I applaud grnngold93 for not banishing himself to the ends of the beach and thonging along with the regular beach goers. 

The only problem I have is the comment of "The unspoken rule should be when you see someone coming just respect that person and cover up some."   I think you should be wearing a thong that is legal, whether some one is watching or not, close or not.  This is especially true since thongers at the Fort are getting more scrutiny than before.  If you are wearing a thong that covers, is legal, and is not of the peacock variety then you should not have to cover up:  Because you were already wearing a thong that is conservative enough to pass muster.

I noticed on other sites on the net, a certain part of the population is planning to use Desoto for exhibitionism and others are advertising to hookup.  Out of town people dropping by the park should feel free to thong but not to be exhibitionists.  Unfortunately it only takes a few acts by a few people to start a problem. 

We need to keep less than kosher behavior to a minimum.  That means being on our best behavior and helping the rangers identify the problems.  We need the rangers to see that the local thongers are not part of the problem. 

If the number of arrests for public nudity, so far this year is really 58, then there is apparently a problem.  Maybe getting together with the rangers and working out signage that is explicit and exact about what is and is not OK would be a good idea.  Better than something vague, where the decision to issue a ticket is based on a rangers subjective judgment and the outcome is decided in the court house.   There is an existing thread about developing thong regulations here >> http://www.aimoo.com/forum/postview.cfm?id=466646&CategoryID=182921&startcat=1&ThreadID=2639420 

On a lighter note, regulars at Fort Desoto my enjoy this page, from the St Pete times >> itsyourtimes.com  and the subsequent 4 pages of comments.

We have a big problem with Pinellas county. The HQ of Pinellas Co. is an hour drive away in Clearwater which has it's own problems and agenda. There is mostly one way communication with Clearwater unless a wide cross-section of the population gets riled up-like last spring when they tried to put in a big restaurant at the Fort. Most of that fuss was undeserved too, but the only communication was through articles published in the newspaper and all the good points of that project were thrown out with the bathwater when the situation got too unpopular for the polititions.

I continue to suggest that no action is much better than trying to argue with the 600lb gorrilla in Pinellas county. 

interesting posts....I get to the Fort once or twice a year. I was in the St. Pete area for 3 weeks in July and visited the Fort often. 58 arrests as posted above also seems like alot to me but then Fort DeSoto Park is a few thousand acres with many thousands of visitors a year so maybe that number is NOT alot.

I remember one year being out at the North end sunning when a Ranger Boat came by. There was some comotion and it turns out they were ordering some dude off the beach. I had seen the guy earlier and got a funny vide. I never did get the whole story but I got the sense that the rangers out there know the locals and they also know who the troublemakers are. I have never had a problem out there in the many years I have been going. A couple of years back I did talk to a guy on the north end who only wore a mesh printed pouch with a string surround. I asked him if hever had any problems and he said once a lady with a bunch of kids called the police after seeing him. The police came out and questioned him and then took a photo of him. They did not issue a ticket or arrest and they essentailly backed him up and explained to the lady that since he was covered he was technically legal. I realize that mesh suits would "pushing it" for most. 

I would be interested if it is possible to confirm the actual arrest number. Call me a cynic but I don't respond to heresay. That ranger could have been trying to intimidate or brag and could have changed those numbers from 28 to 38 to 58 just to make a point.       

Went out to the Fort this past Friday. Wore my custom white V-string. It was a beautiful sunny day. Water was a little cool, but was a relief from the heat. Saw the ranger come down a little past lunchtime. Saw probably a dozen thongers about, including 3 women. Stayed a little south of the North(west) beach. Took a couple walks up toward the tree line. By mid-afternoon, there were hardly left on the beach. All in all, just a perfect day.

V-String

My wife and I will be visiting Ft DeSoto in March and we're quite excited to see what it's like.     Too bad their web site is not much use, the map didn't show much at all.     Hopefully we'll be able to find the thonging section.     Florida vacation $2000 ,  new thong $30 ,  enjoying the sun with other thongers - PRICELSS.

I have not been on in a long time. But I was on the beach that was being cleaned up and sand added renourishment as it is called was great. There were two commercials being shot there and we were scouting for one as well.

I now realize the beach we scouted and use a lot is the beach I have been looking for the entire time. So this is the north beach.

I was a little disappointed to see the major change in the Island at the end of the road. Was easier to get to and saw more what looked like fairly prude tourist walking around it.

I have yet to get to the beaches to comfortably wear my daisy dukes and thing with that sigh of relief to know I was walking through people of my own kind.

What are the best week days to get out there where it's not so damn empty.  Week days are best for me right now and are weekends busy or is there a better beach to frequent. I loved Bedrox and the beach there. Looking for the same kinda place to frequent again.

Thanks in advance for the reply

Reply to beachfolks re DeSoto and Sand Key

As a result of your report on bugs at DeSoto, I went to Madeira last Saturday.  It was bug free.  <G>

So to the beachfolks   you suggest when I am down in florida renting condo in Indian shores feb march that i come to Fort desoto to tan in thong. I frequent paradise lakes, and have thonged on treasure island, but do not have a girlfriend, so kinds of akward. Question when did they ban thongs on Clearwater beach, and the last few years madiera beach and places on that stretch have gone conserative. Did someone complain to the communities, as even less women wearing thongs.

This question gets asked a lot.  For the locals, who know the island, tree line, grass lot and other local marks it all makes sense.  For the visitor the directions sound confusing.  Maybe one of the Fort's regulars could make a map and post it on line, then link to it from here.  (Please keep North stright up on all drawings) 

Maybe have some grid cordinates from Google Earth.   If you have not downloaded and installed the free version of google earth, you should do.  It is way, way cool.   Fort Desoto, some where around  27.38.3? North  82.44.3? West ?   

Maybe the locals could colaborate on a detailed beach guide, a bit like the one I did for Fort Lauderdale.