One of the bay's best-kept secrets. A no-wake bayou tucked into the northeast corner of Old Tampa Bay, surrounded by mangrove preserves and almost no boat traffic. The water is dark and still, perfect for the kind of paddle where you stop hearing the highway and start hearing birds. Wading birds work the mangrove edges all year (herons, egrets, ibis), otters sometimes pop up to look at you, and bobcat tracks appear on the muddy shoreline now and then. In winter, manatees push deep into the bayou for the warmer enclosed water. The light here in early morning is gorgeous. Long gold light across dark water, with the mangrove trees mirrored perfectly when there's no wind.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Current fee unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Restrooms
- Listed in the checked source (checked 2026-08-20)
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome
The Wilderness Preserve at 423 Lafayette Boulevard lists a kayak launch, restrooms, and dawn-to-dusk access. Current launch cost and parking details are not stated. The separate South Support Area's parking fee does not apply to this record.
Access sources: myoldsmar.com (checked August 20, 2026).
How clear is the water?
Tannic mangrove water: often brown like tea; color alone does not establish water quality. Come for the quiet and the wildlife
What will I see?
- Wading birds, otters, the occasional bobcat track on shore
- Manatees come deep into the bayou in winter
What's the fishing like?
Snook and redfish in the sheltered bayou, trout on the nearby flats. Quiet nursery water, easy on the fish.
How do I share the water here?
This is a no-wake bayou ringed by mangrove preserves with almost no boat traffic, and that quiet is the whole point, so keep your paddle calm along the mangrove edges where the wading birds are working. Manatees push deep into the bayou in winter, so if you see one back off and let it move on its own rather than following it in.
See how it scores before you drive out.
Check Mobbly Bayou (Oldsmar) on the live map