Category Archives: Things to Do

Tarpon Municipal Has a Family of Resident Bald Eagles

I’ve played just about every golf course in the North Pinellas area multiple times. The Tarpon Municipal will always be one of my favorites. It’s wide open, so hooks and slices stay in play, and don’t end up as lost balls. It sits right up against a brackish marsh, a waterway that supplies water to its large central pond. Its coolest feature is being a habitat for a family of bald eagles. They have resident bald eagles on the course. They’re doing a great job keeping the course green and lush. It’s definitely worth playing if you haven’t before.

There’s nothing like driving down a cart path only to pull up the a massive bald eagle sitting 10 or so feet away next to a pond.

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Great Captains in Tampa Bay: Captain Jim Huddleson and Captain Brian Caudill

There are two captains locally that are just a couple of the best charter fishing captains you’ll meet. I’m grateful for their kindness. I was fishing about a week ago when I ran into them. I was just headed out for a day on the water. I put my boat in, then headed for the marina to buy bait. When I pulled up I saw Captain Huddleson and said, “Did you take all the bait?” (jokingly). I was also wondering if he was buying the last of the grunts at the marina, which has happened to me a couple times in recent trips at the bait shop at the ramp. He said, “I did.” I said, “Well, catch some nice fish with them!” He said, “Do you need some bait, I’ll give you some bait.” He told me he was just finishing up with a day on the water and had bait he was going to toss. So grateful to be offered bait by such a legendary Captain I said, “Yes, thank you.” in shock and surprise. If you’re offered bait from Captian Huddleson, you take it. That’s mainly because you’re getting the best bait around, often bait that money can’t buy. That was no different in this situation. He gave me nets full of Pilchards, the good kind of greenbacks. It was so nice! That was so generous of him. Still needing a few things from the marina, I was walking through the docks and ran into another amazing captain, Captain Brian Caudill. He overhead I was looking for bait, and offered me the Pilchards from his trip as well! I lucked out running into these two. How generous?  On another trip years ago when I had a power pole, the pole got stuck in the down position. I was sort of stranded, just trying to drag the pole in the down position across the grass flats. I wasn’t having much luck moving the boat. He saw I needed help. He came to my rescue! He helped towed me back to the boat ramp, and we ended up cutting the hydrolic line holding the pole in the down position, so I could get the boat on the trailer. It was one of the few times I’ve needed help on the water, and he was kind enough to save the day.

These are two great captains that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good fishing charter. They are outstanding inshore charter captains, and will definitely put you on the fish. Check out their services:

Rates:
Captain Caudill Rates
Captain Huddleson Rates

Book Them:
Book Captain Caudill
Book Captain Huddleson

Veteran’s Memorial at Veteran’s Reef 10 Miles Off Clearwater Beach

This summer a vetern’s memorial was placed in about 40 feet of water 10 miles off Clearwater Beach at Veteran’s Reef. The life sized statues include service members from the air force, marines, navy, army, and the coast guard, all 5 branches of the military. Today you can take a boat out to the veteran’s reef located at Veterans Reef, (N 28° 03.000′) (W 83° 00.750′). There you can find the three barges, two plaques honoring veterans, and the Circle of Heroes memorial.

Surfing the Gulf’s Surf’s Up Surf Reports 2017-2018 Video