Help needed

Houndstooth · Post by **Houndstooth** » February 6th, 2007, 3:32 pm

NEW TO THE FORUM! I live in southwest Georgia. I have been fishing the flats at Keaton for years now, but I don't know of any other place to go. There are usually 6 of us that go. My brother has been to Saint Joe. Where else should we try? Don't get me wrong. We all love Keaton, but some of my group would like to try different places every once in a while. We sometimes take the camper, but recently we have stayed at the Marina Hotel rooms at Keaton, and like it. It's just easier. So! Where could we go? I would like to be able to dock my boat (Pontoon) close to where we'd be stayin'. Like within walkin' distance. Thanks in advance for any information!

Post by **jsuber** » February 6th, 2007, 3:43 pm

From Keaton Beach moving West:
Rock Islands
Econfina River ramp
Aucilla River ramp
St. Marks Lighthouse ramp
St. Marks Fort ramp
Spring Creek ramp
Panacea Ramp at Bottoms Road
Pancea Ramp by Pirate Resteraunt (I forgot the name)
Mashes Sands East of the Ochlocknee River Bridge
RoJo Road Ramp West of the Ochlocknee River Bridge
Lanark Village
Carabelle has about 4 ramps
Presnells at Port St Joe

Just a few I can think of and you can look at the home page of this site and see maps for most of these too.

Home Page http://www.bigbendfishing.net/
Maps http://www.bigbendfishing.net/area_charts.htm

Post by AJ » February 6th, 2007, 3:53 pm

How long do you plan on staying? If you have the time try South FL from St Pete on down to the 10,000 islands area. If you want stay around N.FL then Carabelle, Lanark Village or the St Marks area would be good choices.

Houndstooth · Post by **Houndstooth** » February 6th, 2007, 3:59 pm

Wow! You guys are quick, thanks! We usually try to keep the trip around three or four days. But on average I guess we fish one 1/2 day and 2 full days. Trying to get everybody together is tough. So, we would like to stick to the north. Keaton is about a 3 hour ride from the house.

Post by AJ » February 6th, 2007, 4:02 pm

Have you looked at Steinhatchee?

Houndstooth · Post by **Houndstooth** » February 6th, 2007, 4:06 pm

We've driven down there a couple of times. But never checked on anything. I'll give it a look.

Post by **jsuber** » February 6th, 2007, 4:13 pm

You can camp out at Newport Park across the street from the entrance to St Marks Lighthouse. Its $15.00 for now electreic or water and $20.00 for electric and water and showers are part of the deal with bathrooms too. you can stay at Shellpoint Marina in the town of St Marks and a cabin there is $65 or you can camp there too. You can also stay at Wildwood Inn on HWY 98 in Crawfordville with convenient access to most of the ramps I listed at any of these locations.

Houndstooth · Post by **Houndstooth** » February 6th, 2007, 4:18 pm

THANKS JSUBER!

Post by **jsuber** » February 6th, 2007, 4:26 pm

Econfina has this http://www.econfinariverresort.com/

Post by **Browning Slayer** » February 6th, 2007, 4:40 pm

You folks forgot to mention the "Shell Island Fish Camp". They have full hookups for your camper, motel rooms and cabins. It's a pretty cheap place and has a boat launch and you can keep you're boat at the dock overnight. It's about a 7 mile run down the river to the lighthouse and the flats.

http://www.shellislandfishcamp.com

Post by AJ » February 6th, 2007, 5:06 pm

Wildwood Inn would be good if you like to golf too.

and maybe a few of these

Post by **Jumptrout51** » February 6th, 2007, 5:42 pm

Sharks R Us wrote:You folks forgot to mention the "Shell Island Fish Camp". They have full hookups for your camper, motel rooms and cabins. It's a pretty cheap place and has a boat launch and you can keep you're boat at the dock overnight. It's about a 7 mile run down the river to the lighthouse and the flats.

http://www.shellislandfishcamp.com

I think thats' what suber meant when he said "Shellpoint marina" at st. marks.
He's not the brightest firefly in the jar.

Post by **jsuber** » February 6th, 2007, 6:43 pm

My mama done told me, bring something for dinner. Yea thats what I meant, Shell Island Fish camp. I stayed there for a week while I looked for a place to live here. How convienient.

leonreno · Post by **leonreno** » February 6th, 2007, 8:41 pm

Careful on some of those suggestions, Econfina and Aucilla can be a little hard on the lower unit if you are not careful. What size boat are you using?

Jerrysbait.com has a map of Aucilla, but even then be very careful. Econfina is not to bad on high tide, but on low tide you have to watch out.

Good luck.

Houndstooth · Post by **Houndstooth** » February 7th, 2007, 8:08 am

I'll be using a 22' pontoon w/ 90 merc. The other boat is a 17' Key West CC w/ 90 yamaha.