Piers’ 318,604 visitors to the North and South Fishing Piers broke 2019’s previous visitor record, 312,929 visitors. The Skyway Fishing Piers attract fishermen, tourists, walkers, bikers, and photographers.

Skyway North Admission Booth.

The Skyway Fishing Piers attract fishermen, tourists, walkers, bikers, and photographers.

Tourist at end of Skyway North Fishing Pier sharing the Skyway Bridge light display while waiting on a cruise ship to sail under.

Skyway Fishing Pier number of visitors has returned to pre-COVID pandemic level.

2018–2023. Visitors by Year at Skyway Fishing Piers.

Many consider Key West to be Florida’s premier fishing spot. But for those of all levels, this destination is a gem, according to Daniel McGinn’s article in the Boston Globe. I went to Tampa Bay in search of big fish. I found an angler’s paradise. Daniel McGinn is an executive editor of Harvard Business Review.

Visitor Trends

Florida’s hot summer months are the busiest season.

In the 2022 and 2023 FWC Habitat and Species Conservation (HSC) presentations to the public and FWC Commissioners, HSC stated there were more fishermen at the Skyway Fishing Piers State during the migration season (Nov.-Mar.)

The monthly visitor chart shows the summer months are the busiest for fishermen. In subsequent presentations, HSC modified their presentation.

On average, during the Winter months, the number of visitors is 36% of the total number of visitors.

Skyway Fishing Piers

The Skyway Fishing Piers located at the Skyway Fishing Piers State Park are one of the most popular fishing locations in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Both the Skyway North and South Fishing Piers are unique allowing vehicles so you can drive, park, and fish. The Skyway’s pier-based fishing attracts visitors from the around the world with recreational and sport fishing, and cast and dip netting for crabs.

Florida’s amazing weather makes it hard to say no to fishing at the Skyway North and South Skyway Fishing Piers.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

On May 9, 1980, the Skyway disaster occurred. A bulk carrier struck the Skyway Bridge collapsing a 1,200-foot section of the bridge. Thirty-five people died.

In 1987, the new 4.2-mile Sunshine Skyway Bridge opened. This is a cable-stayed bridge with concrete pylons, columns, and twin spans.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge. View is from North Skyway Fishing Pier.

In 2019, over 1800 LED lights were added to the bridge and columns along the 1.7-mile span of the Skyway bridge. The design and installation cost $15 million.

A suicide fence was added on June 23, 2021. The cost was $3.41 million

Two Fishing Piers

In 1994, the former bridge’s low approaches became the North and South Fishing Piers. The North Fishing Pier is 1.5 miles long and South Fishing Pier is 0.62 miles long. Each is the longest fishing pier in the world.

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is unique, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year., and are lit at night.

The State Park is unique, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are lit at night. Each pier provides a concession, restrooms, and a bait shop. The admission fee includes a fishing license. The Skyway Fishing Piers are accessible to people with disability. Handicap parking is available.

Skyway Fishing Group Increases Popularity

From 2018–2019, the Skyway Fishing Piers popularity increased substantially by 153,000 visitors. This substantial increase can be attributed to the Skyway’s fishing group, Skyway Misfits.

In 2019, a group of passionate anglers created the Skyway Misfits to share their Skyway fishing experience on Facebook and YouTube. The Skyway Misfits created a branded online presence with national and international reach.

The Skyway Monster video has had over 100 million views of an epic battle between man and fish!

A Facebook Group provides a space where anglers can engage the Skyway fishing community to obtain up to date information and ask a question. Anglers use this to plan their trip.

The Skyway Misfits fishing knowledge is not limited to the Skyway. They are well- versed inland-and boat fishing throughout Florida.

The Skyway Misfits have since added Tik Tok, Instagram, and Twitter.

Downward Visitor Trends

Is the sudden downward trend seasonal, related to the new fishing regulation, weather, or both? An unseasonably cold winter with strong storms has caused a decrease in visitors, and FWC’s new gear restrictions fishing regulation may have reduced visitations.

Weather has been a factor this winter in Florida. From November 2023 to January 2024, Tampa Bay experienced its lowest recorded temperatures since 2011. El Nino caused stronger fall and winter storms in Florida, disrupting fishing. This winter has been wetter.

