ST. PETERSBURG, FL (June 1, 2017) -The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department opens 20 freshwater and two saltwater lakes for the summer season, now through Labor Day. Fishing is permitted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. A freshwater fishing license is required at all freshwater lakes except for children ages 15 and under or anyone fishing in their resident county and using a pole without a reel. Florida residents over age 65 do not need a fishing license but must show proof of age and residency if requested.
Licenses are available at Pinellas County Tax Collector Offices, located at 1067 62nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg; 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg; at 13025 Starkey Road, Largo; and at 1663 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Clearwater; as well as from selected bait and sporting goods stores. For more fishing license information, call 727-464-7777.
The following freshwater lakes are usually stocked with bass, bream, catfish and Nile perch. The lakes will be open for shoreline fishing only (boats are prohibited):
*Booker Creek Park Lake – 23rd St. and 13th Ave. N.
*Childs Park Lake – 11th Ave. and 42nd St. S.
*Crescent Lake Park – 22nd Ave. and Fifth St. N.
*Eagle Crest Lake – Sixth Ave. and 66th St. N.
*Euclid Lake – 25th Ave. and 17th St. N.
*Moon Lake – 13th Ave. and 42nd St. N.
*Kelly Lake – 40th Ave. and 20th St. N.
*Jude Lake – Sixth Ave. and 55th St. N.
*Lake Vista Park – 62nd Ave. and 14th St. S.
*Lynch Lake – 70th Ave. and 18th St. N.
*Mastry Lake – 64th Ave. and 14th St. N.
*Ruby Lake – 26th Ave. and 35th St. N.
*Sheffield Lake – 24th Ave. and 49th St. N.
*Sirmons Lake – 33rd Ave. and 41st St. N.
*Teresa Gardens Lake – 32nd Ave. and 71st St. N.
*Viking Lake – 75th Ave. and 14th St. N.
Saltwater lakes generally have speckled trout, silver trout, redfish, sheepshead, mullet, catfish and Nile perch. No license is required to fish from the shoreline of these saltwater lakes:
*Bartlett Lake – 22nd Ave. and Fourth St. S.
*Fossil Park Lake – 70th Ave. and Seventh St. N.
The following lakes remain open for fishing year-round:
*Bartlett Lake – 22nd Ave. and Fourth St. S.
*Fossil Park Lake – 70th Ave. and Seventh St. N.
*Walter Fuller Lake – 26th Ave. and 78th St. N.
*Lake Maggiore – 38th Ave. and Dr. MLK, Jr. St. S.
*Lake Eli (Little Lake Maggiore) – 25th St. and Lamparilla Way S.
*Mirror Lake – (off Fifth St. N.) Second Ave. and Mirror Lake Dr. N.
The Parks and Recreation Department reminds anglers who fish in city lakes to observe the following guidelines:
* Cast netting is permitted only at Lake Maggiore and Lake Eli (Little Lake Maggiore).
* Crab traps are not allowed in any city lake.
* Obey all posted signs.
* Fish only from the shore or from designated fishing docks where available (excluding Lake Maggiore).
* Clean fish at home.
* Use trash container.
* Remove litter from your fishing outing.
* Do not encroach upon private property.
* Be considerate of the surrounding neighborhood.
* Do not create excessive noise.
For more information, call the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department at 727-893-7441 or www.stpeteparksrec.org/index.html