- Depth
- 1 ft
- Access
- By boat or from shore
- Best months
- April to October
- Species
- Snook, Redfish (red drum), Tarpon, Florida pompano, Spanish mackerel
The Gulf end of Bunces Pass at the north end of Mullet Key (Fort De Soto), with the beaches of Shell Key Preserve on its north side. The Coast Pilot says the pass is unmarked and that in 2001 less than a foot was reported over the bar at the Gulf entrance, with more water inside, so local knowledge is a must. Shell Key is reachable only by boat or the Fort De Soto ferry. The inside of the pass belongs to the inshore guide.
How to fish it
Shallow-draft boats and waders can reach the Gulf-side beach troughs; fish them on a moving tide. Bring your own bait (see the rules).
Watch out for: A very shallow Gulf bar. The Pinellas Bayway bridge over the pass has 20 feet of clearance (Coast Pilot).
Rules here: Shell Key Preserve's central core and mid-island Bird Preservation Area are closed. Dogs and alcohol are banned, camping is by county permit, and you can't take live animals off the beach, fiddler crabs included (Pinellas County), so don't plan on collecting bait there. The rules to check in Tampa Bay nearshore waters