Launching at TnT Hideaway

[dphife]

Hey everyone,
First time posting on here, but have been hiding in the background reading all the great advice on this site for quite some time. I have a couple questions that I cant find the answer to. I am camping with a few friends at the St, Marks Powder Plant campgrounds on the Wakulla river just south of the 98 bridge. I have a 19' Proline DC that I want to dock there but I have never used the launch at that bridge. Is that launch ok to use for a boat my size? Or is it sized for john boats, and kayaks and will give me more trouble than its worth? Also I haven't really navigated the wakulla river before. I attempted once (long time ago) coming up from the fort and almost ran aground. Plus my motor killed to keep from over heating because of all the algae and greenery that got stuck to my intake. I have seen bigger boats in the river up by the bridge. Including fwc's contender. So I know the river isn't the problem. Any advice would be great and I also hope I am posting in the right category.

Thanks
Dave

[kikstand454]

You should have no problem launching your boat at lower bridge (tnt) at all but the lowest of tides. As for navigating down to the ocean......someone else will have to give you better info on that. I know it weaves back and forth....

~~Dave

[dphife]

Thanks for the reply Dave. Although I never got the time to read it before heading out. But in case someone else needs the advice. Here is my experience.
I was launching during mid tide, and luckily there was no one else there since I did it early Saturday morning. First off you have to back the trailer in from the main road, there is no where to turn around at the ramp (good 50yrd or so, backdown). The ramp has a very shallow angle, therefor in order to get my boat to float off the trailer I had to put my truck in the water until the bumper was touching water. Not having 4 wheel drive this made me a little nervous. With a few tugs with the motor she hesitantly slid off. Now when I launched It wasn't full high tide yet. But later on I noticed people with same size boats launching at high tide and having to put their trucks in till water was almost in there cabs. I didn't even want to chance putting the boat back on the trailer at that ramp so I had a friend drive me down to drop it off at the fort where I know I wouldn't have a problem. High tide on the river makes it easy to navigate as you said Dave, I tried to do a evening river cruise on Saturday but tide was out, and I was dodging left and right trying to stay in the channel. Its not just deep in the middle of the river it does move around. But I did notice that once you are more north of the lower bridge and the river gets narrow it stays deep in the middle. I enjoyed going up and down the river several times and it is a great boat ride for the family to enjoy. But because of all the rain and murkiness of the water. We were not able to see any Manatee. As for fishing I did not do much. Just casting some lures while floating the river on the opposite side from the dock but no bites. On that note I am going to go back to what I do know, and that is saltwater. Back out for grouper on Friday!

Cheers
Dave

[kikstand454]

Cool.
The channel down to the ocean weaves back and forth and is generally unmarked.
the channel north of the bridge, like you said, is fairly easy to follow.

As for the bass fishing..... anytime fishing north of the bridge, a good white 3/8 spinnerbait, a yellow #4 snagless sally and a t-rigged watermelon/red flake trick worm will catch everything in there. Throw in a horny toad for the thick grass and you have it made.

~~Dave

[EddieJoe]

Thanks for the reply Dave. Although I never got the time to read it before heading out. But in case someone else needs the advice. Here is my experience.
I was launching during mid tide, and luckily there was no one else there since I did it early Saturday morning. First off you have to back the trailer in from the main road, there is no where to turn around at the ramp (good 50yrd or so, backdown). The ramp has a very shallow angle, therefor in order to get my boat to float off the trailer I had to put my truck in the water until the bumper was touching water. Not having 4 wheel drive this made me a little nervous. With a few tugs with the motor she hesitantly slid off. Now when I launched It wasn't full high tide yet. But later on I noticed people with same size boats launching at high tide and having to put their trucks in till water was almost in there cabs. I didn't even want to chance putting the boat back on the trailer at that ramp so I had a friend drive me down to drop it off at the fort where I know I wouldn't have a problem. High tide on the river makes it easy to navigate as you said Dave, I tried to do a evening river cruise on Saturday but tide was out, and I was dodging left and right trying to stay in the channel. Its not just deep in the middle of the river it does move around. But I did notice that once you are more north of the lower bridge and the river gets narrow it stays deep in the middle. I enjoyed going up and down the river several times and it is a great boat ride for the family to enjoy. But because of all the rain and murkiness of the water. We were not able to see any Manatee. As for fishing I did not do much. Just casting some lures while floating the river on the opposite side from the dock but no bites. On that note I am going to go back to what I do know, and that is saltwater. Back out for grouper on Friday!

Cheers
Dave

Here is the solution if you want to tour the lower river: launch at St. Marks and go up river as far as you wish or can safely go. In the days when I had a 17' cc, I could go easily up as far as the upper bridge, slowly. Skip launching at TNT with a larger boat. I never would allow my car to get wet, anywhere. It isn't healthy for a vehicle.

Luck,

EJ