So after living in Nashville for the last 4 years my wife new baby and I are gonna go home to the Tampa area. Do any of yall fish out there? I always fished from the bank in neighborhood ponds. Hope to hear from some of yall and maybe like the va folks we could get a little meet and greet organized one day.

Lots of good saltwater inland fishing.

Your about an hour and a half from Okeechobee, and probably closer to Istapoka and Kissimmee across 60. Then the Harris chains right up the block, probably a ton of canals and local small holes. You have the Rock Pits east.

Get with Fishindaddy hes the man up there.

In the immediate area there's Tarpon Lake, which i find the dullest most void of natural structure in the state.

I don't know about "the man" but I can certainly get you headed in the right direction.

North Tampa and Land O Lakes have tons of small private lakes if you can get access.

There is Lake Tarpon to the NW, but I agree with Rob that this is a crap lake.

There is the Hillsborough River with access off of 56th st and Fowler Ave and the Bypass Canal with many bank fishing possibilities.

The "reel" action is east down I-4. While there are options at exit 10, Lake Thonotosassa and exit 17, Medard Park. The good fishing starts a little further in Polk county with Lake Gibson, Tenoroc, Saddle Creek Park and the Winter Haven Chain. An hour and a half from downtown Tampa and you are either at Big Toho marina, Camp Mack on Kissimmee, or several ramps on the Harris Chain.

The under 2.5 hour category includes Orange/Lochloosa to the north, Lake George and the St Johns to the North East, and Istokpoga to the South East.

Stick Marsh and the Big O are about 3 hours away.

Shoot me a PM when you get here and need specifics.

Thanks for the replies guys I  will definatelly hit you up when I get down there. I know of quite a few ponds from growing up in the area but hopefully one day can get a boat and hit up the lakes.

WOW!!! I cant believe yall think Lake Tarpon in crap, its one of the best lakes for quality and quantity. I fish it all the time and do excellent there. Lake Rousseau is a great lake to fish about 2 hrs north