Contests

LISTEN LIVE

Tampa Mayor Finds $1.1 Million In Cocaine While Fishing Off The Keys

City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was out fishing with her family off the Florida Keys when they came across a “square grouper” i.e., cocaine. The Mayor called us and…

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor
City of Tampa

City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was out fishing with her family off the Florida Keys when they came across a "square grouper" i.e., cocaine.

The Mayor called us and explained the incident that happened in late July. It was crazy! She was out fishing for mahi mahi with her family. They noticed the "square grouper," brought it aboard their vessel, and sure enough, it appeared to be cocaine.

Mayor Castor worked narcotics for years in Tampa, both as a detective and a supervisor, so she had her suspicions before it was confirmed to be cocaine. She contacted Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Once docked they were met by a Monroe County police officer. Shortly after, two federal agents arrived.

Castor described what it was like as she and her family docked and then met with authorities. It was somewhat comical because apparently, when you fish for mahi, the fish bleed a lot. So it was a crazy scene as the authorities see blood (albeit fish blood) and drugs on the boat. The package was examined. And they confirmed it was seventy pounds of 1.1 million dollars' worth of cocaine (street value).

Castor described her feelings to us on the MJ Morning Show, explaining her family felt a little nervous, but she said she, "didn't think the cartel was going to come after it."

Square Grouper Discoveries In July

Apparently, boaters discovering bags of drugs floating in the ocean was not an uncommon occurrence this summer. At least five discoveries during the month of July.

A Miami Border Patrol agent posted a picture of the drugs on Twitter. There were 25 bricks of cocaine. There were wrapped in packaging designed with a purple butterfly.

What a crazy fishing adventure! The Tampa Mayor was just enjoying the water and fishing for mahi-mahi and spotted the square grouper (cocaine).

Were you born and raised here in the good ol' state of Florida? Or at least lived here for 20 years? Well, if that's the case then you've definitely done all these nine things listed below! If you thought visiting the capital was on this list, keep thinking. Visiting Tallahassee is not on the list of things that make you a true Floridian.

What truly makes you a Floridian is going through some dumb, slightly serious, yet dangerous life experiences. A good example of that would be hunkering down for a category 1-2 hurricane instead of evacuating and seeing an alligator in the wild. This list doesn't include visiting an amusement park like Disney World or Universal Studios. This list is full of true silly things us Floridians have done and experienced while living here. Scroll down below to see the entire list!

Why Move To Florida:

First and foremost, Florida is home to stunning beaches. There’s over 1,350 miles of coastline with pristine white sand, turquoise water, and extremely hot weather. One of the most famous places is Miami Beach to the very glamorous South Beach each one is amazing in it’s own way. The Gulf Coast beaches like Clearwater and Siesta Key are just as beautiful. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, there is a perfect beach for everyone. Visitors can enjoy different water activities like snorkeling, jet skiing, or just tanning in the hot sun.

Tampa ranks #2 on the list of Florida family vacations! Out of 400 towns in Florida they looked at hotel prices, number of restaurants, certain attractions including watersport and amusement parks. Florida is undeniably one of the best vacation destinations in the entire world. There’s tons of reasons why Florida continues to attract millions of visitors every year. From its stunning beaches, vibrant cities and diverse wildlife there’s always something fun to do. They have thrilling theme parks and offer a wide range of attractions for anyone’s travel interests and preferences. Scroll down to see all nine things that make you a true Floridian.

1. Hurricane Party

If you've lived in Florida long you know we deal with hurricane season every year. Some people are extra prepared for it to begin and most of us just wing it! As a matter of fact, depending on the category we either host a hurricane party or go to one we've been invited to by our friends. We most likely know we'll lose power so bring a flash light, a 12 pack and lets party!

man asleep on couch after party

Getty Royalty Free

2. Seeing Alligator In The Wild

Alligator are everywhere in Florida and like to hide in retention ponds or even golf courses. Your chances of seeing one in the wild are pretty high! Alligators are known for their aggressive behavior and there’s been many encounters with humans in the new recently. Gators will most likely attack when they feel threatened. If you live in the state of Florida it’s important to understand their behavior and take necessary precautions to stay safe especially in alligator infested lakes.

