How A Pile of Rocks REVIVED Tampa Bay Seagrass & Fishing
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
We all know how important seagrass is for fishing. It’s where redfish, trout, and snook feed, hide, and grow. But what if I told you that one project, using nothing but strategically placed rocks, helped bring 5.5 acres of seagrass back to life in Tampa Bay?!
Yeah, you read that right—a pile of rocks is helping save our fishery.
In our latest video, Salt Strong Alliance President & Founder Darlene Shuman met up with Niki Marino, Chief Environmental Scientist at Faller, Davis & Associates, to break down the Howard Franklin Rock Groins Project—a conservation effort that started in 2008 and is now a major success story for Tampa Bay.
Now, Salt Strong Alliance is taking this momentum and running with it. They’ve partnered with FDOT to launch 18 new habitat projects in 2025, all focused on making our waters cleaner and our fisheries stronger.
The Salt Strong Alliance is a community-driven conservation group dedicated to preserving fisheries, protecting clean water, and connecting families to nature through hands-on projects and education. By empowering anglers and local communities, they take action to restore habitats, promote environmental stewardship, and ensure healthier waters for future generations.
Want to Help? You Could Win a Skiff While You’re At It!
You can support conservation AND get a shot at taking home a Beavertail Mosquito Skiff! 🎟️ Every raffle ticket goes directly toward funding habitat restoration. Enter here: https://saltstrongalliance.com/win-a-beavertail-mosquito/
The winner will be announced live at our FREE Inshore Fishing Event on Wednesday, February 19th, at the Egypt Shriner’s Center in Tampa.
🔥 Event Details:
📅 Wednesday, February 19th
📍 Egypt Shriner’s Center, Tampa
⏰ Doors open at 5:00 PM
🎣 FREE for all anglers—Just RSVP HERE
Come out for great food, local guides, and fishing talk with Captain Mike Goodwine, Crazy Alberto Knie, Captain Leiza Fitzgerald, and Captain Blair Wiggins.
See you there!
Joe Simonds
Salt Strong
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Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
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- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Excellent project and the bonus of 5.5 acres of new seagrass for Tampa Bay. Having notice the installation of those rocks some years ago, thinking it was placed for the protection of the roadway bases, didn’t realize the secondary positives of seagrass addition. Fantastic planning by some smart engineers. Proud to be part of our Salt Strong family.
This is good to see the club efforts in doing great things.
So proud to be part of the Salt Strong community!
Great video and wonderful cause. I’ve seen these piles for years and now know the history, purpose and success. Good job
I had no clue the club was involved in projects like this. Prouder to be a member!
What a wonderful program. Way to go Salt Strong.🤗🎣🙏💯
So glad to be part of Salt Strong’s involvement in creating a more sustainable underwater habitat. We have learned over and over all around the world, that IF we focus on remediating the ills of the past, we can create real positive changes. Thank you.
wow! Impressive work and again you, Salt Strong, have made me proud of you and your deeds. I am proud to be a part of this and all of the other projects that you play a part in. Well Done!
WOW This is great to see. 🎣💪
What a great reason to join Salt Strong nation. Way to give back SALT STRONG