Capt. Dylan Hubbard here with another exciting update from the waters of central west Florida. This past week brought a welcome stretch of calm seas and beautiful weather, creating ideal conditions for wildlife viewing and island exploration across Tampa Bay and the surrounding beaches of Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Shell Key, Fort De Soto, and Egmont Key. When the water lays down and the skies clear, it becomes one of the best times to get out on the water and experience everything our local ecosystem has to offer.Â
Dolphin activity was outstanding throughout the week. With glassy conditions and excellent visibility, spotting dolphins became much easier, and our guests were treated to some truly memorable encounters. Several trips turned into full dolphin shows, with playful pods surfacing repeatedly, riding wakes, and interacting in ways that felt almost celebratory. It was as if the dolphins were enjoying the break in the weather just as much as we were. These calm conditions allowed us to observe their social behavior and feeding patterns clearly, making our dolphin watching nature cruises and eco tours especially rewarding.Â
On land, our local osprey nest continues to show promising signs. The adult female has been spending more time roosting at the nest, displaying behavior that typically signals that egg laying and incubation may begin soon. We pass this nest daily on our dolphin tours, pirate ship cruises, and shelling trips, and we are monitoring it closely. Watching the progression from nest building to chicks learning to fly is always one of the highlights of the season.Â
Pirate Ship Family Fun CruisesÂ
Our pirate ship cruises inside John’s Pass added even more excitement this week with special visitors from the Tampa Bay Rays. Both mascots joined us aboard the Royal Conquest, leading to epic sword fights, water gun battles, and nonstop family fun while cruising the pass and spotting wildlife along the way.Â
Cruise News: Island Ferries
Sea turtle sightings were also unusually strong this week. The still water made it much easier to spot turtles surfacing for air while cruising to and from Shell Key and Egmont Key. Guests on our three hour Shell Key shelling trips and ferry runs were able to observe multiple turtles moving calmly through the bays and nearshore waters. Encounters like these offer a great educational opportunity to discuss seasonal movement patterns and habitat preferences.Â
While water clarity has been slightly reduced due to recent rough weather, that same rough surf has helped produce outstanding shelling conditions. Both Egmont Key and Shell Key have yielded impressive finds, including shark teeth and a wide variety of beautiful shells. When waves stir up the bottom and then calm conditions return, new treasures often wash ashore. Guests have taken advantage of these conditions to discover some excellent additions to their collections.Â
Between calm water dolphin encounters, increased sea turtle sightings, promising osprey activity, productive shelling, and scenic cruising, this has been a great stretch of days on the water. Whether you are joining us for a dolphin watching nature cruise, a sunset cruise with free beer and wine, a family pirate ship adventure, or a Shell Key or Egmont Key ferry trip, conditions remain favorable for memorable experiences.Â
We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon to explore the beautiful waters and wildlife of Florida’s Gulf Coast together
