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
I'm fairly new to fishing the flats around the St. Marks area (and fishing in general). I'm interested in trying to fish the rock garden, and the area around Stoney Bayou. But I'm terrified that I'm going to ruin my boat. The boat only draws--according the that catalogue--8 inches. But I still worry.
Can anybody give me some advice on how to approach the area? Are there any obstacles (e.g. rocks!) that I should be aware of? I keep hearing about Grey Mare, Cobb, and Stoney Bayou as "hot spots," and I'd really like an opportunity to fish there.
Do a search on this site of the rock garden and you'll find loads of info, including plenty of GPS coordinates of the various rocks people have run across. You're right to worry and I would suggest exploring slow. I don't think there is a such thing as a "safe route".
"Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh man....I could be eating a slow learner."
Hey I been fishing St Marks for around 3 years now. I just bought a new 180 Bay Scout but before that I had a J16 Carolina Skiff. I fished mostly west and not east. I have only been around stoney/rock garden only a few times and there were sometimes out there My Skiff could not get through with the motor down. Now this may have been because of low tide. You should be fine but I would travel around there either right before or at high tide if you havent been there before. I know some people that fish that way that know that place pretty good and can fly through there at full speed dodging everything but I wouldnt try that untill you have been out there a few times.
Better to be safe than pay 6000 dollars for a new lower unit.
Actually I prefer seeing it at a minus low tide "you'll think of the Moonscape when ya see it" it instills a GREAT respect for what is under the water at high tide
Wevans is correct. If you really want to learn it,go there on a low tide rising and have a look.
I've been going there over 50 years and still haven't learned it.
(NO SMART A&& REMARKS FROM THE REST OF YOU ARE NECESSARY)
Jumptrout51 wrote:
(NO SMART A&& REMARKS FROM THE REST OF YOU ARE NECESSARY)
You talking to me, ShortTrout 51.
Reel Therapy, Everyone's given you great advice. There's no better way to learn that area than spending time on the water and going slow. You'll be fine. Like Jumptrout says the rocks are where the fish are.
I will let you by with the Smart A&& remark simply because you are correct. There originally was one BIG A&& rock. Me and a few others kept hitting it until it broke up into 1000's of smaller rocks. The boats of yore were Bad A&& machines.
I prefer seeing it at a minus low tide "you'll think of the Moonscape when ya see it" 
it instills a GREAT respect for what is under the water at high tide 
You talking to me, ShortTrout 51. 
