st marks boat ramp info

[ragansm1]

How hard is it to launch and get to the gulf at St. Marks light house area? Is the ramp really busy this time of year? Never been there and was looking into going Sat. Have a 20 ft deck boat.

[Danibeth]

I've never launched there so can't help you on that. However I have seen big pontoon boats brought back in there. Don't know if there is a tide issue there or not and since my biggest boat is a canoe, I don't pay much attention to the tides when I'm waching people launch.

My observations just from going out to the lighthouse to mess around on the "beach" and wade fishing is that Saturdays are far more busy than Sunday mornings. Though from what I've seen, people seem to be pretty laid back there (though I don't sit around watching the boat ramp drama there so I can't say that for sure) when it comes to launching and recovering. Honestly the biggest "problems" I've seen is amongst boat mates instead of with other boat owners.

[MudDucker]

Don't plan on launching or recovering near low tide with that size boat at the lighthouse ramp. Channel is not very deep.

[Salty Gator]

Watch the north wind. We were thereast Sunday 3 hours after low tide and we had to push the boat off the trailer. Most big boats went back to launch at the fort. You can launch there at any tide and the water is fresher, but it's a 6 mile or so run out the river. God luck

[randymullaly]

I launch my 18' Center Console from there a couple of times a week. There is a curb submerged at the back of the boat ramp that is a challenge at very low tides. I was there Sunday coming in about 10:30 and had to bump across that a bit to get to the trailer. Made it on and jumped out to help a gentleman and his wife push their boat off the trailer.

[rockyg]

The Lighthouse ramp is also SUPER SLIPPERY ON THE EDGES at low tide. There are deep traction groves that run across the ramp, however, they stop about 8" from the curb at each edge and the smooth concrete strip is dangerously slippery. Particularly at low tide. I helped a guy load up his girlfriend early one morning who fell and was cut up pretty bad.

Not how you want to start off your fishing trip.

[ragansm1]

How is putting in at Shields Marina?

[rockyg]

Shields is a great ramp at all tides. There is a fee to launch. Parking can be tight.

The marina store and overall facilities are top of the line and run by the nicest people you will ever meet.

[randymullaly]

Rocky,

You aren't wrong about that ramp being slippery! Ive done the "Fat Man" slide more than once there. Got me a pair of rubber crocks and no more problems.

[kenfly]

The Lighthouse ramp is also SUPER SLIPPERY ON THE EDGES at low tide. There are deep traction groves that run across the ramp, however, they stop about 8" from the curb at each edge and the smooth concrete strip is dangerously slippery. Particularly at low tide. I helped a guy load up his girlfriend early one morning who fell and was cut up pretty bad.

Not how you want to start off your fishing trip.

Yes it is!!! May wife bit it on that ramp late last summer and busted up her leg and ankle pretty bad. Diff be very carefull walking on that ramp



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[FUTCHCAIRO]

THE RAMP AT THE LIGHTHOUSE POOL IS PLENTY WIDE FOR 2 LAUNCHING AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A CURB AT THE END OF THE LAUNCH RAMP TO KEEP YOU FROM RUNNING OFF AND HANGING YOUR TRAILER UP. I WOULD NOT TRY TO LAUNCH THERE IF YOU ARE 1 HOUR BEFORE OR AFTER LOW TIDE SINCE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CANAL WHERE IT GOES INTO THE GULF IS TOO SHALLOW. I HAVE LAUNCHED MY 20' BOAT MANY TIMES WITH NO PROBLEMS. IN THE WINTER MONTHS DEC, JAN, AND FEB. I TRIED NOT TO LAUNCH WITHIN 2 HOURS OF LOW TIDE, THE WATER LEVEL OF THE GULF IS LOWER DURING THIS TIME. THERE IS A JETTY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHANEL OUT TO THE RIVER CHANEL, BE SURE YOU DO NOT TURN LEFT TILL YA GET TO THE RIVER CHANEL UNTILL YOU LEARN WHERE THE CUT IS IN THE JETTY. GO DOWN TO THE AREA ABOUT THE 1ST WEEK IN JAN. AND JUST LOOK AROUND AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, DO THIS AT LOW TIDE.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS LAUNCHING OR GETTING OUT OF THE CANAL IF YOU ARE 2 HOURS EITHER SIDE OF THE LOW TIDE. I HAVE GONE OUT AT THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH A FRIEND OF MINE THAT HAS A 28 FT. PONTOON BOAT MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.
PA
SEMPER FI