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Most Online1,278 Feb 28th, 2020
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Sunshine Skyway Bridge
#11850
09/02/22 03:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Beautiful bridge, I have a personal connection to the bridge. Back in the summer of 1985 I worked a college summer as a deckhand pushing a construction barge around on the flat approaches.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11851
09/02/22 03:26 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Great memories of that job. I remember we were on overtime by Thursday. Time and a half.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11852
09/02/22 03:27 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I remember seeing big schools of fish swim by every day, especially sting rays, just thousands of them.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11853
09/02/22 03:27 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I remember rainstorms at 3pm every afternoon. Could almost set your watch by them.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11854
09/02/22 03:28 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I also remember a good group of guys out there, working hard, good sense of humor, made the job fun
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11855
09/02/22 03:28 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
My Captain was a great man, a Vietnam Vet, became a friend, may his soul Rest In Peace.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11856
09/02/22 03:30 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I have fond memories of a girl I dated in St. Pete. She showed me what fun looked like, we had a good times. I have always remembered her and now wonder how her life has been. Oh yeah, I’ve googled her name, but nothing comes up.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11857
09/02/22 03:32 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
My connection to the bridge was my brother, who was working as a mainspan quality engineer up on the pylons. Cool job for him and led to a very propsperous engineering career. He is still at it. Typical engineer, only knows work. But he is a great person and father, so there is that. Hardest working person I know.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11858
09/02/22 03:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Pushing barges around was great fun. I would say it was a transformative summer for me. Stepping away from Texas for a few months and seeing another part of the country and things I was not familiar with. Good stuff.
Last edited by BeachBum; 09/02/22 03:35 AM.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#11859
09/02/22 03:36 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I also enjoyed seeing the beaches around St. Pete. Snorkeling, beach combing, and generally having a great time.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12003
09/03/22 11:06 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I also remember snorkeling around the rocks near the bridge, visibility was not great, but good enough. That was a great summer. I think about it often.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12015
09/03/22 11:17 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I’ve always wanted to explore Tampa Bay shallows, flats, and shoreline on the south side of the bridge. Wonder what is to be found?
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12016
09/03/22 11:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
And I’ve wanted to go fishing in that area too. Never done it. Need to do it soon.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12017
09/03/22 11:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I wonder if a kayak would be sufficient to get around? I know the area is bigger than it seems.
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12018
09/03/22 11:19 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Do big grouper live around the piles of the old bridge?
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12019
09/03/22 11:19 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
I guess the old bridge is the fishing pier
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12020
09/03/22 11:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Are there any mangroves on the shoreline?
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12021
09/03/22 11:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Is there anywhere to camp without trespassing?
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Re: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
[Re: BeachBum]
#12027
09/03/22 11:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200
BeachBum
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,200 |
Thoughts of exploring this area brings excitement and happiness.
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