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Hi all. As I'm sure you know, the lighthouse ramp at St. Marks is quite tide dependant. The ramp/lot is nice but its not practical for medium/larger boats. Anybody on here have some political weight to get the channel dredged out so its more usable?

There's a better chance of getting Trump to kiss Hillary on the lips.

The Refuge system is scrambling for money and there are many other priorities that will get attention before dredging.

The fort and Shields Marina both offer plenty of water no matter the tide and are a short run down river, especially in a bay boat.

Didn't someone contact Sen Boyd about this a while back? Anyway if I remember right it was a no go because the ramp is not used commercially among other things.

silverking wrote:There's a better chance of getting Trump to kiss Hillary on the lips.

The Refuge system is scrambling for money and there are many other priorities that will get attention before dredging.

The fort and Shields Marina both offer plenty of water no matter the tide and are a short run down river, especially in a bay boat.

Haha I figured as much. Just hoping to find a closer ramp to hit the flats from. It's sad, the facility is so nice yet so unusable more than half the time.

laxman20 wrote:Haha I figured as much. Just hoping to find a closer ramp to hit the flats from. It's sad, the facility is so nice yet so unusable more than half the time.

Try launching out of Aucilla or Econfina and you'll quickly grow an appreciation of the lighthouse not really being all that bad.

Joking aside, my favorite area to launch is Econ, followed by the lighthouse, and finally the fort... on days I can go / weather looks good, I either launch / return at times that will work out of Econ of the lighthouse OR if tides look too scary make the run out of the fort.

Honestly, the lighthouse area gets so packed as summer hits (scallop season comes in) that it's probably a good thing that it isn't any more big boat friendly.

This is a request sent to Boyd 9 years ago.
http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... mp#p148459

Subsequent follow up by me boiled down to, "it's too much trouble and we(the government) don't care".
I was cited a 9-12 year process to get approvals and funding.
Boyd was up for re-election that year.
I told him my process was much shorter that I would do what I could to have a new Congressman in his slot that might be more productive to his constituents.
That year Boyd lost to Sutherland.

This sounds like dealing with the city of Cedar Key and being told that people who fish there don't bring any money to the town. but charge 185.00 a year parking fee to use their ramp or 15.00 per time but do no improvements

THE FEDS JUST IMPROVED THE RAMP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YRS , AND IT'S NOW A 2 BOAT RAMP, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE CHANNEL JUST WAIT TILL THIS WINTER , YOU WILL BE IN FOR A SHOCK . AT LOW TIDE GETTING A CANOE OUT IS TOUGH.

USE THE FORT IT HAS TWO RAMPS NOW A FEW YRS AGO IT ONLY HAD ONE . AND A PAVED PARKING LOT NOW , JUST BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE IT COULD BE A LOT WORSE .

Sorry RedZone, but, if the Feds want to be in charge and have so much control, they can do a lot better than mediocrity.
If a small project like this is beyond their ability to finance and perform there is no wonder the rest of the government has gone to hell in a hand basket.

I spoke recently with one of the St Marks Refuge staff about the ramp & other projects at the refuge. She said most everything is on hold until they know how serious the current administration is about their intention to cut federal funding for national parks/refuges/public recreation lands. She said her supervisor heard 10-30% cut, but that's just speculation until they find out later in the budget cycle.

Good time to be a kayaker.

GaryDroze wrote:I spoke recently with one of the St Marks Refuge staff about the ramp & other projects at the refuge. She said most everything is on hold until they know how serious the current administration is about their intention to cut federal funding for national parks/refuges/public recreation lands. She said her supervisor heard 10-30% cut, but that's just speculation until they find out later in the budget cycle.

Good time to be a kayaker.

Gary, how many times have you used the light house ramp for your yak?

Good point. Only twice in last 5 years. The only two times I headed west instead of east of the lighthouse. Your question reminds me that I need to spend more time learning East River, which is the most sensible place to kayak fish heading out of that ramp.

Yeah the only thing that would make that beautiful place even better would be a 6 wide ramp and 20 acre parking lot.

Works fine for my Gheenoe all year round. Many other ramps available for bigger boats.

rockyg wrote:Yeah the only thing that would make that beautiful place even better would be a 6 wide ramp and 20 acre parking lot.

Works fine for my Gheenoe all year round. Many other ramps available for bigger boats.

Sounds like the old song, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Next we'll need a tiki hut with dancing girls serving little drinks with umbrellas and Cuban cigars.