Honeymoon Island State Park Access for Kiteboarding

[Whitey]

I met with the park manager of Honeymoon State Park this morning. He has agreed to work with us if we will work with him. He ask that I pass along the following to those that would like to kiteboard around the barrier islands in northern Pinellas County.

The area that is under the jurisdiction of the Honeymoon office includes Caladisi island, Honeymoon island, Three Rooker (the main island and the small island to the north of the cut), Anclote, and the North Anclote bar.

The park will allow us to rig, launch, return, and ride out of park waters from the area just to the west of dog beach on Honeymoon Island. There is a sign there showing the boundry of dog beach and we are to be just to the west of that sign. Under no circumstances are there to be any kites set up to the west of the vollyball court. We are to stay well to the east of the vollyball court, close to dog beach limit.

The park boundries are 400' out from mean low tide. In order to keep access from being shutdown we must ride in and out from the designated area and then STAY 150 YARDS OFF SHORE, until you are coming in to land your kite, at which time you can ride into the designated area to land.

The enforcement officers have been made aware of this agreement by park management and will direct anyone found setting up outside of the designated area to it. If you are found riding anywhere inside the park boundries you are subject to a ticket with an $88.00 fine.

Three Rooker Island. There shall be no power kite flying in park boundries at Three Rooker Island. He agreed to allow us to pump up our kites on the beach at the north end of the island, as long as you do not lauch it from the beach. You can pump up on the beach then you must take your rig out into the water (off park property) to launch. Then you must stay 150 yds off of the island at all times.

Protection of the birds nesting and raising young on the island between April and September are the concern of the state. There are many species of nesting birds on the island and in the heat of summer. When they are spooked off of the nest it only takes a very short time for the eggs to cook or the chicks to die when not covered by the mother bird.

The park manager has been very cool in working with us to keep access to the park, as there are regulations in the books now that if enforced would prohibit us from using the park. Please comply with their requests and if you see someone not complying, advise them right away. It is important that we police ourselves and not become a problem of enforcement to the deputies of the park.

I ask if we could get a sign put on the west side of the sign post that is there for dog beach to mark the proper area to launch from, and Pete said he would look into it.

Thanking everyone in advance for complying with these requests, as protection of places to play with your toys is very, very, valuable. If you loose it, it will be very hard to get it back. Enjoy the wind. Craig