A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
The question that I'm surprised nobody has asked is why? Sure the boat won't sink, but how long can you hang on to a capsized boat! To many things can go wrong.
I took a boat from Orange Beach Alabama to Key West once. 42' sport fish. Took the same boat from Key West to the Cayman Islands. took a parasail boat from Key West to Grand Cayman. Had a mothership along for the ride. Took a 65' dive boat from New Iberia Lousiana to Grand Cayman. Had friends who took the flat top (pontoon dive boats) used at the Hyatt in Grand Cayman from New Iberia to Grand Cayman. We were young and crazy. Saved the boss a lot of money though. In Grand Cayman if you bring a boat in on its own bottom you don't pay the import duty (20%)
What can I say. If I was 20 or 30 yrs younger???
I think the coastal route could be a lot of fun and safe. Take your time and do a little fishing. I would wait for this weather pattern to settle down though.
I helped a friend bring this boat up from the Keys to Port St Joe a couple of summers ago.
We started to cut across the gulf from Tampa to Appalach, but didn't feel like we had enough boat under us for the conditions present. Wound up hugging the coastline with an extra fuel stop in Steinhatchee. There's a lot of skinny water and obstructions in the big bend area, so we stayed a minimum of 10 miles offshore. Also, there aren't many places to duck inshore should you encounter a squall line. I'd strongly encourage you to trailer the boat home and enjoy it when you can pick your days and weather conditions.