Philippe Park Fishing

Philippe Park mixes history and bay fishing: big oaks, the largest remaining Tocobaga mound in the Tampa Bay region, and a long Old Tampa Bay shoreline with fishing spots shown on the county's park map. It is a relaxed, drive-up place to cast from the bank with a picnic shelter nearby.

• Shoreline fishing on Old Tampa Bay, marked on the county's park map
• Snook, redfish and trout, with sheepshead and black drum in winter
• A county boat ramp for anglers with a small boat
• Shade, picnic shelters and parking close to the water

The park is at 2525 Philippe Parkway (State Road 590) in Safety Harbor, on the west shore of Old Tampa Bay.

• Getting there: follow Philippe Parkway north from downtown Safety Harbor to the main entrance; there is also a pedestrian and bike entrance at the south end
• Parking: several lots along the park road near the shelters and the water
• Fees: no park entry fee is listed; the boat ramp charges a daily parking fee, rising on December 1, 2026
• Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset daily; the boat ramp is listed as open 7 a.m. to dusk
• The county park map shows three fishing spots along the park's north shore on Old Tampa Bay

This is shallow, warm upper-bay water with grass, shell and soft bottom.

• Spring (Mar–May): trout and redfish on the grass edges, sheepshead finishing their run, snook returning as the bay warms
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook early and late in the day, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait, mangrove snapper around any structure, the odd tarpon rolling offshore
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and snook at their best, with trout and black drum
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the bottom, trout on warm afternoons

Medium-light spinning gear with 10–20 lb braid and a 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader is ideal from the bank.

• Snook and redfish: live shrimp or pilchards on a 1/0 circle hook, or cut mullet on a fish-finder rig with a 1/2 oz sinker
• Trout: shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig head cast over the grass
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on the bottom near any rocks or shell
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons or jigs when birds show where the bait is
• Carry a landing net; lifting a good fish up the bank by the line often loses it

Tampa Bay has mixed tides, usually two a day of unequal size, and the range is small, usually about two to three feet from low to high.

• Fish moving water; the first hours of the incoming and the outgoing are best
• Low tide exposes shallow flats along parts of the shore, so cast to the drop-offs
• Early mornings are best in summer, before the heat and the afternoon storms
• A hard east wind after a winter front drains the upper bay; fish the deeper edges then
• When the water is stained, natural baits usually beat lures

The park road and lots sit close to the water, so access is easy for most visitors.

• Stay clear of the boat ramp and its lanes; launching boats have priority
• Lightning builds on summer afternoons; head for the car at the first thunder
• Watch your footing at the water's edge, which can be slick
• County park rules ban wading outside designated areas, so fish from the bank; stingrays sit in the shallows
• Some restrooms are closed for repairs in 2026, so check which are open when you arrive

The park is well set up for a day out, with some work under way in 2026.

• Eight picnic shelters with grills (one listed as out of service)
• Restrooms and water fountains; restrooms 1, 5 and 8 are closed for plumbing repairs expected to finish in fall 2026
• The main playground is closed for replacement; a second playground with rock structures stays open
• A county boat ramp, fee charged
• The historic Tocobaga temple mound and a marker to Odet Philippe
• No bait shop is listed, so bring bait with you

• Fish the north-shore spots shown on the county map, not around the boat ramp; county rules allow fishing only in designated areas
• Arrive at opening on summer mornings for snook along the shore
• Sheepshead and black drum bite best on calm, cold afternoons in winter
• Combine a session with a look at the Tocobaga temple mound
• The ramp lets you launch a small boat or kayak to reach more of the bay
• Check the county's park updates page for closures before you go

Philippe Park is run by Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources, which lists saltwater fishing (license may be required) among the park's activities.

• Open 7 a.m. to sunset; closed the day after Thanksgiving and on December 25
• County park rules allow fishing only in designated areas (the shoreline spots shown on the park map) and ban wading outside designated areas
• Boat ramp parking is paid at the pay stations by license plate
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own rules and closed periods; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything