Upcoming St Marks trip

[sunshine_n_pc]

We're planning a 5 night trip to St. Marks area in two to three weeks to scallop, fish a little, sightsee a little - mainly to get away from reality. We want to rent a house where we can keep boat in water and ready to go --we have 3 girls (9 - 12) who we adopted several years back who have some emotional/mental health issues so it's important to minimize possible stress such as putting boat in and out of water, small spaces (motels), having to wait a lot to get somewhere, running aground and being stuck

We live in Panama City and often go St. Joe but wanted to try something new. We have a 20 foot deck boat. I've been reading for awhile now trying to get an idea of where to stay. Of course, on VRBO all the houses for rent look wonderful but then when I start to questions about access, some have only high tide access. I don't want to rent a house and get down there and get stuck in the muck a 1/2 mile from boat dock with 3 screaming children who are hot, tired, and scared - and a thunder storm on our heels.

I was looking at these area -
1 Shell Point....there are a couple of rentals in the gated community there that say deep water canal,
2, then there is a house near the gated trailer park to the west - much bigger nicer houses on Carroll Dr - it says deep water canal but looking at the area on satelite picture
the entrance/exit of area rlooks a lot trickier - can you always get in and out?
3. couple of rentals on Oak Island area - but they don't say deep water canal and they look shallow - one, after I specifically asked about being tide dependent, said it might be an
issue
4. wasn't looking at carrabelle or panacea, but would that be something I should? how far of a run would it from carrabelle to st. marks lighthouse to sc allop?
5. would it be better to look for something up river -
6 are there any areas further east that might work?

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated - last summer we rented a house - very nice house in St. Joe on bay with dock - it wasn't as nice when you don't make it back to the house in time and you have to push the boat the last 200 yards and you are sinking down to your ankles with each step. After 3:00 you couldn't use your boat - but, of course, that wasn't adnvertised in the listing....but we had fun

Mainly we want to scallop - my favorite thing to do....swim in a spring, visit St. Marks by water, fish a little......

[Rainman]

http://www.shellislandfishcamp.com/

Check this place out. It's on the Wakulla/St. Marks so you have no worries about tide . Has dock parking and cabins. It will be the closest place to stay on the water that is near the lighthouse and the St. Marks scallop grounds. However, depending on this storm, the scallops may be gone... Just check back on this website after the storm has passed to see if scallops are around. The st. marks and wakulla are amazing rivers and you can spend a day on each one, then go fish a day or hand out at the sand bar... Best of luck. I'm not familiar with the other places in terms of places to stay or water access, so much so I can't be of help there.

[guthooked]

I second Rainman on the Shell Island Fish Camp choice. A couple of their older cabins have four double beds and a small kitchen. They are also very reasonable. Everyone there is very nice.

[Hit-n-Miss]

I just stayed there a week ago and liked it.

[sunshine_n_pc]

I had looked at the Shell Island Fish Camp at the beginning of my search - sorry, guys, I had to mark it off, a little too much like roughing it for this girl. I want me a decent bath, my own room, and kitchen I can cook in. Plus for only about $20 more a night, I can rent a 3 bedroom house on the water with a boat dock.

So, I have it narrowed down to a house in Panacea on Mashes Sand road. It is half way between entrance of Okloknee Bay and the bridge in Panacea - on bay with boat dock. The other house is on a canal in Shell Point which is the right outside the St. Marks river exit - looks like it is about where the lighthouse is but on the other side of the bay.

I like the house in Panacea - just concerned about how far it would be to go from Panacea to the lighthouse to scallop - we live in Panama City - we wouldn't take a run like that across the gulf on just any day - but, that area doesn't get the same wave action as we do, right? wrong? The distance looks about the same as running across St. Joe bay - but St. Joe bay is much more sheltered - is there any comparisons?

Thanks for any info anyone has - especially concerning going from Panacea to the St. Marks lighthouse area -

[O Bucknutz O]

Its a pretty good drive on a boat from Panacea to St Marks lighthouse...esp with all the shell beds in the area, u just cant cut right across.

[captkeyser]

Shell Point might be your best bet. Plenty of houses on canals with deep water access given any tide. Your closer to the lighthouse than you would be from Panacea. We have stayed there a number of times and have always caught plenty of fish/scallops and you also have a beach area for the kids if you didn't want to mess with the boat.

[Jumptrout51]

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/reviews/p365451

[sunshine_n_pc]

Jumptrout - I had seen this cabin - looks wonderful - not quite big enough for us - sister and husband coming for a couple of the nights. I do have an email into another river cabin in the area. Plus several options in Shell Point. Thanks for the info.

Are there any good sites to access good maps of the area....or things like "river etiquette" such as no-wake zones, passing boats who are fishing....?? We don't want to leave any footprints - especially angry locals who we accidently piss off by not knowing what we are doing.