Anyone else try to go out St. Marks Saturday morning? (8/19)
Posted: August 20th, 2017, 8:13 am
As of 5:00 am yesterday morning weather report said I think 30% to 40% chance of T-storms from 8 to 2, winds 5-10 north, switching to SW in the afternoon. Radar showed nothing ominous. Based on the past few days' radar, and from personal experience with that kind of summer forecast in that area, I figure there'd be the usual isolated T-storms that would form up & blow out here & there, ones you could avoid if necessary or just sit out.
MAN WAS I WRONG.
We left the Fort ramp at about 7:00 am. Looked beautiful. Just a little dark out to the south & southeast. Looked like it might be all blowing to the south. So we decided to hang back before heading out to the flats, & fish some of the bars on the way, before the East River, then we were going to hit some East River bars, then head out past the lighthouse & head east & out to the flats, then maybe some creeks. The usual basic plan.
The darkness to the south kinda stayed there. As usual on a Saturday morning, we saw a good many boats (some small) headed out. We fished and fished on the same inner-bars, and that darkness never left. Then, there was sort of a low-cloud "ring" that was approaching, the edge of which slowly came closer & closer. There was no rain coming from it, and we had as yet heard no thunder whatsoever.
Then, after that edge of that ring had passed over, the wind hit. This was maybe 7:45 am. A very stiff SE wind, maybe 15 mph at first, then 20+. And it did not stop. We eventually threw out the anchor behind the (wave) shelter of a barely submerged oyster bar and the waves got so big within minutes that the anchor dragged constantly and we were soaked from spray coming over the bow. We ran in a little--biggest waves I've ever seen in the river--and tried to wait it out. It never got better, the wind never let up. Finally, at about 8:30, I called it and we headed back to the Fort, loaded up, and went to Savannah's and got the breakfast bar.
I hate to think of what anyone out on the flats experienced yesterday morning, even if they were in a 25' bay or deep V boat. I can tell you that if I were out there in my 15' jonboat, it would have probably been beyond "hairy" and into the outright "dangerous" category.
Anyone here get caught in that yesterday morning anywhere past the lighthouse?
MAN WAS I WRONG.
We left the Fort ramp at about 7:00 am. Looked beautiful. Just a little dark out to the south & southeast. Looked like it might be all blowing to the south. So we decided to hang back before heading out to the flats, & fish some of the bars on the way, before the East River, then we were going to hit some East River bars, then head out past the lighthouse & head east & out to the flats, then maybe some creeks. The usual basic plan.
The darkness to the south kinda stayed there. As usual on a Saturday morning, we saw a good many boats (some small) headed out. We fished and fished on the same inner-bars, and that darkness never left. Then, there was sort of a low-cloud "ring" that was approaching, the edge of which slowly came closer & closer. There was no rain coming from it, and we had as yet heard no thunder whatsoever.
Then, after that edge of that ring had passed over, the wind hit. This was maybe 7:45 am. A very stiff SE wind, maybe 15 mph at first, then 20+. And it did not stop. We eventually threw out the anchor behind the (wave) shelter of a barely submerged oyster bar and the waves got so big within minutes that the anchor dragged constantly and we were soaked from spray coming over the bow. We ran in a little--biggest waves I've ever seen in the river--and tried to wait it out. It never got better, the wind never let up. Finally, at about 8:30, I called it and we headed back to the Fort, loaded up, and went to Savannah's and got the breakfast bar.
I hate to think of what anyone out on the flats experienced yesterday morning, even if they were in a 25' bay or deep V boat. I can tell you that if I were out there in my 15' jonboat, it would have probably been beyond "hairy" and into the outright "dangerous" category.
Anyone here get caught in that yesterday morning anywhere past the lighthouse?