Florida Man Finds Possible Shipwreck While Fishing

A man in Florida recently stumbled upon what might be an old shipwreck while fishing with his grandchild. Thomas Peterson, who jokingly refers to himself as a “Florida redneck,” discovered the remains, believed to be from the 19th century, in Alipeka, a small area about 50 miles north of Tampa. The wreck was revealed during low tide.

Peterson recalls seeing “this green thing” in the water, describing it as resembling a shag carpet. He mentioned, “My boys say it’s the dock, but I think it’s definitely a boat. It’s pretty cool finding a piece of history.”

Photos show faint wooden beams scattered on the mud flats, with shallow water hinting at the presence of old boats. Reflecting on his experiences, Peterson stated, “I’ve been fishing with my grandson for ten years now.” This discovery has led residents of Hernando County to speculate that the wreck could be a rum runner, potentially used for smuggling illegal liquor during Prohibition.

While exploring the site, Peterson found a piece of purple-tinted glass, which might have belonged to an old liquor bottle. It leads to the intriguing thought: could this place have once been a thriving hub for such activities?

He also believes the ship dates back to a time before Prohibition, although its exact origins remain a mystery. Local archaeologists are expected to examine the site to determine its history, and the findings will be managed by the state of Florida.

Under Florida law, archaeological sites receive protection due to their public significance, and only qualified experts are allowed to conduct excavations.

Shipwrecks, while fascinating, aren’t entirely rare, especially in coastal regions. Earlier this year, for instance, archaeologists uncovered four shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century in North Carolina’s Cape Fear area.