Mystery Noise In South Tampa Solved… Maybe

Residents living in South Tampa have been dealing with a late-night mystery that's been a nuisance for quite some time. Several reports have concluded that it's most likely drum fish that enjoy mating late at night. These drum fish make a low bass noise that can often sound like music off in the distance. But many residents never truly believed it was just fish making this odd noise. The mystery noise was sporadic, happening a few times every month. Oddly enough, it seemed to have a rhythmic sound making many residents believe it was music instead. Last night was the last straw for several people living in the Bay area. After hundreds of people called into the non-emergency line with no answers, residents took it upon themselves to do their own investigation.

Stephanie Kaltenbaugh has lived in South Tampa for over a decade and owns the Bamboo Pet Sitting company. She has long speculated that the noise wasn't just fish and wanted to figure out where the noise was actually coming from. Kaltenbaugh got into her car Saturday evening with her friend and drove around at 10:30 pm on a mission. She stopped at several locations, all over South Tampa trying to determine which direction the noise was coming from and what area. Her first stop was at the Stovall House, which is a modern-day social club built in 1909. The Stovall House was renovated and now hosts many parties in the neighborhood. At first, Kaltenbaugh was convinced this was the original source. She drove around the building and realized it was only loud on the Bayshore side of the building. After determining it was not the Stovall House, she then drove to the Tampa Yacht Club to see if it was louder. Looking around she noticed there wasn't one single car in the area. She realized it was off the Bay.

Kaltenbaugh then drove down to MacDill Airforce Base and oddly enough, she could easily tell the sound was now behind her. She turned around and drove toward Interbay and could hear the noise get much louder. Her last stop was going to Ballast Point Park which is right off the water and also has a pier attached. She wanted to walk down to the end of the pier, but it was late and dark outside she decided it might not be the best idea. The music was by far the loudest in this area.

After her investigation, Kaltenbaugh concluded that it could not be drum fish making the obnoxious bass noise. She could easily hear different music notes and instruments off in the distance which many residents have complained about for years. Another resident decided to walk down to end of the pier later that evening and asked some fishermen and boat owners about the sound. They all confirmed that it was coming from a boat or barge playing Caribbean or Latin music late at night. It seems as though the music is traveling across the water, through the Bay area and all-around South Tampa.

Beforehand, many residents thought the annoying sound could have been from Beer Can Island, which just added a new pavilion and generators. But people working there have debunked that theory saying the latest party they've had never went past 9 p.m. With no exact confirmation that it is actually coming from a boat or barge, this seems to be the most reasonable answer. Many residents have speculated over the years that it is and has always been a party boat. But maybe the idea of it coming from a barge with workers is the answer everyone has been looking. Especially since Port Tampa is so close nearby. Meredith Andrade from Wild 94.1 interviewed Stephanie Kaltenbaugh and asked her about what she's going to do next. Kaltenbaugh said, "The next time the mystery noise starts, we're going to find out exactly where it's coming from.  My friend who lives on Harbor Island has a boat. We're going to figure it out, while on the water."

It looks like Tampa residents are going to have answers soon on where exactly the loud, obnoxious noise is coming from. We can't wait to see what happens next and finally figure out what and where the mystery noise is coming from. Kaltenbaugh is determined to find an answer and so are many other residents who live in the area. We will keep you updated on any new developments.

The first thing that locals will tell you is "Don't" but that's because they want to keep Tampa to themselves. Unfortunately, the reality is people are going to continue to relocate to the Sunshine State. Tampa is a growing market, which means a lot of people are moving to the 813. Although locals wish the growing would stop, it's still exciting to watch for our city. It's always been a hot spot for long-time tourists, aka snowbirds, and people who are here for a short time. A lot of these tourists are becoming "transplants" and turning their vacation into a lifestyle. But we bet they wish they had this realistic advice before moving to Tampa. Thinking of making the move? Check out our pros and cons of living in the Tampa Bay area and scroll down to find out what's really going on here.

We jokingly asked our listeners what advice they would give someone who plans on moving to Tampa. Of course, the comments are flooded with "Don't", "We're full", and "Stay in NY". And while they aren't wrong, it's not really realistic advice for someone to move to Tampa.

Locals and transplants can find common ground on why Tampa is such a great place to live. There are lots of reasons why people save all year just to visit. The year-round warm weather is a big selling point for those relocating from colder states. We have some of the best beaches in the country, a melting pot of foodie culture, some of the most popular theme parks in the country, and championship-winning sports teams. Like every major city, you will run into issues like a growing homeless population, cost of living, HOA's among others.

This is slightly a joke but also kind of serious because it really does take an hour to get anywhere in Tampa. If you plan on moving to Tampa be sure to bring some patience. Trust us, you'll need it for driving on 275 or across the Howard Frankland during rush-hour (or any time of day really).

One of the biggest cons of moving to Florida/Tampa is the insurance rates. You have 10 days to title and register your car, boats, mobile home, etc. You'll have 30 days to obtain a Florida driver license. If you don't, you could see a hefty $500 fine. It's also worth noting the cost of car insurance is 30% higher than the national average.

Also since Florida is constantly threatened by major hurricanes, expect to pay A LOT for home/flood insurance.

It's something that even locals are guilty of doing. If you want to fit right in with the rest of Tampa, be sure to never use your blinker and let other drivers know your next move. Also, instead of making a u-turn, it's Florida policy to cut over 3 lanes of traffic to correct your mistake. (For legal reasons, this is a joke).

If you go anything under the speed limit in the left lane, be prepared to be met with a lot of middle fingers from Tampa locals.

Seriously, you made the move. Now you're a Floridian. We don't care "how you did it in New York". If you liked it so much, you could've stayed. Related note: Once you make the transfer to Tampa, leave behind your old team sports gear. You're a Bucs/Rays/Lightning fan now.

One thing you may not have realized in Florida is the bugs are INTENSE. Mosquitoes, fire ants, and palmetto bugs are extremely common. You also might want to get used to wearing sunscreen daily and have some allergy medication on hand. We have plants that bloom year-round which causes a lot of issues for people with bad allergies. Plus the ocean breeze can move pollen for miles.

If you've visited on vacation you probably experienced this. It's a beautiful sunny day until around 4pm when we get our daily showers. If you're at an amusement park like Busch Gardens, don't worry about gathering your things and leaving (unless otherwise stated by the park). Majority of the time, you can wait out the storm in 30-60 minutes.

Before making the move to Tampa, maybe consider doing a trial run during our "worst" months. It's the hottest in July/August, hurricanes really pick up in September, traffic is TERRIBLE during spring break. If you plan a 2-3 week visit during any of these months, you'll get a real taste of what it's like living in Tampa.