I have been reading a lot on the internet about the Altantic Intercoastal Waterway but have not found anything on the intercoastal from Texas to Florida. Does anyone have any links or suggestions for some good amterial? Thank you, Robert
Intercoastal along Gulf Coast
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I sailed a few years ago from Corpus Christi to Houston. The skipper had done it several times and basically said that using the ICW was incredibly boring. We went on the outside and it was great. I have since looked for more information on your topic without much luck. I'm about to buy a boat, so maybe in the future I'll have more information for you.
I sailed a few years ago from Corpus Christi to Houston. The skipper had done it several times and basically said that using the ICW was incredibly boring. We went on the outside and it was great. I have since looked for more information on your topic without much luck. I'm about to buy a boat, so maybe in the future I'll have more information for you.
ICW
The ICW down that way is a lot different than the east coast. There are far fewer boats, far fewer marinas, and more shallow water than you can imagine. South of Corpus it gets pretty desolate, and it is like going back in time. The few marinas don't have courtesy cars, and most have no repair facilities, south of the Corpus Christi, Rockport area. If memory doesn't fail me, the average depth of the Laguna Madre once your south of Corpus is 1.5 to 2 feet. Once you leave Corpus, you are committed to inside or outside to Port Mansfield, the next inlet. Roughly 100 miles. And from Mansfield to Port Isbell, it is the same deal and approx. the same distance. In the ICW not much chance of an anchorage or stopping point. About the only way to stop is to tie up to some barge dolphins. There are a very few deeper holes, but they are scarce. Make sure you have a good, working depth finder. Most of the time in the deeper holes, if you can find one, the bottom is sand/mud and the holding very good. Fishing for redfish and trout is also excellent.If I were doing that trip for the first time, I would certainly take the ICW at least one way, just for the scenery and the wildlife. This is part of the King Ranch, and they raise lots of exotics for hunters. It is not uncommon to see a herd of Nilgai along the shore line. And tons of deer, turkey, javelina, and others. But offshore is nice sailing, and the winds most of the year are fairly brisk. The seas down that way seem to be a little rougher than they should be, but certainly not so big as to be dangerous. If your going south offshore, be sure to check the gulf loop currents. You may have a two or three know current on the nose. If going to go inside one way, and outside the other, I would go inside going south, and outside coming back north.
The ICW down that way is a lot different than the east coast. There are far fewer boats, far fewer marinas, and more shallow water than you can imagine. South of Corpus it gets pretty desolate, and it is like going back in time. The few marinas don't have courtesy cars, and most have no repair facilities, south of the Corpus Christi, Rockport area. If memory doesn't fail me, the average depth of the Laguna Madre once your south of Corpus is 1.5 to 2 feet. Once you leave Corpus, you are committed to inside or outside to Port Mansfield, the next inlet. Roughly 100 miles. And from Mansfield to Port Isbell, it is the same deal and approx. the same distance. In the ICW not much chance of an anchorage or stopping point. About the only way to stop is to tie up to some barge dolphins. There are a very few deeper holes, but they are scarce. Make sure you have a good, working depth finder. Most of the time in the deeper holes, if you can find one, the bottom is sand/mud and the holding very good. Fishing for redfish and trout is also excellent.If I were doing that trip for the first time, I would certainly take the ICW at least one way, just for the scenery and the wildlife. This is part of the King Ranch, and they raise lots of exotics for hunters. It is not uncommon to see a herd of Nilgai along the shore line. And tons of deer, turkey, javelina, and others. But offshore is nice sailing, and the winds most of the year are fairly brisk. The seas down that way seem to be a little rougher than they should be, but certainly not so big as to be dangerous. If your going south offshore, be sure to check the gulf loop currents. You may have a two or three know current on the nose. If going to go inside one way, and outside the other, I would go inside going south, and outside coming back north.
U.S. Coast Pilot 5
U.S. Coast Pilot is an incredible wealth of information. It is actually published for commercial vessels but is more than enough information for the pleasure boater. It contains information on local climate, lighthouses, buoys, inlets, marinas and way way too much info to write about here. It even covers the ICW just about mile by mile. Its a free download on the internet. Just type in U.S. Coast Pilot 5. YOu will like it so much, you will end up purchasing the actual book. Some cruising guides also steal info from here. Have fun Tony B
U.S. Coast Pilot is an incredible wealth of information. It is actually published for commercial vessels but is more than enough information for the pleasure boater. It contains information on local climate, lighthouses, buoys, inlets, marinas and way way too much info to write about here. It even covers the ICW just about mile by mile. Its a free download on the internet. Just type in U.S. Coast Pilot 5. YOu will like it so much, you will end up purchasing the actual book. Some cruising guides also steal info from here. Have fun Tony B
Nice and Easy have you been to South Padre Island??
