History – Although it was first settled during the 1830s, Clearwater remained a sleepy fishing village until well into the 20th century. While much of the area remained unsuitable for cultivation, the freshwater springs for which Clearwater is named provided an abundant source of clean water for early inhabitants. During the early 20th century, the local springs also provided the raw materials for the area’s nascent ice industry. By the mid-20th century, the area’s favorable climate and beautiful beaches had attracted the attention of tourists and retirees from around the country. Today, Clearwater is a vibrant town with an ever-expanding economic base.

Geography – Clearwater lies in the northern half of Pinellas County and occupies the bulk of the isthmus that connects the lower part of the Pinellas Peninsula with Florida’s mainland. It’s actually part of the inter-coastal waterway that circumnavigates the State of Florida. Since the city borders Old Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it’s nearly surrounded by white-sand beaches, barrier islands, and diverse estuaries.

Population and Demographics – As one of the largest cities in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, Clearwater has a population of about 110,000. Unlike many cities and unincorporated zones in the metropolitan region’s outlying areas, Clearwater hasn’t posted substantial growth since the 1980s. This is largely due to the fact that it’s one of the region’s oldest settlements and was largely built-out by the late 20th century. The city’s population consists of a diverse mix of retirees, second-homeowners, and young professionals.

Climate and Weather – Clearwater’s subtropical climate are typical of other cities and towns in central Florida. Although warm, humid conditions prevail for much of the year, steady onshore breezes keep things comfortable on most days. During the summer, temperatures rarely exceed 95 degrees and often remain in the mid-80s. In the spring and fall, frequent thunderstorms help water the area’s lush vegetation. Winters tend to be quite mild, and frost is a distinct rarity. While the Clearwater area rarely finds itself in the path of a tropical storm, such events become slightly more likely in the late summer months.

Things to Do in Clearwater – Clearwater has a full spectrum of attractions and points of interest. Thanks to the Clearwater Public Art and Design Program, the city is a noted hot spot for street artists and boasts a number of free exhibitions throughout the year. Saint Joseph Sound is a world-class fishing ground that fills up with anglers and boaters on warm days, and Caladesi Island State Park hosts a sensitive wetland that provides winter shelter for many migratory birds. Clearwater Beach and Honeymoon Island State Park is popular with surfers and sunbathers alike.

The Florida beach areas from Clearwater to Dunedin have large fish concentrations in the area; especially throughout the spring and summer months. The Clearwater area is part of the inter-coastal waterway that circumnavigates the State of Florida. A few barrier islands are all that separate the prime inshore fishing opportunities from the Gulf of Mexico’s deep sea fishing. Many folks visit the Clearwater area for the opportunity to swim and play on the beach while others many times take advantage of the many other water activities like fishing whether it’s on a deep sea party boat or with a shallow water fishing guide like Captain Woody Gore.

For some reason, during the weekday early summer mornings, it seems the fishing areas are almost deserted. This makes the pristine clear waters a great time to hire an artificial lure expert like Captain Woody Gore and try your skill at landing a beautiful gator trout or tangling with one of the big redfish or snook cruising the sandy potholes looking for an early morning meal.

This can be an unbelievable experience. This mystic appearance of the morning sun breaking the horizon and rising to reveal the beauty of nature on majestic creations. Welcome to my world… being on the water before daylight.