Location
Upper Tampa Bay State Park is in Tampa, FL.
Map showing Double Branch Bay
Description
The Upper Tampa Bay Park is in upper Tampa Bay. Double Branch bay is a short 1 1/2 miles paddle from the canoe launch at the park. This whole area is best paddled on a high tide since most of it is only a few feet deep. It's more like river paddling than paddling in a bay because of the current when the tide is moving. Most of this area is a sand bottom with plenty of oyster beds. The Upper Tampa Bay Park rents canoes and kayaks for $25 for 4 hours. The park also has one of the nicest kayak launches in all of Tampa Bay. There is also a kayak or canoe wash rack and water hose to rinse off with when your done. There are quite a few mangrove channels, tidal channels, mangrove islands, isolated holes & sand flats to get away from everybody. However, the mouth of Double Branch Bay is a popular fishing spot among the locals.
There is a marked canoe / kayak trail starting at the canoe launch at the park. If it's your first time here, and you don't have a GPS, you would be best off sticking to the trail. The kayak run signs are numbered and easy to spot.
There are a lot of shallow oyster bars to navigate so pay attention for ripples on the water indicating shallow spots or you'll end up beaching on one.
Pictures