{"id":311935,"date":"2026-06-18T16:37:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/311935\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:37:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:37:56","slug":"all-aboard-the-floating-food-industry-feeding-tampa-bay-boaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/311935\/","title":{"rendered":"All aboard the floating food industry feeding Tampa Bay boaters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CoverPhoto by Dave Decker. Cover design by Jack Spatafora.<\/p>\n

A cooler picnic usually seems like a great idea while packing for a boat trip. But a few hours and beers later, that soggy sandwich is no match for a hot day on the waters of Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

To get a good meal, boaters no longer have to head home or dock at a restaurant. Food boats\u2014once a rare novelty like the now bygone Madison Avenue Pizza Skiff or that guy in the Panhandle who sold $50 Chick-fil-A\u2014are now a booming industry. Not to mention boats with water slides and mechanical bulls turning Tampa Bay sandbars into full-blown waterparks.<\/p>\n

Hot dogs, tacos, barbecue, smash burgers, exotic drinks and more can be found at the sandbars and in the surrounding waters of Pinellas County. They\u2019re a little pricier than the same thing inland\u2014 $10 for a hot dog, $28 for three fish tacos, $12 for a smashburger\u2014but hey, it just hits different on the water.<\/p>\n

We talked to the captains and cooks about what floats their boats. Click through each of the headlines to read more.<\/p>\n

\"WomanStephanie Mcatee abord the original Nauti Dogs pontoon. Credit: Dave Decker\/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Nauti Dogs<\/a><\/p>\n

Brian Scheeley was parking cars for a living when he came up with the blueprint many businesses would copy: a pontoon, a hot dog grill and a cooler full of ice cream and cold drinks.<\/p>\n

\"ACredit: Dave Decker\/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Tiki\u2019s Taco Boat<\/a><\/p>\n

With family from Mexico and Cuba, the pair decided on a Caribbean-fusion menu for Tiki\u2019s Taco Boat. Their tacos use fresh fish and shrimp from Don\u2019s Dock, a stone\u2019s throw from the boat at John\u2019s Pass, and slow-cooked and shredded steak, chicken and pork. But they also serve quesadillas, nachos and frozen cocktails, along with nicotine, legal THC products, lighters and sunscreen. So, basically, anything you could ever need for a great day on the water.<\/p>\n

\"\"Boaters patronize the Weenies N\u2019 Bikinis hot dog boat at John\u2019s Pass Sandbar. Credit: Dave Decker\/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Weenies N\u2019 Bikinis<\/a><\/p>\n

The boat, run by Mei Wang and her bikini-clad crew, has the hot dog and mustard theme with a self-proclaimed aesthetic of \u201cBay Watch\u201d meets Hulk Hogan.<\/p>\n

\"SmilingMegan Waits serves fruit to boaters on The Fruit Float. Credit: Dave Decker\/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Fruit Float<\/a><\/p>\n

This is perhaps the hardest of the food boat jobs. Unlike the covered boats of her competitors, who serve more filling items, the Fruit Float girls operate out of motorized canoes filled with literally just fruit for about eight hours a day. Coring pineapples, watermelon and coconuts to turn into drinks is a full-body workout.<\/p>\n

\"ABailey and Mike McCormick run Beachin\u2019 Bites, seen here at Shell Key. Credit: Dave Decker\/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Beachin\u2019 Bites<\/a><\/p>\n

Bailey and Mike McCormick, also inspired by Nauti Dogs,
serve the heartiest food on the water.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their boat, Beachin\u2019 Bites, is equipped with a propane grill for cooked to order burgers, hot dogs, smoked sausages, and \u201cevery once in a while, they\u2019ll cook a pork butt or a brisket,\u201d Bailey told CL. <\/p>\n

Ceviche & more<\/p>\n

More food boats seem to be popping up by the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marissa Colson runs High Tides & Lemon Vibes, a landlocked lemonade vendor. But when she didn\u2019t have any gigs over Memorial Day weekend, and she realized she could use her same permits, Colson strapped a \u201cCeviche\u201d feather flag to her family\u2019s micro-skiff and started a new venture.<\/p>\n

She whipped up some homemade Spanish-style shrimp ceviche and grabbed some mahi fish dip from Nachman\u2019s Seafood Market & Smokehouse in Reddington Shores.<\/p>\n

Colson wasn\u2019t confident enough in her boat handling skills to anchor to CL\u2019s vessel that day, and she wasn\u2019t sure if she\u2019d make the ceviche boat a regular thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of just like a spur of the moment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Special thanks to the CL boat crew, Captain Maria Herbert, Veronica Freconna, Paula Heckenast, Shayla Brock, Vivi and Crackerjack Dave.<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in June 18 \u2013 24, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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