Route #7: April 12, 2008
Davis Island to Ballast Point

“Tough Going”– Well today was one of those days that I have been expecting since I started planning this trip, windy tough conditions that would make the journey difficult. In some ways, this should be difficult I think. If it were easy to do this, I don’t think it would mean as much. But it doesn’t compare with the difficulties that those suffering from Heart Disease go through everyday, so I think I can deal with the wind and the waves. Today was tough, but nothing compares to watching someone you love waste away from congestive heart failure. I thought of my dad a lot while crossing a choppy and rough Hillsborough Bay.

Joining me today were a couple of good friends Chuck and Terry. I have fished with Terry on many occasions and I have to say this about her, she has come along way since catching that first Lizard fish. She is “Hard Core” and truly a great angler. She will stay out long after others have called it a day.

I met Chuck once or twice at the ramp at Cockroach, but we have never really fished together before, he has wanted to join me on the earlier trips, but we never connected. Chuck is also a great kayak fisherman; he always seems to be consistently on big redfish or snook, so it was really nice to have him along today. Chuck and I share an unfortunate bond in this undertaking; we have both lost someone we cared very deeply about to Heart Disease. I was really glad he joined me today; I just wish the conditions had been better.

As Chuck and I dropped off his truck at Ballast Point, it was very tempting to slid the kayaks in and hit the water. It was flat calm, with the sun just coming up. We had no idea what was in store for us. Meeting Terry at the Davis Island boat ramp, Chuck and I were the first to head out.

Once out of the marina, the full force of the Southwest wind hit us. It wasn’t too bad at first, but once we got out into the open water, it got a whole lot worse. We were getting what I would call “Bounce Back”. This would be where the waves are hitting the sea wall and bouncing back out towards the open water. Terry called it a confused sea, I called it insane.

Here I am crossing Hillsborough Bay. It’s much calmer at this point.

Right away I knew we would have no chance of fishing our way back towards Tampa, so Chuck and I made the decision to go directly across Hillsborough Bay towards Bayshore Blvd.

Looking across towards a hazy Tampa.

I’m not sure how long it took to cross, it really didn’t take too long, but I will say this, it was very interesting. We had good 2 to 3 footers, with an occasional bigger swell which made for a wet ride. Once across, I stopped at some old pilings and concrete pieces sticking up out of the water and on my third cast hooked up with a nice speckle trout.

That would be the only catch of the day. This stretch of Tampa Bay has had a reputation for being polluted, but with the occasional piece of trash floating by, it was teaming with all kinds of wildlife.

Chuck working the sea wall along Tampa’s famed Bayshore Drive.

Terry taking advantage of the calmer conditions.

We spent an hour or two along the Ballast Point area, working the rocks and the huge fishing pier they have there, with no luck. My redfish streak came to an end, I believe they are there, we jus couldn’t find any. So, we loaded back up and drove back over to Davis Island to our vehicles.

Well, I’ve come to the half way point in my journey. 49.6 miles down, many more to come. It’s taken a little longer than expected, at first I thought it would take for ever, but now I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I’m already thinking of how it will feel to paddle into the North Sky Way in a few weeks.