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MiraBay Coastal Community
For additional
information, please click here to visit the MiraBay website
 MiraBay
is a gated community with world-class amenities including a spa, pool,
tennis, playground, fitness center and clubhouse where numerous
programs for both children and adults host events.
Located on the south east side of
Tampa Bay in Apollo Beach.
MiraBay offers canal and lagoon
homes. The average mean tide in the canals is 5'5" and varies between
3.5 and 7 feet. The Lagoon is 18 feet deep and varies between 15 and
19 feet.
Canal homes have direct access to Tampa Bay. Canal water is seawater.
Lagoon homes gain access to the canals through the boat lift. The
maximum boat lift capacity is 35 feet, 26,000 pounds and an overall
height of 27 feet.
Nature Preserve:
Crisscrossed with small channels, the 1,000-acre Nature Preserve is
virgin mangrove and alive with birds and fish. There's nothing quite
like emerging from beneath the emerald-green mangrove canopy to
witness dozens of white egrets strutting after minnows from a sand
flat. Or watch skate zoom away like mini manta rays with graceful
underwater aerodynamics.
Wildlife:
The Tampa Bay estuary boasts hundreds of bird species and more than 25
of them breed locally, including pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets,
ibis, roseate spoonbills, terns and skimmers. Many breeding colonies
are located on islands, because there, the nests are less vulnerable
to predators. Other wildlife commonly seen in and around Tampa Bay
include: Dolphins, sea turtles, tarpon, fiddler crabs, horseshoe
crabs, stone crabs, conch, shrimp, bald eagles, osprey, raccoons,
anole lizards, gopher tortoises and marsh rabbits.
 Plant
Life:
Seagrass are underwater flowering plants that are limited to certain
depths by water clarity because they need sunlight to grow. Baby
shrimp, crabs and fish hide in seagrass and feast on sediments trapped
by the blades of grass. Seagrass also stabilize shifting sand, improve
water quality and serve as an indicator of the overall health of the
bay.
Red, black and white mangroves are native Florida trees that grow in
salty and brackish waters along the coast. Protected by state and
federal laws, mangroves provide food and shelter for a variety of
wildlife. Their branching roots, found both above and below ground,
anchor shorelines, protecting the land from storm damage and erosion.
Salt Marshes are grasses found on partially submerged lands in coastal
areas with minimal wave action. They are home to many plants and
animals that are specially adapted to a life that is sometimes covered
with water and other times exposed to the drying sun. Salt marshes
filter polluting runoff from the land and buffer the coast from
erosion.
Water sports:
The center of MiraBay's water sports is The Outfitter's, a
bait-and-tackle shop on the lagoon. See the Captain on duty, to learn
about water activities for residents, get advice (and fish tales),
rent a small craft and outfitting a trip whether large or small with
supplies and services.
 For
Anglers
With bait, countless rods and hundreds of lures, The Outfitter's is
the place to stock up before heading out. The Captain has the
mariner's forecast for the day and the latest news on where fish are
running. If you're a beginner, ask the Captain to show you the ropes:
casting, gear and water safety.
MiraBay's 1,000-arce Nature Preserve is ideal spawning habitat for
countless fish species-snook, redfish, and bass. So our local waters
are alive with fishing adventure. Just a ways off in Tampa Bay lies
the fighting challenge of tarpon-with plenty of tournaments, too. If
big fish are your ambition, Tampa Bay and the Gulf offer excellent
sailfish, barracuda and shark fishing.
For Boaters
Turn to the Captain and his crew to arrange fishing or cruising
charters and for references on local boat maintenance and repair
shops. The Outfitter's can get you signed up for classes or provide
information on local schools.
Activities
Look for the following adventures on the water
- Basic to intermediate sailing
classes
- Kayak tours of the Nature Preserve
- Deep sea fishing excursions
- Boat and kayak rentals
- Fishing gear and bait
- Backwater fishing guides
- Water activities for young people
(i.e. casting contest, fishing tournament and sailboat races)
- Guest speakers from local fishing
guides on snook, redfish, and tarpon fishing
- Guest speakers from law
enforcement on rules and regulations on Florida waters
For additional
information, please click here to visit the MiraBay website |
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