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We have a 31ft class C motor home I am wondering if we can camp on Shell Key for a few days? If so is there a GPS address to find location for camping? And if there are any availability for this sat thru Jan 30.
Hi Barbara,
Sorry, Shell Key is only accessible by boat. The closest campgrounds are at Ft. Desoto.
Hope this helps!
Are there snakes on Shell key island?
Hi Ward,
According to the county’s wildlife survey of the island, There are 3 (nonvenomous) snakes that inhabit Shell Key: southern
black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus), yellow ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata), and
saltmarsh snake (Nerodia clarkia). In my experience, it is rare to see a snake on the island.
Hope this helps!
Is it safe to paddle board from Pass-a-grill beach over to Shell Key? I wasn’t sure if that is a typical route over to the island. Thanks.
Hi Jessica,
Any route from Pass-a-Grille involves crossing a boating channel – which involves at least *some* risk on a paddleboard. It’s a relatively short distance, and people do it all the time, but the level of risk will depend on boat traffic. Holiday weekends tend to be a little crazier than usual and the sheer number of boat’s will kick up the waves in that channel. I would head out early – and wait for traffic to die down before returning home.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I’d like to have snorkel next week or soon. Do you have specific location good for snorkeling to recommend?
Also I have not fund out how to get there yet? Please advise me. thank you .
Hi Hannah,
You can take the Shell Key Shuttle on Pass-a-grille to the north end of the island. The Island Ferry will take you to the south end. Your best bet for snorkeling would be on the Gulf (west) side of the island. The inside of the island is a shallow estuary and will be pretty murky. There are no significant underwater structures or reefs, so you will be “beach” snorkeling along the sandy bottom with an occasional sea critter in sight.
Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Mr. Jack Coletti. I wanted to know if there are live Conch on shell key that you can keep and what’s the best way to try and collect them? Also can you snorkel at Shell Key?
Hi Nelson
I see a lot of conch around the preserve, but as far as I know it is illegal to harvest Queen Conch in Florida. There may be other species there also, but I would be careful not to get the wrong one.
Hope this helps!
Does shell key shuttle run all year round?
Hi Tammy – I believe so, but I would check with them to make sure.
Can i fish here. And if so can i night fish.
Hi John,
Yep – Fishing within the preserve is totally legal. Just follow all the regular state fishing rules and you will be good to go.
Hope this helps!
Hello! Are there bathroom facilities on the key? If so, where?
Thanks
Hi Jen,
There are no facilities on the island whatsoever. You are technically required to pack out all your own waste.
Hope this helps!
Hello,
I am thinking of camping in the next few weeks. Are there a lot of bugs around this time of year? I know in some places it can be unbearable. Also, is there a fresh water source on the island?Thaks in advance for the reply
Hello!
We’ve had a fairly cool spring, so my guess is that the bugs won’t be at their worst. I would say hope for the best and plan for the worst by bringing repellent. There are no sources of fresh water on the island.
Hope this helps 🙂
hi, I am curious. It is 9:48 pm April 10. I am sitting by shell key and I just saw three young men walk into lagoon with head lanterns and buckets and walked around the water’s edge and gather something from the sand and plants. They stayed approx 30 minutes and left. Does anyone know what they were gathering? I am guessing snails or crabs. Is there a study going on?
Thanks, Friend of Shell Key
Is fishing permitted around the island?
Yep, fishing is allowed all throughout the preserve.
Can you send me a brochure?
Karen Supon
54 Holiday Dr
White Haven PA
18661
Hi Karen,
Sorry, we don’t have any brochures, but here is a link to Pinellas County’s “visitor’s Guide”. The pamphlet is is PDF format and readily printable.
Hope this helps!
Do I need to make a reservation for camping? Both my kids birthdays and they asked last minute to go camping again.
There are no reservations for wilderness camping in the island. Just make sure you get your permit at the County’s website and you will be good to go.
Do I have to rent a boat to Shell Key or is there any ferries that go back and forth regularly I can take?
Hi Donald,
The Shell Key Shuttle on Pass-a-grille and the Island Ferry will both take you to and from the island.
Hope this helps!
If paddling over to the key to camp overnight, where is the best place to park?
Thanks!
Hi Cami,
The only legal place that I know of to park overnight is at the Ft. Desoto Boat Ramps. There is a fee of around $6 to park overnight. You can pay at the kiosk on the way in.
Hope this helps!
Hi Jack
We have our own paddle boards and would like to paddle to shell island key. Where is the best place to park our car, launch and paddle.
Thank you
Lori
Hi Lori,
A lot of people like to park on the side of the Bayway at the ‘Butler Hole’ location. You can paddle all the way to the island without crossing any boating channels.
Hope this helps 🙂
Is there a connecting ferry from pass d grille beach to shell island?
Hi Wendy,
Check out the Shell Key Shuttle on Pass-a-grill.
are there any ferry services that one could take to shell key for the day? I know there was in 2005…
Hi Darla,
The Shell Key Shuttle on Pass-a-grill will take you to the north end of the Island.
Hope this helps!
Hi Jack!
Would it be advisable to travel by seadoo to Shell Key Island? And how long would it take?
Thanks!
Howdy Lynette,
Sure, you could scoot over the the island on a Seadoo without any difficulty. Depending on your launch location, you could make the trip in as little at 5 or 10 minutes.
Hope this helps!
Just wondering if people are still able too get scallops from shell key?
Hi Justin,
If you can find them, it is perfectly fine to harvest some scallops for your own use.
Have fun!