Skim across emerald green waters off the coast of early 1700's West Africa, beautiful aquatic life swims below, dolphins and yellow fin tuna, then moving toward two large wood built battleships firing upon each other above the tranquility. Loud roar of cannon fire and black smoke, see familiar skull and cross bones flag raised high over one ship lead by pirate Captain William Kidd, as he squares off against the British Navy bombarding his ship, sudden blast destroys the quarter deck mortally wounding Captain Kidd, sending his ship and men to the bottom of the open sea…..

 

Loud smashing of hard plastic helmets, camera spins around inside the face mask of fourteen-year-old quarterback Johnny Kidd, smashed to the ground under a crushing dog pile, he plays on the worst team in the league with best friends Otis, and pretty Jordan, who Johnny has a crush on.  Grandfather Frank, an old merchant marine, teaches Johnny the importance of the lighted constellations in the nighttime sky helping Johnny read them with an old spyglass.  He tells Johnny wild stories of pirates and lost treasures. Robby, Johnny’s dad is a sports columnist, his mother, Maggie, chairperson of the local waterfront restoration committee. They don’t like Frank’s bold tales of blood thirsty pirates and lost treasures.  Sister, Anne, has just moved in with boyfriend, Calico Jack, a Harley Davidson rider, much to her parent’s disdain.  Local salvage operator, Don Cortez, mysterious and handsome, is one of Maggie’s biggest donors for her waterfront restoration project.  Johnny doesn’t trust Cortez, there’s something unsettling about him. Cortez has been looking for a lost key to a mysterious iron chest that holds powerful contents.  Grandpa Frank and Cortez are hiding a buried past together.  Johnny gets a bad feeling.

 

Grandpa Frank has an unusual painting that seems to change with the weather or mood of those watching it.  Johnny and his friends can’t figure it out.  There’s also a strange survey map, like a pirate’s treasure map, Grandpa Frank keeps notes and charts, and tells Johnny the story of the fierce sea battle between the British Navy and the famous pirate captain William Kidd, whom may be related to them.  After being destroyed by the British, Captain Kidd’s ship sank to the bottom of the ocean and disrupted a buried treasure chest on the sea floor that held Poseidon’s all-powerful trident. Captain Kidd took the trident and raised his ship to the ocean’s surface, to sail the seven seas seeking revenge against the British and other enemies. Johnny learns of the notorious Spanish pirate Jose Gasparilla, who would do anything to get the trident from Captain Kidd and rule the seas.  Frank tells Johnny he’s part of an ongoing story from the past, now telling him that only Johnny can find the key to the lost treasure chest that holds Poseidon’s trident. Johnny doesn’t believe him, but on Johnny’s 15th birthday, Frank suddenly dies leaving Johnny wondering if his story about Captain Kidd was true.  Best friends Jordan and Otis try to console Johnny, as now with their help, they begin to search through Frank’s ancient notes trying to solve the mystery of the survey map which Johnny is certain leads to Poseidon’s lost trident.  They find clues and the chase is on, leading to a showdown on Cortez’s salvage ship, where Johnny and his friends face the bloody Gasparilla and his entire pirate crew!