I sailed with a friend out in the gulf around mustang island and we talked about going to South Padre. But there are oil rigs!!!! If you were at Mustang Island would you go inside or outside to South Padre and why. Thanks
I sailed with a friend out in the gulf around mustang island and we talked about going to South Padre. But there are oil rigs!!!! If you were at Mustang Island would you go inside or outside to South Padre and why. Thanks
I'd go
Moonsailor, Have been to S.Padre hundreds of times. Used to go down there to fish, long before I retired and still lived in Dallas. Once you get s. of the Corpus area there aren't many oil rigs any more. Most have been abandoned and turned into artificial reefs. They cut the legs off, and let the whole rig set on the bottom. Love to surf fish down there. It is pretty desolate until you get down to Port Isbell, and the only way to get very far south of the park entrance is by 4 wheel drive, if your in a car, so not crowded. One of the few places left. I would probably go outside, as inside it is basically just motor along. There is some sailing till you get to Corpus, but south of there, it is all just running in the ditch. It is roughly a 24 hr. sail down to Port Mansfield, which is the next place you can get inside. Mansfield is a nice stopping place, the city marina is decent and cheap. Couple of bars, couple of marinas and a convenience store are about all thats there. It is another 24 hr. run from there down to Port Isbell. If I had never been down that way I would certainly go inside either going or coming. Just so as not to miss the wildlife viewing. If you have never seen a herd of Nilgai, they are almost worth the trip. If you go inside you have to really be careful about staying in the channel. Out of the channel down there and you are aground.
Moonsailor, Have been to S.Padre hundreds of times. Used to go down there to fish, long before I retired and still lived in Dallas. Once you get s. of the Corpus area there aren't many oil rigs any more. Most have been abandoned and turned into artificial reefs. They cut the legs off, and let the whole rig set on the bottom. Love to surf fish down there. It is pretty desolate until you get down to Port Isbell, and the only way to get very far south of the park entrance is by 4 wheel drive, if your in a car, so not crowded. One of the few places left. I would probably go outside, as inside it is basically just motor along. There is some sailing till you get to Corpus, but south of there, it is all just running in the ditch. It is roughly a 24 hr. sail down to Port Mansfield, which is the next place you can get inside. Mansfield is a nice stopping place, the city marina is decent and cheap. Couple of bars, couple of marinas and a convenience store are about all thats there. It is another 24 hr. run from there down to Port Isbell. If I had never been down that way I would certainly go inside either going or coming. Just so as not to miss the wildlife viewing. If you have never seen a herd of Nilgai, they are almost worth the trip. If you go inside you have to really be careful about staying in the channel. Out of the channel down there and you are aground.
Robert........
the only stretch of the ICW i have traveled, Mobile Bay to Pensacola, was a delight! Lots of stuff to see, neat marinas and some really nice homes, some actually affordable looking. And some nice stretches of undeveloped lands. Maybe Dick Dixon will wade in with some ICW info as he has seen a lot more of it than myself. Good Luck! Frank
the only stretch of the ICW i have traveled, Mobile Bay to Pensacola, was a delight! Lots of stuff to see, neat marinas and some really nice homes, some actually affordable looking. And some nice stretches of undeveloped lands. Maybe Dick Dixon will wade in with some ICW info as he has seen a lot more of it than myself. Good Luck! Frank
Scenic in some areas.
The ICW in Florida, Alabama and Ms. is quite scenic and fun in most areas. There are small islands where you can anchor out and pitch a tent on your own private island. The same goes for beaches. When you hit Louisianna, well, thats another story. Lots of mud and mosquitos. Mostly commercial oil fiels boats and shrimp boats. Louisianna is a place to just scoot on past. When you hit Texas, the ICW gets better looking again. Not as scenic as the eastern portion of the ICW, but a makred improvement over Louisianna. Although beauty or lack of is very subjective and in the eye of the beholder, I am speaking from experience. I have traveled the ICW extensively from Panama City Florida to Port Aransas, Texas both as a commercial Captain in the oil fields and on pleasure boats.
The ICW in Florida, Alabama and Ms. is quite scenic and fun in most areas. There are small islands where you can anchor out and pitch a tent on your own private island. The same goes for beaches. When you hit Louisianna, well, thats another story. Lots of mud and mosquitos. Mostly commercial oil fiels boats and shrimp boats. Louisianna is a place to just scoot on past. When you hit Texas, the ICW gets better looking again. Not as scenic as the eastern portion of the ICW, but a makred improvement over Louisianna. Although beauty or lack of is very subjective and in the eye of the beholder, I am speaking from experience. I have traveled the ICW extensively from Panama City Florida to Port Aransas, Texas both as a commercial Captain in the oil fields and on pleasure boats.
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