Ports of call east of Pensacola

[JohnnyMac]

I am planning an offshore trip next week. We are heading south out of Pensacola pass to Desoto Canyon. After some fishing, we will head east to Apalachicola.
My questions are:
Do I have to enter from the east end of St George's Island?
What are some good stops and anchorages as we work our way back west?
My mast is 61' which does limit spots and parts of the ICW
Thanks

 

[Rick Webb]

Yes, don't try the Government cut it often is s shoaled and changes almost daily. Just inside Dog Island is a good anchorage watch the current though I once dove off of the boat there and was not sure I was going to be able to swim back to the boat.

The ICW from the DuPont Bridge on the East side of Panama City is all 65'. Another option is the Industrial Canal from Port St Joe to the ICW. Port St Joe is a nice marina and the Piggly Wiggly is right around the corner. There is one in Apalachicola but is several blocks up the road. There are several places to visit in both towns. One of my favorite places any where is The Seafood Grill in Apalachicola you can't beat the Gumbo or the Shrimp Po Boy anywhere.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Rick, Do you have a recommendation for a marina in Apalachicola? Is there a place to dock while at the Seafood grill?

John

 

[Rick Webb]

Water Street Inn
329 Water St
Apalachicola FL 32320
(850) 653-3700

The grill is a couple of blocks east and south from the Water Street Inn not on the water. The pool is a great benefit after a couple of days out on the water.

 

[kloudie1]

Stayed one night at the marina just before the bridge .. had an absent manager at the time.. We asked some marina tenants about staying.. They told us that if the manager showed, we might be charged a small fee.. He never showed.. We enjoyed lunch at The Owl.. several blocks north of the marina. http://www.owlcafeflorida.com/
and https://activecaptain.com/quickList..._Municipal_Marina_Apalachicola_FL&i=075885288

 

[hutch5151]

You can stop in Destin Harbor, anywhere in and around Panama City, Port St Joe and then inside to Appalacholia. The previous response to Government Cut is incorrect. They dredged the pass and placed new markers and removed the range markers last year. You can,t go inside from Panama City to Appalach because of a 49 foot bridge.

 

[Rick Webb]

That's good to hear about Government Cut, I looked but can't find it mentioned anywhere.

We had heard that once before and ran aground in a 5 1/2' draft boat. We were able to get ourselves off but not a great way to start a Gulf crossing.

 

[Rick Webb]

So, how was the trip?

 

[JohnnyMac]

The trip was good, but we did have to cut it short. Leaving last Sunday from Apalachicola, we dead headed it back to Pensacola to get in before the seas associated with Cynthia. We got back at 1900 hours Monday. Bypassed Port St. Joe, Panama City and Destin.
Our goal was to head to Desoto Canyon and run the ridge for Mahi Mahi and tuna. That was a bust, but we did well with King and Spanish Mackerel. We caught several Bonitas, but threw them back as we wouldn't be able to handle anything that we would catch using them for bait. Zero luck bottom fishing.
Apalachicola is a cool town. First of all the Government Cut has been dredged and marked. It is deeper than Apalachicola Bay. We went in at low tide and there was a 2-1/2 kt current against. We chose Scipio Creek Marina because it was the only place that had diesel, pumpout, and showers. Well, they were out of diesel, the pumpout was broken and the shower house sucked. They did have a "shit boat" that came and pumped us out(that is my next business adventure) and drove us to gas station to get diesel.

The Seafood Grill's gumbo rivals anything I've had in La. For supper the kids went to a place that had woodfired pizza and the adults went to the Owl's Café. That was really a treat.

Next trip I will definitely try Port St. Joes. I'm glad we didn't have to go to the east end of St. George's island.

 

[Rick Webb]

Glad to hear you had a good trip.

We've stayed at Scipio and it is OK but can't give it a stellar endorsement.

At the Grill I have a hard time deciding between the Gumbo or the Shrimp Po Boy often get both and have to skip the next two or three meals.

 

[Gene Neill]

Yeah, Scipio is more of a powerboat kinda place. We literally had more provisions on board our C22 than the marina store had. We got ice there, at least. But Apalachicola in general is better off skipped in favor of Carrabelle, if you ask me. We like "The Moorings at Carrabelle" hotel and marina. And Port St. Joe Marina is nice. We were there right before you were (Sunday June 11). Had some excellent oysters at the restaurant, nice showers.

We took the ICW from St. Joe back to Apalachicola to avoid beating all the way down to Cape San Blas ... where the charts were off by THIRTEEN FEET, by the way. At high tide, with the keel raised, we still momentarily dragged the rudder in what was charted as 14 feet. My advice is never, ever sail on the inside of San Blas Shoals, take the extra time and go around outside them. Getting grounded there at high tide was a pretty scary thought.