Nov. 19th.....

THE BOAT
A freighter heading out of the bay
Everybody out to push
Walking on water??? No stuck in the middle of the bay about a mile from shore. In the background is the Skyway Bridge
Return to the first dive site looking for the "Big One"

A couple of the race boats
Some intersting notes about the races... They are not allowed to race unless there is a spotter plane in the air watching for Manatee and sea turtles. (It could be fatal for both parties). There are up to 30 boats in a race along w/ a dozen or so helicoptors containing emergency response personel. Entry fee is $3,000.
The third dive site
One of the ocean front homes
This is the first dive site. The fish hang out around the bases

Nov. 19.....

Well the day began when we (Paul,Kathryn,Bud,Burt and I) left the dock in the bay here around 10 am and headed out into Tampa Bay. The wind was up to around 23 knots at the Skyway Bridge. We passed this bridge and headed North to another bridge where Paul and Bud went in under it. The wind was cool so I stayed on board. The current was also running pretty good as the tide was coming in. Bud wasn't feeling well so he retired early although the visibility was very good compared to the last couple of times we've been out. They saw lots of large snook (as big as me according to Paul) but it's illegal to spear them. There were lots of patrol boats around due to some hi speed offshore races going on farther out in the bay so that was also a factor in not getting any food. (being the true conservationists that we are). There were also a lot of sheepshead but more work to clean . Bottom line.....no food.
We then headed farther North to the bases of three other bridges where I did go in. It was more sheltered here and the wind wasn't as bad although the current was still pretty strong for my small flippers. I surfaced next to the boat at one point and Kathryn informed me there were two dolphins swimming right where I'd been although I didn't see them. I went back in but they weren't anywhere around that I could see. They would have really freaked me out if I'd been swimming along the bottom and they'd suprised me. Saw lots of sheepshead and Paul saw some larger fish and broke off a couple of crab claws. (they grow back so you only take one claw off each crab) Guess it means they must diet for a while until it grows back in.
We tried several spots and then went under another bridge towards St. Pete's. This is a large body of water and Bud (Mr. Navigator) suggested heading straight across it rather than following the marked channels. Well it's a good thing he wasn't with Columbus or we wouldn't be here. Right out in the middle we were in about a foot or less of water. Everyone jumped out and pushed the 32' boat into deeper water which fortunately wasn't too far away. This is the second time the boat has been grounded in two days. It happened to Paul and I when we brought the boat over here and we ended up on a sandbar and Paul did some pushing. In defense of Paul though the channel wasn't very well marked until after we floated free.
Just before we arrived back here we got a slight bit of rain but it was still warm. Another great day on the water and two crab claws thanks to Paul the major breadwinner!
Paul and Kathryn are planning a neighbourhood get together next Sat. night and the plan was for a fish bbq. It now seems that it may be more along the lines of a pig roast.