Fort or Lighthouse ??

[flatsbroke]

For all you St.Marks ppl....I am wanting to take the girlfriend and our kids for a boat ride/scalloping trip on Mon 8/5 and I'm aware it's gonna be a little nuts with the crowds being it's Labor Day just need advice on which location/ramp will be "less" nuts to lauch? Thnks guys....

[onefishtwofish]

Shields. Both Fort and lighthouse will be nuts. I just like launching at Shields. Wait and get ethanol free gas from them too. I like giving good folks my business.

[fishinfool]

Yeah, what 1F2F said.
P.S. I am guessing you meant 9/5 since Aug 5th has already passed.

[Williamsdad]

Boat size, time, wind and tides make a huge difference as well. I agree about the good people @ Shields, but in our little boat, we'd be spent after the ride out from the Fort.

Lighthouse puts you much closer to final destination, but check tides (the canal gets awfully skinny at low and especially if a north wind), and if you want to park, go early. See what she's made of, plenty of parking @ 6:30.

And assuming you meant 9/05, high tide is just after 7:00. Low approaching 4:00. Just don't try to come back too late, or come back real late.

[onefishtwofish]

Yeah that new curb on the end of the light house ramp makes it tough at low tide. We put in there too, just usually not on the weekends.

[Williamsdad]

Knock wood, have not experienced a problem but I was thinking about it as I backed off last time. Why would they go to the trouble to install a hazard? Guess it keeps folks from backing off the ramp?