Econfina

[salty tiger]

Fishing out of the Econfina for the 1st time Sunday. How low does the tide have to be before it becomes a problem getting in and out and are there any concerns at the ramp at low tide? I found a route Keels posted that will get me out of the mouth. Are there any issues up river? Can I just stay pretty much in the middle and be ok?

[Sea Dawg]

Well now thats a hard Queston to answer..
I could run it at a +.03 but its damn trickey If you stay in the meddle look to buying a new footand other things there lots rocks before you get to Tom route also all I can say is be really careful..

[boggob]

Its been marked better lately than it has in the past. I try to get in and out with a +1 or better.

[big bend gyrene]

You go with less than around 0.7 best just to aim offshore, close your eyes, hold your breath, pucker up and pray... definitely pray.

Messing with you a bit, Salty Tiger, but not too much. I feel most comfortable with 1.5+. Will run out of the mouth any day I can get a 1.5.

Pay a lot more attention to being exact on my known courses between 1.5 and 1. When I'm under 1, I pull up the jack plate, tilt the motor back, and go slow out of the mouth AND JUST AS IMPORTANT just past the stilt houses leaving the ramp and heading out as there is a motor-killer rock just past the no wake zone with the houses on the way out. It's near the middle, so the middle route is NOT the best idea. I go to the right of it leaving and don't get on plane until my depth finder shows I'm back to deep water. You even have to pay attention at the ramp as there are some smaller but serious rocks on the back side of the river at the ramp that you may or more likely won't be able to see.

Once out of the mouth I've got deeper (relative to the shallowest spots) water routes I use to run east. I never run straight out of the mouth or to the west... just not worth it or necessary in my book as there are plenty of good fish to the east and southeast.

BBG

[tin can]

The route out the mouth of the river that Tom posted is right on. However, the "CHANNEL" (almost hate to call it a channel) that route marks is only about 20' wide. If you get out of the "CHANNEL" on a very low tide you'll find yourself on the bottom. There rocks all the way from the mouth to above the ramp. There is one area, starting about 200' south of the left hand turn below the no wake area, where the bottom is solid rock.

Your boat also helps determine how low a tide you can make it through the river on. How large is the boat and how much does it draft?

As for the ramps, the concrete ends just before the end of the center floating section of dock. Both ramps drop off at the end of the concrete. If your trailer tires go off the end of the ramp your trail will hang up.

Good luck.

[Tidedancer]

Where can I find the route Tom posted?

[Sea Dawg]

I think this is what your look for..

http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... ?f=4&t=876

[Dubble Trubble]

1.5 ft and above for safe navigating out. I have done it on a .5, but I know the area and stay on plane. Doing it on a .5 without knowing the river will get you a busted skeg! I guarantee....

Dubble

[Sea Dawg]

Well thats the lest you would get is a busted skeg ,,I would say more like a crushed lower drive lol....I thing ive learned over the years is not get to think i know the River cug thing move so just be careful

[salty tiger]

Thanks for all of the great information. I took my boat to Porter Marine today for a new rock guard, I just hope it still looks new after Sunday.