#53 - Pirate Water Taxi Turns Ten

For ten years, those iconic yellow boats gliding along the Hillsborough River have been one of Tampa Bay's most recognizable sights and one of its most beloved ways to experience the city. Pirate Water Taxi provides a front-row seat to Tampa's skyline, its history, its bridges, and its stories, all from the water. In this episode of Unlocking Tampa Bay, hosts Bryan Burns and Molly Barbieri sit down with Captain TJ Couch of Pirate Water Taxi to celebrate a major milestone: 10 years of connecting Tampa Bay by water. And Pirate Water Taxi isn't just celebrating its anniversary, they're using it as a vehicle to upgrade.  Captain TJ walks us through Pirate Water Taxi's brand new fleet of four sleeker, more efficient vessels complete with teak wood flooring, onboard bars, floating docks for easy boarding, and even oversized games for private charters. He also explains how the new ships made something that seemed simple but wasn't: a seamless, continuous loop route that takes riders the full journey. No more transferring between boats. Captain TJ shares what it actually takes to become a licensed captain (hint: 720 days at sea is just the start), the fascinating variety of movable bridges along the Hillsborough River, the story behind the Madame Fortune Taylor Bridge, a bat colony that calls it home, and even a Hollywood blockbuster that used it as a stunt ramp. Plus — spoiler alert — Zoo Tampa may be the next stop on the route. Captain TJ hints that the plans, the materials, and the vision are already in place. This episode will make you want to hop on board and explore downtown Tampa from a whole new perspective.  🎧 Tune in to Unlocking Tampa Bay on your favorite podcast platform🌟 Highlights of this Episode:Pirate Water Taxi: https://piratewatertaxi.com/ZooTampa at Lowry Park: https://zootampa.org/Tampa Riverwalk Attraction Pass: https://www.visittampabay.com/riverwalk-pass/🧳Plan Your Visit:BOOK YOUR STAY IN TAMPA BAY: https://www.visittampabay.com/stay/📲 Stay Connected with Us:Website: https://www.visittampabay.comOnline Visitors Center: https://shop.visittampabay.com/Facebook:   / visittampabay Instagram:   / visittampabay Twitter:   / visittampa 🎧 Don’t miss an episode—subscribe and share to spread the Tampa Bay love!