Fisherman prepared for the cold weather at the end of the Skyway South Fishing Pier.

Controversial New Fishing Regulation

The controversial new fishing regulation enacted in October 2023 may have had a negative impact on the number of visitors at the Skyway Fishing Piers. The controversy is not only related to the new regulation but to both Florida’s Fish & Wildlife’s Commission and Department of Environmental Protection’s lack of transparency with the public, role in the Hooked Pelican Working Group, and both the proposed and new regulation. Over 200 public records requests to federal and state agencies and counties, have clarified FWC and DEP’s reaction to nonprofit lobbying efforts.

Responsive public records requests suggest Florida Fish & Wildlife’s Commissioners, Habitat and Species Conservation and Law Enforcement were influenced by 501(c)(3) nonprofit Friends of the Pelicans accusations and lobbying efforts.

Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection had a lack of responsive records. On or about February 2021, the sale of Sabiki rigs and treble hooks were banned at the Skyway Fishing Piers State Park. DEP did not have any responsive communications or data to support the decision. Additional public records requests have been submitted.

Skyway Fishing Piers Tourism

The Skyway Fishing Piers attract tourist who view want to enjoy the Skyway perspectives. There is a reduced admission to sightsee.

The best perspective of the Skyway Bridge is at the end of the Skyway North or South Pier. Each offers a different perspective. As you drive to the end of the piers, take time to stop, and enjoy the vista views, dolphins, and pelicans diving.

The end of the Skyway Fishing North and South Fishing Pier is the closest you can get to watch the cruise ships sail under the Skyway Bridge without being on the cruise ship. See how close the mast or funnel (smokestack) get to the minimum clearance, which is 1 meter.

Cruise ship clearing the Skyway Bridge. View is from Skyway North Fishing Pier. Right is Skyway South Fishing Pier.

Not only does the Skyway Fishing Piers offer tourist unique views of the cruise ship and freighter traffic, but this is popular with storm chasers, bridge photographers, landscape photographers, and bird photographers.

The Skyway Bridge (left) and the old bridge (right). Not all the old bridge was demolished. Some sections were removed and became reefs in Tampa Bay.

Birds of Tampa Bay at the Skyway

Pelican standing on a section of the old bridge.

Silhouette of an egret standing on the concrete guard rail.

Royal tern.

Sunsets and Storms

Fort DeSoto County Park’s American flag waving in front of the setting sun.

Sunset behind Egmont Key Lighthouse. View is from Skyway North Fishing Pier.

Storm chasers appreciate the views of the weather, storms and lightning from the Skyway Fishing Piers.

Skyway Perspectives

During Winter, fog rolls in and out of Tampa Bay, sometimes covering the Skyway Bridge.

Sunrise silhouette of a car carrier on the low approach.

Views from Skyway North Fishing Pier

Cruise ship sailing under the Skyway Bridge. View is from Skyway North Fishing Pier.

Cruise ship sailing by the end of the Skyway North Fishing Pier.

Night Perspectives

Skyway Bridge illuminated at night. View from Skyway South Fishing Pier.

Cruise ship sailing under the Skyway Bridge illuminated with Veterans’ Day Patriotic colors. View is from Skyway South Fishing Pier.

Cruise ship sailing under the Skyway Bridge at night. View is from Skyway South Fishing Pier.

At 335 meters, XIN DA YANG ZHOU, is one of the longest container ships to sail under the Skyway Bridge.

The Skyway Bridge bisects the cruise ship.

Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay is the largest Florida port by tonnage and land size. There are three active cruise ship terminals.

Port Tampa Bay Traffic

Marine Traffic

Dole container ship sailing under the Skyway Bridge.

Juice container enroute to Costa Rico carrying buses.

Bulk carrier sailing past the South Skyway Fishing Pier.

After clearing the Skyway Bridge, the freighter turned at the buoy to enter Egmont Key Channel, sailing between Egmont Key and Fort DeSoto County Park.

Data Table

Source: Public Record Request to Florida Department of Environmental Protection Case #00148951 and #00164837

About the Author

Storyteller, advocate, writer, photographer, and volunteer bird steward with Audubon Florida.