CCA Tampa ChapterConserving Tampa Bay since 1985
Volunteer-powered. Bay-focused.
Local waters.Lasting impact.
Anglers, families and neighbors working together to restore habitat, strengthen fisheries and keep Tampa Bay thriving.
Our chapter
Tampa Bay is worth showing up for.
CCA Tampa Chapter is the local, volunteer-powered chapter of CCA Florida. We bring recreational anglers, students, families, conservation groups and public partners together around a shared responsibility: a healthy, fishable Tampa Bay.
Our work connects advocacy with action—from mangrove plantings and oyster reefs to youth education, community events and the traditions that make coastal Florida special.
See our recent impact →Recent work
Restoration you can see.
Seven projects. Dozens of partners. Hundreds of volunteers and students turning good intentions into healthier habitat.
01Mangroves
400+mangroves planted
Apollo Beach Mangrove Project
CCA Florida completed a two-part restoration effort with Breach the Surface, Ecosphere Restoration, Duke Energy, The Florida Aquarium and FWC. Volunteers planted more than 400 red, white and black mangroves along the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve shoreline, including 110 red mangroves from the CCA–Duke Energy Mariculture Center.
02Oysters
200+oyster gardens built
Pinellas VOG Workshop
Local Girl Scouts assembled more than 200 Vertical Oyster Gardens at Brooker Creek Preserve. The VOGs will be deployed from public and residential docks throughout the Anclote River.
03Oysters
16 tonsof shell deployed
Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Project
CCA Florida staff and volunteers joined Tampa Bay Watch to deploy 10 tons of fossilized shell and 6 tons of recycled shell, completing the shell portion of this living shoreline. The project honors CCA Florida Life Legacy member Fred Crabill while creating oyster habitat, shoreline resilience and critical fish habitat.
04Youth
2 daysof student action
Breach the Surface Mangrove Repotting
Local K–12 students gathered at the University of Tampa for two days of hands-on conservation education. Students learned why mangroves matter while repotting several hundred red mangrove propagules provided by the CCA–Duke Energy Mariculture Center.
05Oysters
7.5 tonsof recycled shell
Manatee County Oyster Project
At Robinson Preserve, CCA Florida supported Manatee County’s ongoing oyster habitat restoration with 7.5 tons of recycled shell. The work supports American oystercatchers and wading birds and included a $25,000 in-kind grant match made possible with state and community partners.
06Mangroves
200mangroves planted
Hillsborough Mangrove Restoration
CCA Florida, Hillsborough County and Duke Energy brought volunteers to Apollo Beach Nature Preserve to plant approximately 75 red and 125 black mangroves along a hurricane-damaged shoreline, helping reduce erosion and rebuild marine habitat.
07Wetlands
2,500+spartina plants harvested
Spartina Grass Planting
CCA Florida, Duke Energy, Tampa Bay Watch and UF/IFAS harvested more than 2,500 spartina plants at the Crystal River mariculture center. The plants support Community Wetland Nurseries and Bay Grasses in Classes, connecting students with habitat restoration.
In the field
See conservation in motion.
Watch the CCA video featuring the people, partnerships and hands-on work behind local habitat restoration.
Open videoChapter traditions
Two signature events.
One shared purpose.
Our banquet and all-release fishing tournament fund conservation, celebrate community and bring Tampa Bay supporters together.
38th Annual Digital Photo All-Release Challenge
Thank you for another successful tournament.
Thank you to every angler, volunteer and sponsor who helped make this year’s All-Release Challenge a success. Your support brings our community together and advances coastal conservation in Tampa Bay.
In memory of Captain Richard Seward
Tournament results
Congratulations to our winners.
Live Bait
- Grand Slam
- Andy Lopez
- 1st Place · Snook
- Cliff Payne
- 1st Place · Redfish
- John Mclelland
- 1st Place · Trout
- Alonzo Breaux
Artificial
- Grand Slam
- PJ Nastasi
- 1st Place · Trout
- Rick Gross
Non Motor
- Biggest Fish
- Nile Brooks26.5-inch snook
Youth Angler
- Biggest Fish
- Reid Williams26-inch trout
Reid also completed a 69-inch slam: 23-inch snook, 20-inch redfish and 26-inch trout.
With appreciation
Thank you to our tournament sponsors.
We are grateful for the generosity and partnership of the organizations that made this tournament possible.
- Tampa Bay Watch
- Power-Pole
- TA Mahoney
- Kaku Kayak
- Mirror Lure
- Bull Bay
- Primoris
- Team Fishel
- TECO
- TECO People Gas
- ATK Energy Group
- Elite Construction
- ES & ED Inshore SLAM Charity Fishing Tournament
- Lithium Battery Power
- Magnolia River
- Pierpont and McLelland Consulting
- Pond Company
- QISG
- Quanta Services
- Service Electric Company
Annual traditionPresented in 2026 by TECO and Borrell Electric
39th Annual Banquet & Auction
The Tampa Chapter’s flagship night brings our community together for drinks, a catered steak dinner, raffles and auctions—all in support of Florida’s marine resources.
2026 gatheringThursday, March 26 · Higgins Hall
Ask about sponsoring the next banquet →Thank you to every sponsor, donor, volunteer and guest who made the 39th annual gathering possible. Join the interest list to hear first about the next banquet.
Community calendar
Find your next day on the water—or in the field.
CCA Tampa Chapter events, CCA Florida programs, local fishing tournaments, volunteer workdays and community gatherings in one useful place.
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Upcoming
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Bring your hands.
We’ll bring the mission.
You do not need to be an angler or restoration expert. If you care about Tampa Bay, there is a place for you here.
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