From: Mindy Moore
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 4:40 PM
To: 'lomoto@tbo.com'
Subject: An OUTSTANDING

Ruskin, FL

Attraction... From Mindy Moore

 

Hello,

        As a former staff writer for a mid-western newspaper, I remember

how I relished a good tip from the public. Below, I’ve written a short

piece on our recent trip to Ruskin, FL (we’re from just outside LA). Please

feel free to use it in its entirety, any part thereof, or just as

informational background should you desire. I have long since retired from

the writing business but just felt compelled to let SOMEONE know of

this most amazing and authentic attraction. We are world travelers and

Gus’s Crabby Adventures takes the event prize, hands down, for most

unique, educational and fun. Captain Gus’s story could easily fall under

attractions (four hour interactive eco-tour on an authentic crab boat),

food and dining (fresh crabs prepared and served on an enchanting dock at

the mouth of the Little Manatee River and Tampa Bay), or even news for

an enterprising reporter (in these tough times, this crabber contends daily

with trap thieves). 

 

Don’t Worry… Be Crabby!!!

What started recently as a Google search for ‘things to do in

Ruskin, Florida ’ ended with one of the most entertaining attractions imaginable! My husband and I live in suburban LA and were looking for something really ‘far-out’ to do on our recent trip to Florida. We were meeting up with our son and daughter-in-law who were flying down from Green Bay, Wis., and knew our limited time together would be greatly enhanced if we could find something utterly ‘Florida’ to do during our 7-day vacation. Enter ‘Gus’s Crabby Adventures!’ My Google search the week before our departure took me right to Captain Gus’s website. The description of his four hour, once-in-a-lifetime Eco-Experience drew me in immediately. I placed a call to the Captain and was surprised and delighted when he answered on the second ring. He promised us an authentic experience on his commercial crab boat and he didn’t disappoint.

We boarded the Captain’s wonderfully genuine crab boat at 9:00 a.m.

during the last week of March and set out into

Tampa Bay under clear skies and just a bit of wind. All along the way, the Captain introduced us to the wonders of the water including a following of dolphins, and a vast variety of stunning birds. He soon had both my husband and son pulling and emptying crab traps, then baiting and tossing them back. Once we checked the bay traps, it was on the Little Manatee River where wildlife was teeming. From egrets to osprey to eagles, there was no shortage of wondrous sites to behold as we worked the river traps.

By noon, back to the dock of the Captain’s gorgeous homestead located at

the mouth of the Little Manatee River and Tampa Bay, it was time to cook

the catch. We were served our choice of beer and wine and invited into

the outdoor kitchen to watch the Captain expertly prepare our blue crabs,

stone crabs, fresh fish and hush puppies, all with special spices and batter.

The aroma of the meal was outright indescribable!!! Once the meal was well

underway, the Captain seated us at a beautifully set table on the dock and,

after a delicious appetizer, served us tray after tray of succulent food.

Needless to say, from the bay/river to the kitchen to the plate, we’d never

had such fresh fare. What a treat!

The Captain (Gus Muench) was charming, the experience unrivalled, the

 food divine and the price reasonable ($400 for the four of us). Upon

departure, we delighted in purchasing several ‘I got Crabby at Gus’s

Crabby Adventures’ t-shirts. We wear them now with fond memories of

our Eco-Adventure on the water. Anyone looking for a Florida

attraction that is undeniably ‘authentic,’ check out the Captain at  

http://www.crabbyadventures.com.

 

Mindy Moore

 

Apple Valley, CA

 

 

 

       "Have lunch in gazabo overlooking bay and Zen rock garden."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bay Chop Villa at night

 

  

Old Glory over Bay Chop Villa

 

    Stone Crab

 

 Little green heron

 

                      

                                                                              Great Blue Heron

 

 

 

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