This alligator was just hanging out when I came by in a canoe.

Getty Royalty Free

3. Late Night Waffle House Visits

It doesn't have to be after the club necessarily, it could be a night out drinking. But a main staple here in Florida is to hit up a Waffle House early in the morning or if you're dealing with a horrible hangover.

BAYOU LA BATRE, AL - SEPTEMBER 05:  A Waffle House is seen after Tropical Storm Gordon passed through the area on September 5, 2018 in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.  Tropical Storm Gordon hit the northern Gulf Coast area with winds and rain.  (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

4. Catching Lizards

If there's one thing we have it's an abundance of lizards everywhere! They're always running around and when it's mating season you see them stick out their red throats looking for love. One thing we always did as kids was catching the lizards and then we would wear them as earrings. We'd gently open their mouths and have them hang off our finger or ear.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: A lizard is seen on a tree during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 09, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

5. Ordering Publix Sub

This isn't even a question. If you grew up in Florida you have a favorite Pub sub. Even though they're all delicious it's a must to eat one every month. They're the best!

Publlix deli sign

Floridians love Publix. In some areas, you can't drive more than a mile without seeing more than one.<br>Photo: Geno/BBGI

6. Shooting Guns

Whether you're going to the gun range or practicing outside Florida is known for their guns. If you've lived here for a while most likely you've had some target practice.

AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 1: Art and Diana Ramirez of Austin with their pistols in custom-made holsters during and open carry rally at the Texas State Capitol on January 1, 2016 in Austin, Texas. On January 1, 2016, the open carry law takes effect in Texas, and 2nd Amendment activists hold an open carry rally. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

(Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

7. Stuck In Disney I-4 Traffic

Whether you're driving to Disney, Universal or Sea World you will 100% get caught in I-4 traffic. It doesn't matter the time of day or night because there's so many Florida visitors that have no idea where they're driving. Always give yourself extra time when driving through or to Orlando.

FOUR CORNERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: Heavy traffic moves slowly on I-4 East as residents evacuate the Gulf Coast of Florida in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Ian on September 27, 2022 in Four Corners, Florida. Ian is expected in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

8. Scary Weather Turns Beautiful In Minutes

It could look like a tropical storm outside especially in Summer but wait 5 minutes and it'll be gone! You might not believe me. If you're a true Floridian you've seen this happen more times than not.

storm approaching on beach

Getty Royalty Free

9. ZigZag Run From Gators

When living in Florida you might learn about a lot of myths and one big one is the Zigzag run. Growing up you always hear that if an alligator runs at you, you should run in a zigzag pattern. This will help you avoid getting caught because they can't follow you. FALSE! In fact, alligators can reach speeds of 25 mph, so you need to run as fast as you can, away from an alligator in a straight line if possible.

A Florida alligator watches the action from the ninth fairway during third-round play at the PGA Tour's Players Championship March 27, 2004. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage)

Roxanne is a co-host on the MJ Morning Show and host of Middays on Q105 in Tampa Bay. She also hosts segments on The Current, which features local feel-good stories and health and wellness segments, and airs on five of the six Tampa-based Beasley Media Group stations. Roxanne has conducted hundreds of interviews, from athletes to Oscar winners, including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Chadwick Boseman. She also specializes in media training, having worked with clients in the NFL, NBA and WWE for television, in print, and online. Roxanne is a published author and will be releasing a thriller novel in 2024. Her favorite thing in the world is being with her two daughters and husband. As a content creator for Q105, Roxanne writes about family activities in the Tampa Bay area, as well as reviews for local restaurants and travel.