Want to dive

[Blevins]

I love fishing,snorkeling,tubing,boating, basically anything on the water. So my question is I would like to know if anyone knows of any good diving sites around the manatee river or Tampa bay area. Or any other ideas of activities/destinations in this area. Thanks guys

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Want to dive

I am sure your best bets would be some of the nearshore artificial reefs. Back in the 70s we used to dive under the skyway on a slack tide but you had to be carefull once the tide started moving you couldn't swim against the tide. It was always tough to find clear water around Tampa Bay however I was over there fishing a few weeks back and the water was crystal clear everywhere.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Want to dive

I love fishing,snorkeling,tubing,boating, basically anything on the water. So my question is I would like to know if anyone knows of any good diving sites around the manatee river or Tampa bay area. Or any other ideas of activities/destinations in this area. Thanks guys

Just noticed you are from Bradenton, how long have you lived there? I grew up in Bradenton but moved to Orlando 25 years ago. Still go back to visit relatives every now and then though. Try Rattlesnake point in Terra Ceia Bay for snook. Emerson Point at the mouth of the Manatee River also produces a few snook along with some decient trout and flounder fishing. There is a canal in Key Royal out on Anna Maria Island that always produced good numbers of trout but I couldn't tell you exactly how to get there. You might try around the shiping channel at Egmont Key for tarpon. We got into a bunch of spanish mackeral in Longboat pass a few weeks ago. I no longer fish any of these spots regularly but they have all been solid for the 40 years I have fished them.

Also if you want to try some night time activity there is a marker we used to call the nun buoy a half mile or so out of the mouth of the Manatee River. We used to anchor just out of the channel on an outgoing tide and soak a small mullet on a 4/0 reel. There were always a lot of black tip sharks in the 4 to 6 foot range out there. Black tips are fun because they jump like tarpon. If you want bigger sharks of all varieties go 3 or 4 miles out of Longboat pass and set up a drift. Better have at least a 6/0 though there are sharks out there that will strip a 4/0 in no time. My biggest shark out there was a 10 ft lemon but we had much bigger just weren't using gear big enough to handle them.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Want to dive

I live in St Pete and got cert last year. A fair amount of reefs around, only downside is viz is not always get. Me and wife enjoy Keys and Caribbean diving because of clarity, but still worth while to get certified.

 

[Blevins]

Re: Want to dive

I live at sr70 & 301. My boat is in Carlton arms. I am sure with time and asking people I can find some good dive spots. There is the sugar barge off Bradenton beach and point of rocks off siesta. I just want to get the boat ship shape (don't pardon the pun) before I venture out of the inter coastal waterways. Thanks for the advice. Got my boat. Problem is the guy left it sit with7 gallons of fuel in it so I gotta get the water out of tank.