Looking for somewhere with 1 acre + lots.

You will live 45 minutes from the water or amongst single wide trailers with cars on jack stands.

Or you can buy in a new development near the water and buy 8 lots.

 

Lol!!!, not what I was hoping for. 45 minutes is a little far. I’m about 15 minutes from the marina now and it’s about perfect. I’ll be heading up that way for a week, next month to check out some of the surrounding areas.

 

What is your conservative budget?

 

Where are you going to be looking?

I have a good friend who is a realtor if you need one.

 

Busy city, traffic is a nightmare, crime is no better than Miami.
Fishing is good the bay is huge mostly bay boats there rigged with hard t-tops and secondary control stations up top. To get offshore 24 miles out is still 85-90 feet another 5 miles to 100 feet, so its mostly bottom fishing. Lots of Kingfishing out around the Skyway Bridge.

Living accomadations depends on where you have to work, if you have ot go into Tampa to work forget 1 acre lots, but upi can be relatively close to the water...
My son lives in what's called South Tampa a couple blocks from the bay, (across the street from the big $$ houses on a canal with direct bay access with about a one block ride), not an inexpensive neighborhood FitzPatrick lives down the street. He trailers his 25 Pathy to either one of two ramps either is about a 20 minute drive during non traffic hours, traffic hours forget it. You can keep a boat in the yard or driveway in most places. His neighbor hood is one where people buy 50 year old houses do a tear down and build noe going 2 or 3 floors cause the lots are not that big.
My sister lives about 20 minutes away with a house on the Hilsbourough river, very old but not inexpensive another neighbor hood where they ar ebuying up all the older homes like hers doing a tear down and rebuild new.. The ride is a good half hour to the bay by boat, which she keeps on a lift, then its a long ride across the bay.

If I was moving there, and did not have to drive into Tampa.. I'd look in St. Pete or Clearwater areas.. or out of Tampa alltogether and look in Bradenton area.

 

A 1 acre lot in Tampa is a pipe dream, unless you are buying away from the water or have a few million to spend. To be honest, coming from biscayne and the keys you will be disappointed in the fishing here. The only thing I miss about living in South Florida is the fishing, its just not the same as Tampa Bay has a ton of pressure on it.

Why are you moving? Does it have to be tampa?

 

Get a couple of jet skis so you can run around with the others. When I visited Clearwater I could not believe the packs of jet skis running circles around guys trying to fish. Do that here in Texas and you’ll catch a one ounce egg weight to the skull.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately I have to work around a big city, so besides Miami, my only options here in Florida are Orlando and Tampa and I’m not a fan of Orlando, plus that’s too far away from the water. Would probably be fishing the Tampa Bay Area or whatever other inshore areas there are up that way. Had offshore boats my whole life and just recently sold my last one to pick up a new maverick. Trying to get out of Miami due to its overcrowding. I currently live south of Miami, in homestead which technically is only about 45 minutes away but, with the traffic, it’s about an 1:15 minutes to work and sometimes up to 2:30 minutes to get home. On the weekends you could be looking close to 3 hr wait to get your boat in the water with all the people and new restrictions and that’s only if you get in the line by 4:30-5:00 am. Other than that , the marina will be closed down by 8:00 for too many people. Do not plan on living in the city but close enough where the drive isn’t too crazy. Haven’t been up that way in years and never fished over there. Going up next moth to check out the area. Miami has changed quite a bit in the past 10 years. It’s insane the amount of people we have down here.

 

Talk to @Backwater

 

I am about 45 minutes from Gandy boat ramp, I live on 1.25 acres not one trailer within 5 miles of me and I trailer down every time I fish, been doing it for years

My two ramps of choice are Gandy and EG Simmons (1hr 15 mins to EG)

 

Nice!!! What area would this be?
Thanks

 

Spring Hill, moved up here to get away from over populated Pinellas County I figured if I can drive 40 minutes to work I can do the same or a little more to fish

 

I don't know how close you need to be to Tampa, but you may want to look at Northern Manatee County, you can still find acreage/big lots and take the interstate to town. There are three or four guys in my firm that live in Tampa/St. Pete and do it everyday, 25-40 min drive. We have some pretty good fishing on the South side of Tampa bay and also in Sarasota bay. Tarpon fishing can be some of the best around off Anna Maria and Egmont. As others have said we all know Realtors that could help you. My family came to MC in 1900 and I know the area well if you need my help.

 

I live down this way too and I agree, we have it better than the Tampa boys! I live across the Manatee River from you but fish your area too.

 

Crowded. Don't need any more boats in the bay. Good luck...

 

I live in the Temple Terrace area which is on the north east side of Tampa. There are some properties here where you can't get an acre. I'm very close to the highway and can have my skiff in the water in 25 minutes. I have probably 5 others that I can be in the water in under an hour easy. Not that I want more people in Tampa but I travel all over Florida for work and we do have traffic but no where as bad as Miami.

The fishing will be way different though. Our water is rarely as clear as what Biscayne experiences but it does clean up nicely once the summer rains taper off. Those Biscayne bones are tough and wait until you try for an upper slot red in winter. You'll miss those bones

 

I’m definitely going to miss the fishing here but, hopefully up there, I can get out more. Pretty much limited to Friday’s when I get them off. The weekends are just too crazy to get out on the water anymore. It sucks. 3 hour wait in line and have to be there by4:30-5:00 am to even have a chance of getting the boat on the water before the marina closes. Then to come back in is another cluster within itself. This place just keeps on building and the people keep on moving in.

