Rock Garden Mapping
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- Fighting Conch
- Site Sponsor
- Posts: 358
- Joined: October 24th, 2004, 5:53 pm
- Location: Tallahassee
Rock Garden Mapping
I have been wanting a decent map of the near Rock Garden so last weekend I cruised around at low and then lower tide looking and clicking the GPS.
As tide dropped I was amazed by the extent of the rocks - both those that became visible and other barely submerged rocks where standing birds clued me in. Especially alarming were rocks in places I previously considered safe.
In some areas the rocks were in groups like mountain ranges. The core area up toward Stoney Bayou looked like a cathedral. Elsewhere I saw occasional jagged spikes.
On the way out of Palmetto Island - where I ended-up poling for a good distance - there were many places without protruding rocks but with rock-grass - long strands of a thick weed indicating a near substrata of limestone.
My goal is to plot the rocks along with coordinates on high resolution landsat images. Landsat is nice since the seagrass shows with shades of red and non-vegetative areas jump out as white and grey. So this week instead of my normal after-dinner-routine of listening to the wife and watching the Jon Stewart Show I have been working with ArcView, Google Earth with my waypoints imported, and a DEP website that allows for input of coordinates (http://eraonline.dep.state.fl.us/). It's looking like the final product will turn out nicely but it will take some truthing this weekend and more computer time.
Meanwhile I can share some preliminary results from the Black Rock area using horrible quality Google images.
I always thought Black Rock was pretty much the furtherest thing south although I have heard of a Death Rock to its SSW. Well it turns out there is more than one Death Rock - or as I know think of them - Black Rock Sentries:
Black Rock is in the cluster toward the upper middle of the image.
Here are the coordinates - and I offer these without warranty - obviously navigation of this area is at your own risk.
RG BR 01
N 30 03.632
W 84 07.262
RG BR 02
N 30 03.650
84 07.284
RG BR 03
N 30 03.756
W 84 07.321
RG BR 04
N 30 03.765
W 84 07.324
RG BR 06
N 30 03.912
W 84 07.375
RG BR 07
N30 03.916
W 84 07.372
RG BR 08
N 30 03.876
W 84 07.102
Around Black Rock itself there is a cluster of other rocks:
RG Black Rock
N 30 03.955
W 84 07.138
RG BR 09
N 30 03.946
W 84 07.190
RG BR 10
N 30 03.960
W 84 07.195
RG BR 11
N 30 03.973
W 84 07.179
RG BR 12
N 30 03.956
W 84 07.143
RG BR 13
N 30 03.966
W 84 07.086
RG BR 14
N 30 03.975
W 84 07.088
Look for me out there this weekend - moving at idle speed.
As tide dropped I was amazed by the extent of the rocks - both those that became visible and other barely submerged rocks where standing birds clued me in. Especially alarming were rocks in places I previously considered safe.
In some areas the rocks were in groups like mountain ranges. The core area up toward Stoney Bayou looked like a cathedral. Elsewhere I saw occasional jagged spikes.
On the way out of Palmetto Island - where I ended-up poling for a good distance - there were many places without protruding rocks but with rock-grass - long strands of a thick weed indicating a near substrata of limestone.
My goal is to plot the rocks along with coordinates on high resolution landsat images. Landsat is nice since the seagrass shows with shades of red and non-vegetative areas jump out as white and grey. So this week instead of my normal after-dinner-routine of listening to the wife and watching the Jon Stewart Show I have been working with ArcView, Google Earth with my waypoints imported, and a DEP website that allows for input of coordinates (http://eraonline.dep.state.fl.us/). It's looking like the final product will turn out nicely but it will take some truthing this weekend and more computer time.
Meanwhile I can share some preliminary results from the Black Rock area using horrible quality Google images.
I always thought Black Rock was pretty much the furtherest thing south although I have heard of a Death Rock to its SSW. Well it turns out there is more than one Death Rock - or as I know think of them - Black Rock Sentries:
Black Rock is in the cluster toward the upper middle of the image.
