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Got a boat recently and need some suggestions on where to take some friends out. I live in the Tallahassee area and am new to boating these waters. Friends want to come hang out on the boat but they don't fish. Any suggestions on where to take these guys/girls? I think they just want to go out for a nice day and a few beers. Anything like shell island in Panama City or a sandbar etc? Don't want to have to drive all that far. The boat is a 21 ft sea pro bay boat. Thanks for the help!

The "Bird rack" is the tripod at the end of the St.Marks channel... at low tide there are two great sandbars on each side.
You can see them on the chart.

We also enjoy Mashes Sands Beach out of Panacea- Plus there is a restaurant at the marina with a Tiki Bar and a good grouper sandwich

Or finally- the very end of Alligator Point

There are also fish at all of those spots- so bring a rod

Duh. The sandbar (aka redneck riviera) at the birdrack (aka tripod) on the east edge of St. Marks channel (near red buoy No. 3 (I think) is a popular spot.

Let me know when you are going so I can scope out your tuna and stay out of your way.

Harmsway wrote:Duh. The sandbar (aka redneck riviera) at the birdrack (aka tripod) on the east edge of St. Marks channel (near red buoy No. 3 (I think) is a popular spot.

Let me know when you are going so I can scope out your tuna and stay out of your way.

BWAHAHAHA he said scope out your TUNA!! Now thats funny.

The closest thing to PC's Shell Island around here is to put in at Carrabelle, and go to the west end of Dog Island. It is very similar in that a few hundred feet from the bay side is a short walk to the gulf side. Most of that end has nothing on it.

Here is a photo of one of my trips. The water shown is the bay side. Right over the hill to the right is the gulf.

By the way, this is also where the White Trash Bash is held every year.



Just remember, Only leave your footprints in the sand. Please pick up the beer cans.

Dubble

ceej wrote:Got a boat recently and need some suggestions on where to take some friends out. I live in the Tallahassee area and am new to boating these waters. Friends want to come hang out on the boat but they don't fish. Any suggestions on where to take these guys/girls? I think they just want to go out for a nice day and a few beers. Anything like shell island in Panama City or a sandbar etc? Don't want to have to drive all that far. The boat is a 21 ft sea pro bay boat. Thanks for the help!

guys/girls?

Man, if you can't tell the difference I wouldn't take them in my boat!

In addition to all of the above, we also enjoy the cove at the east end of Dog Island and Dog Island Reef on a low tide.

Course, he may have ment IN Tallahasse of which I think Talquin is the only option

If Keaton Beach ain't too far for you (about 60 miles from Tall.), the sandbar at Grassy Island is a big hang out/ party area. Good swimming, nice sandbar to beach the boat. Lots of partys in the summer. About a 9 mile easy run from Keaton Beach. No rocks or oyster bars to contend with. Launch on any tide. Small but crowded beach right there at Keaton also.

Thanks for all the replies guys. no old tuna on my boat, only fresh clams! Was hoping I could put in at St. Marks so I wouldn't have to trailer the boat more than 30-40 mins, but that may have been too optimistic. (I realize I can drive the boat from St. Marks to Carabelle etc. but that seems like a hike for a full boat) I'll try the tripod area bman suggested, but what happens at high tide? too deep? Great pic, Dubble, that looks perfect. Might try there if everyone is up for the drive some day.

You can put in at Mashes Sands and take the boat around to the North end and have a good bit of privacy and good fishing, go South and you have Bald Point park, Aligator Point and Dog Island "a long ride though". Mashes is at the top right of the pic, Bald Point is across the Bay along with Aligator Point and Dog Island is at the bottom. Just watch for Oyster bars in the Bay and sand bars elsewhere You should be able to click the pic for a larger view
Well, I guess you'll have to go here for the bigger pic
http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w126 ... torDog.jpg

You want to go to the tripod for sure. Put in that the St. Marks light house and follow the channel out. You will see the tripod on the left and I am sure plenty of boats will already be there. High tide is no problem either, you will just go from ankle dee to waste deep. Perfect spot for the ladies.

Dont' forget about the Ochlockonee Shoals....

a buddy just told me about the shoals...think a 19ft bowrider is up for the trip, or asking for trouble?

A bowrider could make it, but it can get very nasty on the way back in when the afternoon breezes kick up.

The shoals are also a favorite hangout for some really big sharks. We videotaped an 8-ft. tiger cruising in <5 feet there this spring. I used to but don't plan on swimming there anymore.