Happy Paddler officially open for Bayfront business

With Bayfront Park’s official opening comes opportunity for new adventures. 

Enter Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures, the park’s kayak vendor run by husband and wife duo, Shane Catts and Holly Rolls.

Happy Paddler opened its Bayfront location June 30.

Catts said business has been good, even though the park’s grand opening celebration is not planned until fall and a lot of Longboaters are out of town.

“Considering all that, it’s going really well,” he said. “Dolphins and manatees almost every day swimming by the dock. All goes well.”

Happy Paddler is open seven days a week. During the summer, the first launch is at 8 a.m. and the last is at noon. Reservations aren’t required, but Catts recommends calling ahead.

A four-hour rental is $35 for a single kayak and $45 for a tandem. A four-hour paddleboard rental is $45. Eight-hour rentals are available as well.

The company also offers kayak fishing charters. The four-hour trip costs $185 for the first person and $75 for each additional angler. Up to six people can go on a charter.

“The locals have known for generations that it has been a great spot to fish, so it makes well in getting people out in the water,” he said.

Individuals can rent fishing kayaks for the same price as other kayaks.

Although the duo is focusing on rentals right now, they have plans to extend their offerings.

Once Catts is done “scouting the area extensively,” he plans to offer guided tours. The guided tours will start around 8 a.m. and last for three hours.

All rentals include a lesson and a map of the area, but Rolls and Catts plan to offer more lessons in the future. Rolls is a high-level certified paddleboard instructor, and Catts is a high-level certified paddleboard and kayak instructor.

The pair also plans to host paddling races twice a month in the future, among other programs.

Bayfront Park is located at 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. For information on kayak and paddleboard rentals, call Catts at 941-773-1920.