A guide to Kitesurfing Pass-A-Grille Tampa Bay (Southern Pinellas)

Tampa Bay is lush with incredible kitesurfing and wing surfing launch spots. Each kite location has its own benefits, its own vibe and caters to different aspects of wind sports. The most popular spots in Tampa are in the Bay. Shallow water, large sand bars, and easy conditions. We are lucky to also have amazing beaches nearby! 

In this blog, I'll share:

• The best wind directions to kitesurf Pass-A-Grille. 
• Why you will love kitesurfing Pass-A-Grille Beach.  
• What you need to know when kiteboarding here.
• What to avoid kiting here.
• Where to eat and drink after your session.

Best Wind Directions for Kiteboarding Pass-A-Grill Beach

NW,  W, SW. 

This location works best with a northwest, west, or southwest wind. These directions will be the smoothest and the safest. Sideshore winds tend to bring you back to shore if something happens. Being open ocean, we recommend you avoid side-off wind here. If there are easterly winds St Petersburg has many other amazing locations for kitesurfing. 

If the wind has east in it, you'll want to ride at Skyway Beach or Fort Desoto East Beach. You can read our guide here. 

Why Pass-A-Grill is great for kitesurfing, wing surfing, or kite foiling.

Pass-A-Grille is a popular kitesurfing location nestled in the historic district. It offers a quiet beach town ambiance, sandy beaches with blue water, and plenty of beachside restaurants with a view. It’s popular for kiteboarding with a twin tip, wind-winging or wing surfing, and kitefoiling. If you enjoy kitesurfing waves with a kitesurfboard, the gulf can produce fun conditions too.  

If sandy beaches, palm trees, and amenities are your vibe, Pass-A-Grille is your kite beach. 

What to expect when kitesurfing at Pass-A-Grille Beach 

The launch area here is a small sandy beach just off the road. You can park between 21st and 22nd Ave in a small parking lot. There are a few beach access points here. We recommend walking north a little ways up the shoreline to avoid beachgoers. During the windy season, there are fewer people on the beach and more space for kitesurfers. 

The Gulf of Mexico here does get deep fast. Unlike many of our shallow flat water locations, this is a normal beach with a small shorebreak. This deeper water is exactly why Pass-A-Grille is popular for hydrofoiling. Easy beach access and no walking is required to kite foil or wing surf here. 

The gulf tends to have often have mellow waves and they are generally driven by the wind here. This makes it a prime spot for wing surfers looking to ride small waves or kitesurf.  

 Tampa Bay has the largest community of kitesurfers in the United States. On a windy day, you’ll find most of the crowd located at Skyway Beach or Fort Desoto East Beach. Pass-A-Grill is more low-key. You won’t find large crowds of kiters here. This makes it a great getaway for quiet sessions. Experienced kiters come here for wave kickers and deeper waters for big air kiteboarding or foiling. 

What to be aware of kitesurfing Pass-A-Grille 

• Beach goers. Give people the right of way. 
• Don’t set up in crowded areas.
• Don’t launch or land your kite near non-kiters.
• Don’t kite in designated swim areas. 
• Deeper water. St Petersburg offers many shallow beginner locations. This is not one of them. 

We are lucky to have an abundance of kiteboarding launch spots in St Petersburg. We want to keep that privilege. Pass-A-Grill is a popular beach for non-kiters too. Make sure to be respectful and give plenty of space. Don’t set up your kitesurfing equipment near beach-goers. Make sure you give plenty of space downwind when launching and landing your kite. If there is a designated swim area don’t kite in the boundaries. Lastly, this is an ocean kite spot. A little common sense goes a long way. Don’t kite out further than you are willing to swim back. The water here gets deep fast so be mindful of that. Make sure you brush up on how to self-rescue in the event you end up downwind on a crowded day. That way, you can easily wrap up your lines in the water and get back to shore in the rare case the situation calls for it. 

What to do after your kite Session 

One of the main perks of kiteboarding here is the abundance of beachside restaurants and bars. Too many to list in one blog. We recommend grabbing a burger and a beer with a scenic view of the sunset. A quick walk or drive down the strip here has some nice views and plenty of options for food and drink.

If you need help, reach out to our kiteboarding shop. We're Located in St Petersburg Florida and have been kiting and wing surfing here years. We're happy to give directions, book kiteboarding lessons, help build a custom kiteboarding package deal or rent kiteboarding equipment. Swing by our shop or give us a call. 

 (727)-800-2202