Capt. Dylan Hubbard here with another weekly update from the beautiful waters of central west Florida. As we continue cruising daily between Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Shell Key, Fort De Soto, and Egmont Key, the conditions lately have been lining up perfectly for incredible wildlife sightings, amazing shelling adventures, and unforgettable moments on the water. From dolphin watching nature cruises and sunset cruises to island ferry trips, shelling adventures, and family fun pirate ship cruises, there has been plenty to see and enjoy across the Gulf waters and the calm bays of Tampa Bay.
One of the most fascinating stories of the week came from our shark tooth hunters out at Egmont Key. During a recent island visit, one of our captains found half of a shark tooth that looked strangely familiar. About six months earlier, another captain had discovered a similar half of a tooth on a different part of the island. When they compared the two pieces, the color, shape, and size matched perfectly. When placed together, the two halves locked into place exactly, proving they were once part of the same tooth. Finding two matching halves months apart in different areas of the island is an incredible one in a million discovery and a fun reminder of how many hidden treasures our barrier islands hold.
Dolphin activity has been especially fun lately. As the water temperatures continue to rise and the clarity improves, the dolphins seem energized and playful. We have seen numerous groups jumping, chasing bait, and surfacing repeatedly near our boats. These playful encounters have made our dolphin watching nature cruises and eco tours particularly exciting for guests eager to observe natural dolphin behavior up close.
Cruise News: Island Ferries
Shelling has continued to be excellent throughout the week as well. Guests joining us on the three hour Shell Key shelling trips departing from John’s Pass in Madeira Beach and those exploring with us aboard the Egmont Key and Shell Key ferry trips from Fort De Soto County Park have been finding a wide variety of beautiful shells. Our shelling friends have uncovered some truly impressive specimens while walking the beaches and exploring the shallow waters around the islands.
Improving water clarity has also made it much easier to spot a variety of wildlife while cruising around the islands. Sea turtles have been surfacing more frequently, dolphins are easier to track across the water, and we are beginning to see manatees moving through the shallows near the islands as well. These clear water days offer some of the best opportunities to spot wildlife both from the boat and while exploring along the shoreline.
Meanwhile, the cooler spring weather continues to create ideal conditions for Shell Key camping. Many visitors are taking advantage of these final comfortable weeks before summer heat arrives. Camping on the island during this time of year offers peaceful evenings, beautiful sunsets, and quiet mornings perfect for shell hunting and wildlife watching before the day visitors arrive.
Between the incredible shell finds, playful dolphin encounters, clear water wildlife sightings, and peaceful island camping opportunities, it continues to be a fantastic time to explore the Gulf Coast with us. Whether you join us for a dolphin watching nature cruise, a sunset cruise with free beer and wine, a three hour Shell Key shelling adventure, a ferry ride to Egmont Key, or a family pirate ship cruise, there is always something exciting waiting just offshore.