Here are the coordinates - and I offer these without warranty - obviously navigation of this area is at your own risk.
RG BR 01
N 30 03.632
W 84 07.262
RG BR 02
N 30 03.650
84 07.284
RG BR 03
N 30 03.756
W 84 07.321
RG BR 04
N 30 03.765
W 84 07.324
RG BR 06
N 30 03.912
W 84 07.375
RG BR 07
N30 03.916
W 84 07.372
RG BR 08
N 30 03.876
W 84 07.102
Around Black Rock itself there is a cluster of other rocks:
RG Black Rock
N 30 03.955
W 84 07.138
RG BR 09
N 30 03.946
W 84 07.190
RG BR 10
N 30 03.960
W 84 07.195
RG BR 11
N 30 03.973
W 84 07.179
RG BR 12
N 30 03.956
W 84 07.143
RG BR 13
N 30 03.966
W 84 07.086
RG BR 14
N 30 03.975
W 84 07.088
Look for me out there this weekend - moving at idle speed.
Great job and a very commendable objective (won't venture a guess as to whether it's realistic or not )
I was all over your Northern most East West track last weekend during the NFGFC tournament. Even as slow as I could go at idle speed I still found some the hard way. Have a new prop on now and some scratches/gouges on my boats bottom that I will be attending to as proof. Good luck with your work.
I was all over your Northern most East West track last weekend during the NFGFC tournament. Even as slow as I could go at idle speed I still found some the hard way. Have a new prop on now and some scratches/gouges on my boats bottom that I will be attending to as proof. Good luck with your work.
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
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- Site Sponsor
- Posts: 727
- Joined: May 18th, 2002, 8:00 pm
- Location: Tallahassee, FL/Bettstown, GA
Good Job Skag,
I have pondered that same undertaking many times but just don't have the time especially this semester. The final product should be very useful. I would also like to eventually plot where I catch fish on the flats at certain times of year. It would be interesting to see the progression inshore as water temperatures cool. You would definately have to log many hours on the water and cover the entire area to be somewhat accurate though, so it wouldn't be very realistic (at least not with the few times I've been able to get out lately). A map with attribute data such as day of year, water temperature, water clarity and other things would be really cool. You could mark points where you caught fish and those where you didn't. Hey when you do GIS all day it's only natural to try and figure out a way to use it for fishing.
Keep up the good work
I have pondered that same undertaking many times but just don't have the time especially this semester. The final product should be very useful. I would also like to eventually plot where I catch fish on the flats at certain times of year. It would be interesting to see the progression inshore as water temperatures cool. You would definately have to log many hours on the water and cover the entire area to be somewhat accurate though, so it wouldn't be very realistic (at least not with the few times I've been able to get out lately). A map with attribute data such as day of year, water temperature, water clarity and other things would be really cool. You could mark points where you caught fish and those where you didn't. Hey when you do GIS all day it's only natural to try and figure out a way to use it for fishing.
Keep up the good work
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: April 15th, 2005, 9:24 pm
- Location: Tallahassee
It is called the "Rock Garden" afterall. Great effort and when the rock garden is mapped how about the oyster bars up to the East River. This is an interesting time of year in the bay. Watch at extreme low tides for the sand bar near the bird rack to look like an island.
After several attempts to find a safe way into the Rock Garden and an equally safe way out, I have just decided that a 16" trout is not worth a $400.00 prop. I hear all the great fishing reports but I also hear about my friends taking a chunk out of their fiberglass. If any one could accurately map it, you would be doing a great public service.
P.S. A few months ago I flew past what looked like a piece of rebar between the oyster bar near marker 7 and the west sand bar. The water was choppy so I could not find it again. If anyone knows where it is, please spread the word.
After several attempts to find a safe way into the Rock Garden and an equally safe way out, I have just decided that a 16" trout is not worth a $400.00 prop. I hear all the great fishing reports but I also hear about my friends taking a chunk out of their fiberglass. If any one could accurately map it, you would be doing a great public service.
