Capt. Dylan Hubbard here with your latest update from the waters of central west Florida. As we continue to move deeper into the spring season around Tampa Bay, the beaches and islands surrounding Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Shell Key, Fort De Soto, and Egmont Key are offering a great mix of wildlife encounters, relaxing conditions, and rewarding island exploration. Whether you are joining us for a dolphin watching nature cruise, a three hour Shell Key shelling trip, a ferry ride to Egmont Key, a sunset cruise with free beer and wine, or a family fun pirate ship adventure, there is plenty happening on the water right now.Â
One of the biggest changes we are seeing is the steady return of manatees to the area. Sightings are becoming more frequent each week, especially during our shelling trips and ferry runs to Shell Key and Egmont Key. While we are still spotting them occasionally during dolphin tours, guests heading out to the islands have been getting the best looks as these gentle giants move along the beaches and shallow grass flats. As water temperatures continue to rise, we expect manatee activity to increase even more in the coming weeks.Â
Dolphin activity remains strong throughout the back bay waters. We are seeing plenty of dolphins moving through the area, often traveling in small groups as they feed and interact. These encounters have been consistent across our dolphin watching nature cruises and eco tours, and the calmer conditions have made it easier to follow their movements and enjoy their natural behavior.Â
Cruise News: Island Ferries
Shelling has continued to be very productive, especially on our Shell Key ferry and three hour Shell Key shelling trips. Guests have been finding a great variety of shells while exploring the beaches and shallow waters. While Egmont Key is still producing the occasional shark tooth, the calmer weather pattern following recent cold fronts has led to slightly fewer finds compared to earlier in the season when rough conditions were pushing more material ashore. Even so, there are still plenty of opportunities for those willing to explore and spend some time searching.Â
Seabird activity is also transitioning as the season progresses. Many of the juvenile birds that hatched earlier are now leaving their nests and becoming more active around the area. Guests are seeing increased movement among pelicans, egrets, cormorants, and other coastal birds as these young birds begin to explore and learn to fend for themselves. This stage of the season offers a unique opportunity to observe the growth and development of our local bird populations.Â
Overall, the combination of returning manatees, active dolphins, productive shelling, and growing bird activity makes this a great time to get out on the water. Conditions are comfortable, wildlife is abundant, and every trip offers something a little different to discover.Â
We look forward to welcoming you aboard and sharing another memorable week exploring the waters and wildlife of Florida’s Gulf Coast.Â
