Soaking up the sunshine…
Fishing charters, sunset sails, dolphin sightings, and rent-it-yourself pontoons. Every marina and launch near our rentals, and exactly how to get out on the Gulf.
The Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway are the other half. This stretch of coast is one of Florida's great boating playgrounds: bottlenose dolphins work the channels daily, the flats and passes hold snook, redfish, and trout, deep-sea boats run to grouper grounds offshore, and every evening a small fleet heads out just to watch the sun go down.
You do not need to own a boat, or even know how to drive one. Charter boats, cruise operators, and rental fleets run from the marinas shown on the map below, most within minutes of our vacation rentals. Here is how each option works.
Resident bottlenose dolphins live in these waters year-round, and sightseeing cruises spot them on most trips.
Inshore flats for snook and redfish, passes for snapper, and deep-sea runs for grouper. There is a charter for every style.
Pontoons, deck boats, and jet skis by the hour or the day. Rental shops handle the paperwork and the safety briefing.
The Clearwater Ferry links downtown, the beach, and Dunedin across the water. The cheapest boat trip in town.
Orange markers are Sunny Orange Stays rentals. Teal anchors are marinas where charters, cruises, and rental fleets operate, purple markers are ferry docks, and green markers are public boat ramps and kayak launches. Tap any marker for details.
Marina and launch locations are sourced from OpenStreetMap and shown for guidance. Individual operators come and go, so book cruises and charters directly and confirm departure points.
The easy button: 60 to 120 minute narrated cruises from Clearwater Beach Marina and John's Pass Village, spotting dolphins that surf the boat wakes, then golden-hour runs timed to the sunset. Family-friendly, no planning required beyond booking a day or two ahead in season.
Half-day inshore trips work the flats and mangroves for snook, redfish, and trout. Full-day offshore runs chase grouper, snapper, and kingfish in the Gulf. Licensed charter captains cover your fishing license while you are aboard, and most clean your catch at the dock. John's Pass and the Clearwater marinas are the charter hubs.
Pontoon and deck-boat rentals put you in command for a sandbar day at your own pace. Florida rule of thumb: anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs a boater-safety card to drive, and rental shops offer a quick temporary certificate on the spot. Jet skis rent by the half hour and hour along the beach.
Part transit, part sightseeing cruise: the ferry links downtown Clearwater's Coachman Park, Clearwater Beach Marina, and the Dunedin Marina, running every half hour, Thursday through Sunday from February through Labor Day. Adults ride for $5, kids 8 and under free. Pair it with the trolley and you can skip the car entirely.
Paddle the mangrove edges of the Intracoastal at sunrise and you will likely have dolphins, rays, and wading birds to yourself. In winter, keep an eye out for manatees in the warmer canals. Rentals and guided eco-tours launch from the causeways and the kayak launches shown in green on the map.
No. Licensed charter captains carry a license that covers everyone fishing aboard their boat. If you fish on your own, from shore, a rented boat, or a pier, you will need a Florida fishing license, available online in minutes.
There is no boating license in Florida, but anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must carry a boater-safety education card to operate a powerboat of 10 horsepower or more. Rental companies offer a short temporary-certificate test on site, so build in a few extra minutes on rental day.
Mainly from Clearwater Beach Marina, at the south end of the beach by the roundabout, and from John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach. Both are shown on the map above, and both have multiple daily departures in season.
Very likely. Bottlenose dolphins live in these waters year-round and feed in the passes and channels daily, and sightseeing boats know exactly where they hang out. Sightings are the norm, though wild animals never come with a guarantee.
Mornings bring the calmest seas and the best fishing. Afternoons suit sandbar anchoring and swimming. And no visit is complete without one sunset trip: the Gulf sunset from the water is the postcard you came for. In summer, plan around the brief late-afternoon storms.
Yes, in season. It connects downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach Marina, and Dunedin every half hour, Thursday through Sunday, February through Labor Day, for $5 a ride (kids 8 and under free). Check the current schedule before you plan around it.
With 92 rentals across 8 Gulf Coast communities, you can pick a home minutes from the marina, be first on the boat in the morning, and rinse the salt off at your own place by dinner.
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Florida Vacation Rental Company is now Sunny Orange Stays. Fresh name, fresh look — but the same family-owned company, the same commitment to exceptional guest experiences, and the same beautiful Gulf Coast properties you love.