P.S. A few months ago I flew past what looked like a piece of rebar between the oyster bar near marker 7 and the west sand bar. The water was choppy so I could not find it again. If anyone knows where it is, please spread the word.
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- Posts: 17
- Joined: May 14th, 2006, 4:56 pm
- Location: Talllahassee
I'm probably going to jinx myself by saying this, but I've not hit a rock at speed in the blackrock area (I have drifted across a few). I take the circuitous route by running the stake line and going due North from the second stake, slowing to crawl at 3' depth. It's far easier now with the water being clear, but in muddier times I do get a bit puckered going in there.
Thanks for the research on this. I'm mapping rocks as I find them, so some day we may compare notes.
Thanks for the research on this. I'm mapping rocks as I find them, so some day we may compare notes.
- Fighting Conch
- Site Sponsor
- Posts: 358
- Joined: October 24th, 2004, 5:53 pm
- Location: Tallahassee
all hands hoay, avast and swing the lead
T' help his mates navigate t' rocky coastline t' ol' pirate has decided t' open his log. T'is me misfortune t' resolution o' t' images drops off by postin' this way and thar be far more rocks than time. Might well share this treaaye while I be workin' on a better way
Black Rock - Used t' think t' always visible Black Rock marked t' outermost danger zone but have learned thar be at least seven rocks t' its south and west.
This view be immediately t' t' north and shows what I think o' as Gateway Rock and t' Rock Garden Core. T' green polygons be me (unsuccessful) search zones for Ocean Hole Sprin'.
Me sometimes visit Grey Mare but Cobb and its surroundin' outcroppin' be pretty much past t' edge o' me earth.
And here be a bigger view. Don't be too concerned about t' little white spots west o' Stoney Bayou - used GPS t' mark most o' t' rocks but in this area marked visible 'signatures'. After boatin' around all I've seen be patches o' sand (although as you get further t' t' east some have a frin'e o' rock grass).
Here be some GPS points, far too many for me proximity alarm. There be arranged by 'neighborhood'.
RG Morox
N 30 3.609
W 84 07.301
RG Sundown
N 30 04.639
W 84 07.283
RG Sundown 1
N 30 04.085
W 84 08.728
RG Rox
N 30 03.978
W 84 07.671
RG Rocko
N 30 04.305
W 84 07.590
RG Mj
N 30 02.832
W 84 06.814
Rock Garden Core 01
N 30 04.319
W 84 07.767
Rock Garden Core 02 PVC
N 30 04.315
W 84 07.747
Rock Garden Core 04
N 30 04.430
W 84 07.664
Rock Garden Core 05
N 30 04.424
W 84 07.637
Rock Garden Core 06
N 30 04.406
W 84 07.628
Rock Garden Core 07
N 30 04.373
W 84 07.609
Rock Garden Core 08
N 30 04.405
W 84 07.542
Rock Garden Core 09
N 30 04.406
W 84 07.543
Rock Garden Core 10
N 30 04.452
W 84 07.538
Rock Garden Core 11
N 30 04.417
W 84 07.505
Rock Garden Core 12
N 30 04.405
W 84 07.507
Rock Garden Core 13
N 30 04.389
W 84 07.511
Rock Garden Core 14
N 30 04.378
W 84 07.506
Rock Garden Core 15
N 30 04.363
W 84 07.484
Rock Garden Core 16
N 30 04.351
W 84 07.478
Rock Garden Core 17
N 30 04.339
W 84 07.457
Rock Garden Core 18
N 30 04.329
W 84 07.445
Rock Garden Core 19
N 30 04.341
W 84 07.386
Rock Garden Core 2
N 30 03.741
W 84 05.163
Rock Garden Core 3
N 30 04.388
W 84 05.347
Rock Garden Core 4
N 30 04.025
W 84 04.259
Rock Garden Black Rock
N 30 03.955
W 84 07.138
Rock Garden Black Rock 01
N 30 03.632
W 84 07.262
