DOWNTOWN ON THE WATER

The roots of my family tree are anchored in the soil of Tampa and Ybor city from the 1950’s. I have been running a lot of my trips from downtown this winter so I thought I’d tell you about some of the cool but frequently overlooked things to do and things you might see by boat near where the Hillsborough river falls into the large estuary of Tampa Bay.
I tie the boat up and run the majority of my trips out of Ricks on the River. Ricks has ample parking, cold beer, good food and the setting is just north of the downtown Tampa skyline. Rick’s is the perfect place to return after battling fish and surviving an adventure. I have, on many occasions, watched the tide run out of the river as the sun was sinking on the day while sitting at Rick’s. The crowd is mostly locals, a couple of halfwit (or is it half lit) guides, like myself and Capt. Wes Burns, river rats, attorneys, professional athletes, old friends, new ones and people from all walks of life. We all gather at the outside bar to tell lies and laugh at our lives. Eddie can be found sitting on the corner of the bar most every afternoon, while Rhonda, Crystal, Stephanie, Alison and Jessica keep the drinks and food flowing from the inside and outside bars. Tip’em well, they work hard! Ricks also has a ramp where I have unloaded my 22’ bay boat on a negative low tide with no problems. Its 10 bucks to launch and 100% of the ramp fee goes to fight juvenile diabetes, so don’t skip out on it. Rick’s is a great place to leave from and an even better one to come back to.
For those wanting to try something new or different, Urban Kai is a paddleboard shop next to Ricks; they offer sales, lessons and rentals. They do a Sunday morning yoga session using the paddleboards on the water at Davis Island. The Davis Island Ramp has also been refurbished and has new docks. It’s still free to use and it’s just a short little jaunt into the bay or a great launch point to ride the river.
I have done a few sunset cruises through downtown. The ride out is pretty cool, the sea walls are all adorned with different college crew team logos and slogans. Nearly all of my clients make mention of it. The ride through the Garrison channel is slow, but very relaxing. This trip just makes me wonder how people acquire the massive amount of cash it takes to own those homes, for me it is not comprehendible , especially on a guides income. The sun setting over the horizon of St. Pete is at times breathtaking and after dark it’s beautiful. The bridges are all lit up in different shades and colors. The skyline is aglow with all the lights and buildings illuminating the skies. It’s kind of eerie, the hustle and bustle of the downtown night crowd is all around you, yet the sense of being alone out on the water is overwhelming. I pick up a lot of my sunset cruises at the dock in front of a quaint little Italian restaurant called That’s Amore’. I will make reservations for you there and have a chilled bottle of wine to toast the indescribable ending to a fantastic journey, whether it is a first date, anniversary or just because.
While running the shipping channel be on the lookout for the large Tugboats. When you see the ones running hard pushing water in front, keep watching, the dolphins love to play in the wake, they jump, spin and for whatever reason really like to play right in front of the tugs. It’s really awesome to witness the athletic ability of these mammals. The ever watched over sea cows can be found in the warmer waters by the power plant soaking in the warmth and basking in the sun. Pine Island ( A.K.A. Beer Can island) is just a little south of the Alafia River. It is a neat place to hang out and enjoy the day with friends on an island that is only accessible by boat. Be sure to take your trash with you when you leave and pick up any stray trash that is laying around, that way the powers that be will allow this resource to be enjoyed and it’ll keep it looking good to the next set of boaters.
The fishing downtown is different than anywhere else I have fished in the bay. It’s tougher, but more rewarding. Winter was good, lots of sheepshead and tons of docks and structure to hold them. Occasionally when we have a warm winter night, the snook can be caught around the dock lights. It’s a part of the bay many have not seen, it’s a little on the industrial side in places and a little on the commercialized side with all the buildings and channelside. Oddly enough it is just like the residents of Tampa, diverse.
Kinda off the subject of this article, but I want to say thanks to my clients. It’s through their eyes that I have rediscovered that many things that are routine for me are brand new and exciting to them. It’s worth the time to slow it down and ride the tide. Looking back over the time since I began fishing professionally, I have witnessed some awesome sights, amazing creations and many things of indescribable beauty. I am so very fortunate to have a really neat career that offers occupational hazards like seeing more than my share of sunrises and sunsets. I love smelling the aroma of the salt air or the freshly washed atmosphere after a summer storm, before it gets heavy with humidity again. I am fortunate to see Dolphin and Manatees daily and to have on file all the mental images of the many tides that brought in with them some awesome people. Many of the inspirations for my stories and thoughts, some of which have been printed here come from these experiences. You have all affirmed my belief there is a God and I am convinced he is an artist.
To experience an adventure on the water, give Captain Tim a call, text or email. Who knows you may find your story here, in the pages of next month’s Onshore-Offshore magazine! Cell: 813-714-0889 and email: tim@swiftfishcharters.com.