Rays of Tampa Bay- “Wings in the Water

As told by Captain John Blenker, Five O’clock Charlie tours

Out here on Tampa Bay, you don’t always see what’s watching you. Sometimes it’s a whole squadron of wings flapping slow and easy like they own the place-which they do.

Clients’ com aboard thinking dolphins are the headliners. And sure, they are showboats. But the rays? The rays are the quiet locals. They’ve been here longer than your hotel, your marina and probably longer than your last three life decisions.

Let me introduce you to the rays that share the bay with us.

Southern Stingray- “The Sand Ghost”

These ones the most common around here and the one that I recommend you master the sting ray shuffle while walking in our Gulf waters. Big, flat, and about as subtle as leaf blowing in the wind. The southern stingray spends most of its day buried in the sand with just its eyeballs sticking up waiting for a shrimp or crab to make a bad decision. This is the one we usually catch inadvertently on fishing charters.

They have a barb on their tail and it’s not for hunting. It is a leave me alone barb. Always shuffle your feet when you wade in our gulf waters and you will never get stung by one of these gentle creatures. They want nothing to do with us.

Cow Nose Ray- “The Squadron”

Now these rays seem to please the clients on my boat. Cow nose rays fly through Tampa Bay like a squadron of planes.

You’ll see them in groups, sometimes thousands. They swim in formation flapping their wings. Occasionally they launch out of the water like they are trying to catch a flight out of here.

Spotted Eagle Rays- “Rockstars of the Bay”

Every now and then, you get sighting that shuts the whole boat up. That’s the spotted Eagle ray.

Black body, bright white spots, long tail trailing behind like a whip. Swims like its not even touching the water. This one doesn’t show up for every charter-but when it does, it’s like spotting a celebrity in a dive bar.

These are amazing creatures and all my clients that see them are amazed by them.

Atlantic Devil Ray- “The Gentle Giant”

If the stars align and the tide is right you might see the Atlantic devil ray. Bigger, faster and built like its late for something.

These are cousins to the mantas, and they’ve got the same habit of launching into the air for reasons scientists are still arguing about. I think the rays are just showing off,

We don’t see these every day in Tampa Bay, but when one shows up it’s a moment in time you will long remember.

Butterfly Ray- “The Pancake”

This one looks like someone dopped a door mat on the seabed. Wide, flat and built for blending in.

The butterfly ray doesn’t get a lot of fame put it is part of the bay creatures. We occasionally spot them on the bottom minding their own business, doing what rays do best-being invisible until they’re not.

Captains final Word

Out here rays are part of the bay. We don’t chase them-they just show up when they feel like it. Some days its one or two slipping under the boat. Other days it’s a full-blown parade.

That’s the rewards of running charters on Tampa Bay-you can plan a trip, fuel the boat, bait the lines… but you never know what you are going to see in the wild.

And when those wings come gliding through the wake, silent and easy, you realize something:

When you are out on the bay, we are not just watching, but we are visitors to an amazing eco system that provides life to an array of marine life.

If you want to see what shows up on any given tide, come ride with Captain John on www.fiveoclockcharlietours.com. I won’t guarantee what you’ll see but I will guarantee that you will be amazed at the beauty that our waters provide.

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