Rock Garden Black Rock 02
N 30 03.650
W 84 07.284
Rock Garden Black Rock 03
N 30 03.756
W 84 07.321
Rock Garden Black Rock 04
N 30 03.765
W 84 07.324
Rock Garden Black Rock 06
N 30 03.912
W 84 07.375
Rock Garden Black Rock 07
N 30 03.916
W 84 07.373
Rock Garden Black Rock 08
N 30 03.876
W 84 07.102
Rock Garden Black Rock 09
N 30 03.946
W 84 07.190
Rock Garden Black Rock 10
N 30 03.960
W 84 07.195
Rock Garden Black Rock 11
N 30 03.973
W 84 07.179
Rock Garden Black Rock 12
N 30.03.956
W 84 07.143
Rock Garden Black Rock 13
N 30 03.966
W 84 07.086
Rock Garden Black Rock 14
N 30 03.975
W 84 07.088
Rock Garden Black Rock 15
N 30 04.025
W 84 07.174
Rock Garden Black Rock 16
N 30 04.040
W 84 07.155
Rock Garden Black Rock 17
N 30 04.070
W 84 07.142
Rock Garden Black Rock 18
N 30 04.118
W 84 07.393
Rock Garden Black Rock 19
N 30 04.161
W 84 07.531
Rock Garden Cobb Rock
N 30 04.758
W 84 02.574
Rock Garden Grey Mare
N 30 04.751
W 84 05.375
Rock Garden Peters Rock
N 30 03.333
W 84 04.029
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 01
N 30 03.905
W 84 06.662
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 02
N 30 04.257
W 84 06.775
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 03
N 30 04.386
W 84 06.502
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 04
N 30 04.568
W 84 06.644
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 05
N 30 04.567
W 84 06.622
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 06
N 30 04.595
W 84 06.660
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 07
N 30 04.819
W 84 06.597
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 08 PVC
N 30 04.820
W 84 06.590
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 09
N 30 04.823
W 84 06.589
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 10
N 30 04.826
W 84 06.587
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 11
N 30 05.180
W 84 06.446
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 12 PVC
N 30 05.324
W 84 06.519
Rock Garden Prop Eater
N 30 03.960
W 84 06.117
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 01 PVC
N 30 04.720
W 84 07.931
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 02
N 30 04.602
W 84 08.049
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 03
N 30 04.595
W 84 08.044
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 04
N 30 04.640
W 84 07.930
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 05 PVC
N 30 04.683
W 84 08.211
And that be t' end o' me tale. May yo avoid t' pinnacles and find ye fishy treaaye. Take heed that pirate translator sites blacken t' tongue.
Black Rock - Used t' think t' always visible Black Rock marked t' outermost danger zone but have learned thar be at least seven rocks t' its south and west.
This view be immediately t' t' north and shows what I think o' as Gateway Rock and t' Rock Garden Core. T' green polygons be me (unsuccessful) search zones for Ocean Hole Sprin'.
Me sometimes visit Grey Mare but Cobb and its surroundin' outcroppin' be pretty much past t' edge o' me earth.
And here be a bigger view. Don't be too concerned about t' little white spots west o' Stoney Bayou - used GPS t' mark most o' t' rocks but in this area marked visible 'signatures'. After boatin' around all I've seen be patches o' sand (although as you get further t' t' east some have a frin'e o' rock grass).
Here be some GPS points, far too many for me proximity alarm. There be arranged by 'neighborhood'.
