{"id":313542,"date":"2026-06-19T21:35:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T21:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/313542\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T21:35:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T21:35:48","slug":"tikis-taco-boat-brings-restaurant-quality-to-the-waters-of-johns-pass-sandbar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/313542\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiki\u2019s Taco Boat brings restaurant-quality to the waters of John’s Pass Sandbar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tiki'sCredit: TikisTacoBoat\/Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This story is part of a series on the floating food vendors feeding Tampa Bay boaters. Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n

David and Brenda Crump have lived a life of adventure. After David\u2019s career as a sports TV producer, the couple traveled and sailed around the world. But the simplicity of a hot dog on the water from Nauti Dogs excited the couple enough to start their next chapter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both avid boaters and we also love cooking, so it\u2019s a hybrid of our two passions,\u201d David told CL.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With family from Mexico and Cuba, the pair decided on a Caribbean-fusion menu for Tiki\u2019s Taco Boat<\/a>. 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

Creating the menu was the easy part. Learning how to execute it on a constantly moving vessel, not so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s knives in there that are moving around. Trying to prep and stuff, it\u2019s a challenge,\u201d David said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found some little quirks that work for us,\u201d Brenda added, but she won\u2019t reveal what they are. \u201cEverybody\u2019s got to figure it out for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the couple\u2019s third year running the boat out of John\u2019s Pass Sandbar. They\u2019re in the same spot from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. every Thursday-Sunday. The setup includes parking for small vessels and floating tables and umbrellas to \u201cdine in\u201d with biodegradable servingware. And they just launched a delivery boat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to create a restaurant on the water,\u201d David said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After their first year in business, the Crumps lost their home on Sunset Beach to the 2024 hurricanes. They spent the following year in Key West and came back last summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a lot of people asking us, When are you going to come back? Are you coming back? What are you guys doing?\u201d David said. \u201cWe knew we were always going to, we just had to wait until everything settled down in the waters around the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to see our potential this year,\u201d Brenda said.<\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tampa\u2019s\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tChef and founder Wesley Roderick said he\u2019s signed a lease in Tampa\u2019s West River district.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tampa\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tPlus, Tampa\u2019s Rome + Fig is closing next month, a new \u201cfood park\u201d is coming to Seminole Heights, and more. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"St.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe space will make way for Kaixo, a new dining experience\u00a0inspired by the \u201cfood, wine and cultural traditions of the Iberian Peninsula.\u201d \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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

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

\"\"<\/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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