HERNANDO BEACH AND BAYPORT: SHALLOW WATER HEAVEN

Hernando Beach and Bayport

SHALLOW WATER HEAVEN

48 BETTER OFF WET | JULY 2022

Hernando Beach and Bayport

Watch out for Rocks! We at Better Off Wet, like many boaters, are familiar with folks telling us to watch out for rocks. Well, around Hernando Beach and Bayport areas you definitely want to listen when folks give you that advice. We have the good fortune of knowing some folks who grew up in the area and took some time to show us around. These locals have met up with said rocks many, many times. In fact, just at the writing of this, one of our good friends, who has logged thousands of hours as a fishing guide, just showed us the damage to his hull, from a rock just off of his normal path. Hernando Beach and Bayport areas both have great public boat ramps. No matter which one you choose, you will be able to easily navigate out to the gulf with well marked channels. Stay inside the channel markers and you will not have any issues. But, if you want to do some exploring, like we at Better Off Wet love to do, you will have to “brave” the area outside the marked channels. Check your tides! If, you know your vessel and know how much water you need, check the tides and plan your outing from Hernando or Bayport accordingly. Paying attention, watching your speed, and staying away from the “dark spots” will have you out and about exploring island after island and have you fishing the grassy flats that hold a true abundance of sea life. So, no matter whether you put in at Hernando Beach, Bayport, or one of the other ramps or kayak launches nearby, use a little “nautical common sense” and head out to enjoy Florida’s aptly named Nature Coast.

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Hernando Beach and Bayport

HERNANDO BEACH:

For years, the area that is now Hernando Beach was all wetlands, typical of much of the Gulf Coast of Florida, North of Tarpon Springs. Most of the land west of US-19 is wetland all along this stretch of Florida coast. Hernando Beach is mostly situated along Shoal Line Boulevard runs North and South along the eastern edge of the Hernando Beach community. Most of the dredged up fill in Hernando Beach is only 3 feet above sea level. Some of the earliest houses were built on grade and subject to flooding during high water storm events. Many of the homes and building you see today are elevated much higher. As you would expect of a community in such a watery location, boats and seafood are important businesses. There are several places to rent boats and kayaks, and there are four full service marinas in Hernando Beach with wet and dry boat storage facilities. The long North-South canal on the West side of Calienta Street is lined with boat slips, which are full of both power and sail boats. There are also commercial fishing boats, lining the canal, including shrimpers.

50 BETTER OFF WET | JULY 2022

Hernando Beach and Bayport

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Hernando Beach and Bayport

BAYPORT:

The village of Bayport, located at the mouth of the Weeki Wachee River, sprang up in the early 1850’s as a supply and cotton port. During the Civil War, Union naval squadrons blockaded Florida’s coasts to prevent goods and supplies from passing into and out of the state. By 1863 the East Gulf Blockade Squadron had effectively closed the larger ports along the Gulf Coast. Small rivers, such as the Weeki Wachee, became important trade routes. Shipping at Bayport attracted the attention of the Union Blockade Squadron which intercepted eleven blockade runners near there, between 1862 and 1865. Various skirmishes took place at Bayport, between Union troops and the Confederate Home Guard during the course of the war. The Confederate cannon battery site can still be seen on the wooded point just north of the Bayport fishing pier at the mouth of the Weeki Wachee River.

52 BETTER OFF WET | JULY 2022

Hernando Beach and Bayport

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Hernando Beach and Bayport

54 BETTER OFF WET | JULY 2022

Hernando Beach and Bayport

After the war, Bayport became Hernando County’s major outlet for lumber and agricultural products, and continued to serve as its transportation center until railroad service came to Brooksville in 1885. Since that time, Bayport has primarily served as a retreat for area fishermen, and many families from nearby Brooksville have weekend homes and fishing camps in the area. Redfish, Trout and Snook exist in abundance in Bayport’s waters. Tarpon and Cobia are seasonal visitors, as well. On any given day you can see numerous bird species, Manatees, Dolphin, Stingrays, Sea Turtles, and literally tons of wildlife. Bayport is looks like a post card and feels like a paradise, painted for the nature lover. Some info from this text is from Mike Miller’s April 10th, 2022 article on Hernando Beach, Fl at https://www.floridabackroads-travel.com/hernando-beachflorida.html

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