Mysterious Bass Sound Disturbing Tampa Residents Likely Caused by Mating Fish

Community Raises Funds for Underwater Investigation to Confirm Black Drum Fish Theory

Residents of Tampa, Florida have been experiencing a mysterious bass sound since at least 2021, which has been causing disturbances and leading to numerous noise complaints.
Local scientist James Locascio, who works at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, has proposed that the sound could be the mating call of black drum fish, a theory based on his past research.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched by resident Sara Healy to cover the costs of underwater recording equipment to investigate the sound's source. The campaign successfully raised the required $2,500 within a week.
Locascio plans to place microphones underwater to confirm his hypothesis. If proven correct, the sound, which can travel through the ground, is likely to continue disturbing residents during the fish's mating season.
Similar noises have been reported in other coastal cities in Florida, including Punta Gorda, where officials confirmed the sound was coming from black drum fish during their spawning season.