Ep 6. Florida's Lost Pirate

In the season 7 episode 6 of Expedition Unknown, titled "Florida's Lost Pirate," host Josh Gates sets out to unravel the mystery of infamous pirate Jose Gaspar, also known as Gasparilla, who terrorized the waters off the Gulf of Mexico in the early 1800s.

The episode begins with Josh in the city of Tampa, Florida, where he meets with local historians and experts to learn more about Gaspar and his supposed buried treasure. He soon discovers that Gaspar's exploits and treasure have become a major part of Tampa's cultural heritage, with an annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival drawing thousands of visitors each year.

Josh also interviews members of the Krewe of Gasparilla, a group of locals who dress up as pirates and participate in the annual festival. They explain that their aim is to keep Gaspar's legend alive and to celebrate Tampa's connection to piracy.

From there, Josh sets out to explore some of the key locations associated with Gaspar's life and legend. He visits Boca Grande, an island off the coast of southwest Florida, where Gaspar is said to have buried his treasure. Despite searching for several hours, Josh comes up empty-handed, but he does uncover some clues that suggest Gaspar's treasure might be located elsewhere.

Josh then heads to the Gasparilla Inn on Gasparilla Island, where Gaspar is said to have hidden out and planned his attacks on passing ships. He interviews the inn's owner and staff, who offer some intriguing insights into Gaspar's life and legacy.

Next, Josh joins a team of marine archaeologists who are searching for the wreckage of Gaspar's ship, the Jose Gasparilla. They use advanced sonar equipment and dive into the waters off the coast of Tampa Bay, hoping to find evidence of the ship's existence. Along the way, they uncover some tantalizing clues that suggest they might be onto something.

Throughout the episode, Josh also shares some fascinating historical context about piracy in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 19th century. He explains how pirates like Gaspar were able to thrive in this region due to a combination of factors, including a lack of effective government control, a thriving black market for stolen goods, and a general lawlessness that made it easy for them to conduct their raids and evade capture.

Ultimately, "Florida's Lost Pirate" is an engaging and informative episode of Expedition Unknown that sheds light on the life and legend of one of America's most notorious pirates. Josh's sense of humor and enthusiasm make the show a pleasure to watch, and viewers will no doubt come away with a newfound appreciation for the rich history and culture of southwest Florida.