The Fort Pierce Inlet State Recreation area is as vast as it is beautiful. The state of FL has always been great at providing free launch areas as well as dropped a few picnic tables on the islands for resting. We were paddles in at 9:30 am, and paddles out around 2:30 pm, launching from Little Jim’s Bait & Tackle parking lot. Little Jim’s also sports an open air Tiki Bar & Restaurant parking area just East of the A1A bridge. This area has a lot of places to launch from off of A1A and just down the road to the East is a site called Lisa’s Kayak, Inc where you can rent watercraft.
There is also a public bathroom on site and I think that was a very smart move on Jimmy’s part, because everyone we saw hit the water ended up here for lunch and probably a few drinks more, listening to great music (live) with a backdrop of turquoise water.
A person can spend weeks exploring the small islands and mangroves. There are dolphins, manatee, tarpon, turtles and it’s an ornithologist’s dream. Just be mindful of the wildlife, let them come to you; they are as curious of you as you are of them. Stay still and you will find out. Please contain your excitement and avoid a display of chase behavior. Remember–– this is their domain and you are a guest. Finally, leave with what you came with, leave with with fond memories, land eave a little more enriched in nature than when you arrived.
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