RG Morox
N 30 3.609
W 84 07.301
RG Sundown
N 30 04.639
W 84 07.283
RG Sundown 1
N 30 04.085
W 84 08.728
RG Rox
N 30 03.978
W 84 07.671
RG Rocko
N 30 04.305
W 84 07.590
RG Mj
N 30 02.832
W 84 06.814
Rock Garden Core 01
N 30 04.319
W 84 07.767
Rock Garden Core 02 PVC
N 30 04.315
W 84 07.747
Rock Garden Core 04
N 30 04.430
W 84 07.664
Rock Garden Core 05
N 30 04.424
W 84 07.637
Rock Garden Core 06
N 30 04.406
W 84 07.628
Rock Garden Core 07
N 30 04.373
W 84 07.609
Rock Garden Core 08
N 30 04.405
W 84 07.542
Rock Garden Core 09
N 30 04.406
W 84 07.543
Rock Garden Core 10
N 30 04.452
W 84 07.538
Rock Garden Core 11
N 30 04.417
W 84 07.505
Rock Garden Core 12
N 30 04.405
W 84 07.507
Rock Garden Core 13
N 30 04.389
W 84 07.511
Rock Garden Core 14
N 30 04.378
W 84 07.506
Rock Garden Core 15
N 30 04.363
W 84 07.484
Rock Garden Core 16
N 30 04.351
W 84 07.478
Rock Garden Core 17
N 30 04.339
W 84 07.457
Rock Garden Core 18
N 30 04.329
W 84 07.445
Rock Garden Core 19
N 30 04.341
W 84 07.386
Rock Garden Core 2
N 30 03.741
W 84 05.163
Rock Garden Core 3
N 30 04.388
W 84 05.347
Rock Garden Core 4
N 30 04.025
W 84 04.259
Rock Garden Black Rock
N 30 03.955
W 84 07.138
Rock Garden Black Rock 01
N 30 03.632
W 84 07.262
Rock Garden Black Rock 02
N 30 03.650
W 84 07.284
Rock Garden Black Rock 03
N 30 03.756
W 84 07.321
Rock Garden Black Rock 04
N 30 03.765
W 84 07.324
Rock Garden Black Rock 06
N 30 03.912
W 84 07.375
Rock Garden Black Rock 07
N 30 03.916
W 84 07.373
Rock Garden Black Rock 08
N 30 03.876
W 84 07.102
Rock Garden Black Rock 09
N 30 03.946
W 84 07.190
Rock Garden Black Rock 10
N 30 03.960
W 84 07.195
Rock Garden Black Rock 11
N 30 03.973
W 84 07.179
Rock Garden Black Rock 12
N 30.03.956
W 84 07.143
Rock Garden Black Rock 13
N 30 03.966
W 84 07.086
Rock Garden Black Rock 14
N 30 03.975
W 84 07.088
Rock Garden Black Rock 15
N 30 04.025
W 84 07.174
Rock Garden Black Rock 16
N 30 04.040
W 84 07.155
Rock Garden Black Rock 17
N 30 04.070
W 84 07.142
Rock Garden Black Rock 18
N 30 04.118
W 84 07.393
Rock Garden Black Rock 19
N 30 04.161
W 84 07.531
Rock Garden Cobb Rock
N 30 04.758
W 84 02.574
Rock Garden Grey Mare
N 30 04.751
W 84 05.375
Rock Garden Peters Rock
N 30 03.333
W 84 04.029
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 01
N 30 03.905
W 84 06.662
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 02
N 30 04.257
W 84 06.775
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 03
N 30 04.386
W 84 06.502
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 04
N 30 04.568
W 84 06.644
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 05
N 30 04.567
W 84 06.622
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 06
N 30 04.595
W 84 06.660
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 07
N 30 04.819
W 84 06.597
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 08 PVC
N 30 04.820
W 84 06.590
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 09
N 30 04.823
W 84 06.589
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 10
N 30 04.826
W 84 06.587
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 11
N 30 05.180
W 84 06.446
Rock Garden Palmetto Island 12 PVC
N 30 05.324
W 84 06.519
Rock Garden Prop Eater
N 30 03.960
W 84 06.117
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 01 PVC
N 30 04.720
W 84 07.931
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 02
N 30 04.602
W 84 08.049
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 03
N 30 04.595
W 84 08.044
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 04
N 30 04.640
W 84 07.930
Rock Garden Stoney Bayou 05 PVC
N 30 04.683
W 84 08.211
And that be t' end o' me tale. May yo avoid t' pinnacles and find ye fishy treaaye. Take heed that pirate translator sites blacken t' tongue.