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Our Campsite on Shell Key
Shell Key, Tampa, FL |
I had the awesome opportunity to camp on Shell Key (Shell Island) this weekend, and wanted to share some information about the trip for anyone looking to do the same. Before I went I searched for information about the island, and there was very little available, so hopefully this will help anyone thinking of putting together a similar trip!
Shell Key is a 195-acre County Preserve located just North of the mouth of Tampa Bay. It is a sanctuary for migratory birds, so most of the island is closed off to visitors to protect the wildlife. The North end is open to day visits, and the South end is open for overnight camping. Because of the ongoing compromise between protecting the wildlife and keeping the island open to visitors, there are a specific list of regulations that must be followed on the island.
A list of these regulations can be found at this link: ShellKey.org
To camp, you'll also need a permit, which can be applied for on the Pinellas County website: PinellasCounty.org
There is no "approval" for the permit, you just fill it out and print it. We were never visited by FWC or PCSO, but if they do stop by, they'll ask to see your printed permit.
Overview of the Island:
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Overview of the Shell Key Area, Fort Desoto, and surrounding area.
Shell Key, Tampa, FL |
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Close-up of Shell Key Preserve
Shell Key, Tampa, FL |
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Southernmost Tip of Shell Key, Camping Permitted
Shell Key, Tampa, FL |
Where to set up camp:
The best place to set up is right along Bunces Pass, on the Southernmost shore of the key. We set up on the SE tip, but there were other campers all along that strip of beach. You'll end up staying close to shore, because the grass inland is thick and there are sand spurs everywhere. The only exception I noticed was a small patch of short grass just around the SE corner of the island. There was another one on the inland side, which might be accessibly by kayak, but would be tough in anything other than a flats or bay boat.
Anchoring the Boat:
When you anchor the boat off of the beach, keep in mind that Bunces pass has quite a bit of tidal movement and boat traffic. You'll want to double anchor from both the bow and stern to keep the boat in place. The water gets deep pretty quickly off of the beach, so it's fairly easy to anchor close to shore while still being in enough water to float at low tide.
Wildlife:
Shell Key is a bird sanctuary, so naturally there were birds around. We also saw hermit crabs, sand dollars, horseshoe crabs, dolphins, and one night the water was filled with phosphorescent plankton.
The campers down the beach from us had a raccoon try to get into their garbage one night, so come prepared to close up all food and trash to keep critters out.
We also had a fellow camper report seeing a rattlesnake on the island, so if you do go walking around, pay attention! I walked around through the brush quite a bit and didn't have any problems.
Tips/Comments:
The scenery is awesome, there's nothing like waking up right on the beach in the morning. The view of the stars at night was the best I've seen in Tampa.
There are sand-spurs everywhere when you get into the grassy area inland, so bring shoes if you want to go exploring.
When the wind is high, there's very little protection on the island. We had gusts of 20 MPH+ and had a tough time the first night getting things to stay put!
Bring enough firewood if it's chilly! Grab what you think you'll need, and then grab more! We burned through 3/4 of our wood the first night, but thankfully there was leftover wood available on the island. It's only around until the supply runs out from some Australian Pines that they cut down, so I wouldn't plan on this being an option for long.
The regulations require that you bring a portable toilet, but the "real" facilities on Fort Desoto might be a better option than actually using your portable.
If you're planning a trip and have questions about anything I didn't cover, please feel free to call or email me for more info! Shell Key is another great area for Tampa boaters to enjoy, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure.