 

 

View attachment 158151

Lol!! No New York here. South Florida boy born and raised

 

I suspect that a lot of folks that moved to or were born in Florida in the last 40-50 years think that new comers are ruining things. You are right, but you did or are doing the same thing to those of us that were here generations before you ever knew where Florida was. If we are all true sportsmen and conservationists then it is our job to educate everyone, no matter where we go or came from. If you think you can stop it you are sadly mistaken. Education is key for everyone, and if you are from another area (New York/vicinity) or one of the group referenced above try to help the newer guys, we were all new at one time no matter how long we have been here. Join CCA, Captains for Clean Water and other conservation groups to teach folks how they should act on our waterways and their responsibilities to be good stewards of all our environment. If all you do is complain you are part of the problem.

 

It's been a while, but what about Gibtown? Close to the water, close to Tampa and was reasonably undeveloped at least back in the day? Got the ramp at bullfrog and pretty close to Apollo beach and simmons? Or has the development monster claimed it too?

 

I have lived in the Tampa Bay area my whole life and I love it!! I live in Oldsmar which is pretty much as far into Tampa Bay as you can get. if you have a skiff that can get pretty shallow you have a lot of small boat ramps that will get you into the bay and rarely have a wait. I live on an acre of property and have a boat ramp about 500 yards from my house. The property value around here has skyrocketed lately but if your price range is around 500k you can still find something nice. Im only about 15 miles from downtown Tampa and can make it there in 20 minutes if there no traffic, in the morning rush your looking at about an hour unless you leave before 7. The inshore fishing is great around here, tho our waters are nowhere near as clear as south Florida. Finding big lots around here is pretty difficult but if you look hard enough and have a good budget you will find something. Check out Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Dunedin and Ozona, they are all water towns with lots of good ramps. If you want to be close but still get that country feel check out Odessa, its gonna be a little pricy but they have some amazing property out there and you are still close enough to the water and to Tampa.

 

Perfect!!! Thanks for the suggestions. That’s definitely within budget. Going to be up that way in a few weeks and will definitely be checking out all the mentioned areas.

 

Lots of wild beer drinkin' pigs up that way too!

 

I live in South Tampa. One thing I like about Tampa is the amount of boat ramps you have access to. A ton of different options within 45 minutes for me, and quite a few within 25 minutes. Can go over to Pinellas/Beaches or fish the Bay. Yes, the fishing is pressured, but you can find some out of the way spots if you look hard enough.

 

Try to get close to Rays Fish Camp.. good Grouper sammich.

 

Check the area south of Fishawk Ranch to Manatee River area. Wimauma is about in the middle. That is the main rural, larger lot areas and 20-30 minutes from several middle bay ramps, and 30-40 minutes to mouth of Manatee river/Tampa Bay. 30-40 minutes to Downtown Tampa off peak, +15-30 peak drive times. Other option is the 41 corridor from Apollo Beach to Bradenton. These areas remain rural, fairly eclectic and mixed demographic/socio economics. Posts are correct, ton of pressure from live bait fisherman and sea lice (aka jet skis), especially this year. Good luck!

 

It takes 45 minutes to go the few miles from Apollo Beach Blvd to the freeway in the mornings. It is impossible to go from that area to Downtown in 45 minutes or vice versa. On Sunday morning -yes, but not weekdays.

Take a look at the future plans for Wimauma - the number of houses already permitted in crazy and more being added weekly.

Traffic is getting worse daily and no plans for more roads. It is going to be unbearable in 10 more years.

 

If I was moving there, and did not have to drive into Tampa.. I'd look in St. Pete or Clearwater areas.. or out of Tampa alltogether and look in Bradenton area.
[/QUOTE]

I heard you have to be a scientologist to live in Clearwater?

 

I live on the beach side in Madeira Beach and I can tell you the real estate market is hot all over Pinellas County and Tampa area. I would make sure you have all your finances together because good properties are going quick. When we were looking multiple cash offers closing in 4 to 5 days. The weekends are pretty crazy around here at the ramps and tons of boat traffic. I got rid of my Redfisher and went to a 22’ Pathfinder just because how rough the water can get really quick. I usually just use the weekends for hanging at the sandbars with my wife. Fish early mornings or late evenings during the week days. I would have picked the Bradenton area but my wife works in Downtown St. Pete. Good luck with your search. I got a buddy that lives in Miami he is a captain and big fisherman he said it is unbearable down there, not even worth getting the boat out due to the craziness at the ramps. It will be busy up here but nothing like Miami.

 

I live in St. Pete off of 4th street. Love it. commute to work (near Tampa's Port) is 35 minutes regardless of the time of day via the Selmon's. Wife works in St. Pete with a 10 min. commute. Plenty of boat ramps in the vicinity. Downtown St. Pete is great with lots of good restaurants and breweries. Beaches are close. Decent fishing year round. I grew up in North Tampa and also lived in South Tampa for a number of years. I much prefer the vibe in St. Pete. South Tampa seemed so superficial to me. St. Pete is much more laid back.