Long Bayou, FL

You can have a great fishing experience in Pinellas County, Florida. Long Bayou is always waiting for anglers to come and join water-based activities. It is a watershed that stretches over 43.9 square miles, and within it is a bay that is a great spot for casting a line. It is only 1.3 miles away from Bay Pines. Others may also refer to Long Bayou as Boca Ciega Bayou and Fourmile Bayou.

Other than fishing, boating and water sports can also be enjoyed in the area.  The Pinellas peninsula is packed with sights for every high-spirited adventurer. Long Bayou and its calm tides are also a breathtaking view for those who also want to stroll along the hiking-biking trail.

Long Bayou’s waters have, however, been recently considered impaired due to fecal coliform which is a form of the bacterium from warm-blooded animals. It is best to stay within parts considered safe. Should anyone come in contact with contaminated water, wash rigorously with soap and water to avoid having any infection. 

All About Fishing in Long Bayou, FL

If you love big catches, Long Bayou has a variety for you. You can take a hold of the common snook, red drum, black drum, sheepshead seabream, largemouth bass, Florida pompano, and gafftopsail sea catfish. The common snook is one of the largest snook, and can be challenging to catch. They can be quite unpredictable as their behavior would rely heavily on their environment. Capturing a large snook is a huge accomplishment for many. The red drum goes for channels and inlets. It is advised to keep a wary eye on it once captured because it can be fairly aggressive on a hook. Anglers commonly come across the black drum near jetties, breakwaters, bridge pilings, estuaries, channels, and bays. It can also be a battle to keep it on its hook. In order to successfully snatch sheepshead seabream, it is best to chum the water using barnacles peeled from surfaces like rocks. The largemouth bass, one of the most well-known game fish in America, is always eager to snag a bait. With its greenish-gray appearance, the Florida pompano can be found in turbid water and even below 100 feet. Finally, the gafftopsail sea catfish, which is named after its fin that resembles a sail, can be commonly found near the bottom of the water. It enjoys shrimp or small crabs as its bait. 

The area only allows the fishing of game fish with pole-and-line or rod-and-reel. Taking the fish using any other method such as underwater swimming is strictly prohibited. Anglers may use an unlimited number of rods. The Florida Fishing Regulations provides more specificities regarding the allowed techniques for fishing.

Several notable nearby places savor the view of Long Bayou, some of which are the Seminole Lake Country Club, Park Boulevard Boat Ramp, War Veterans Memorial Park, and Jungle Prada Park. The Seminole Lake Country Club offers a comfortable stay with a championship golf course and tennis courts. Park Boulevard Boat Ramp and War Veterans Memorial Park are both owned by Pinellas County itself where visitors can be entertained by the presence of an array of fish and jellyfish and other sea creatures such as dolphins and manatees. Reservations are recommended for longer stays. Jungle Prada Park is a community park located in the city of St. Petersburg. You can find the entrance to Long Bayou north of this park. 

Fishing Seasonality

It is best to visit Long Bayou for fishing late in the morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 NN or early in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. White bass and largemouth bass fishing are rated good to excellent in Long Bayou. White bass species can be conveniently caught from the surface from May to October, while the largemouth bass during the month of September through May. The minimum temperature in Long Bayou is 72.1, and the maximum is 78.17. Skies may change from partly cloudy to clear. The wind is normally faint, so anglers rarely struggle with unforgiving tides.

Fishing Seasonality

It is best to visit Long Bayou for fishing late in the morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 NN or early in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. White bass and largemouth bass fishing are rated good to excellent in Long Bayou. White bass species can be conveniently caught from the surface from May to October, while the largemouth bass during the month of September through May. The minimum temperature in Long Bayou is 72.1, and the maximum is 78.17. Skies may change from partly cloudy to clear. The wind is normally faint, so anglers rarely struggle with unforgiving tides.