Florida ????wants to out something together October

[Fireman431]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

You think the 14 ftr would be big enough? Just in case the 18 ftr isnt ready

For Astor and the lake George area? Absolutely. I've seen those little Craig Cats and canoes in there all of the time. Water is onlt 5' at the mouth of the springs and the St. Johns River channel averages 12'. The river is always easy over here.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Kev as in any bigger lake, it depends on the day. i have been on Lake George in a 20 footer, gotten to the mouth of the creek, and turn around and fished the creek.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

IM IN oh wait ... im still stuck up here in PA DAMN lol have fun guys

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

the algae bloom will be gone by then an fishing should be good for Bass and Pan fish.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Just found this thread and showed Mrs Ken.
I will be spending at least half of October at our plant in Alabama but have no idea of the dates. If I am there when this happens I will come. Most likely without the boat though.
As you know I travel a lot with work and anything can happen !!
I may well just show up with a tent (and Mrs Ken if she can get time off)
Currently I will be in Japan and Korea late August / early September and then again mid November. Jamaica with Mrs Ken for 9 days starting 26th November with trips to our Alabama plant and Grand Rapids scattered in between.
So we are a "definite maybe"

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

that would be great.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

that would be great.

Yes.....It's about time we met !!!

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Astor Bridge Marina. http://www.astorbridgemarina.com/
i have want to get a group together there before.

How far is Astor from Blue Springs by water? I have never cruised that part of the St Johns. Might be a trip worth making.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Nevermind I just looked it up, it is 23 miles from Astor to Blue springs. Wonder how much of that is manatee zones?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Nevermind I just looked it up, it is 23 miles from Astor to Blue springs. Wonder how much of that is manatee zones?

There's an idle zone at:

Blue Springs (long one-15 min)
South of Lake Beresford (short one-2 min)
At the mouth of Lake Beresford past Holly Bluff marina (long one)
At the White Hair bridge (SR 44) (mid one-10 min)

Then mostly open throttle to the Astor Bridge/marina. A 5 minute idle zone and a 2 minute one after that, then it's WOT for the next 5 minutes to Lake George.

I may have missed one or two small ones, but it's a beautiful run through old Florida.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

I may have missed one or two small ones, but it's a beautiful run through old Florida.

Yeah I don't boat much in fresh water but anytime I work on my boat and want to see how it is running I put it in at the power plant down by lake Monroe and run up the river to Blue Springs. It is a beautiful river if you can put up with all the boat traffic.

Going to Astor I would probably launch at High Points Marina. I hate to launch at my destination, a 25 mile boat ride is just about right.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

I live right in Deland. I would be up for a get together. Depends on my work schedule though.

As for Lake George----Better not get caught out on Lake George in a storm. It is very shallow and when it storms the waves really kick up. Boating accidents are common out there. Last Memorial Day weekend a 23ftr flipped over and 4 people died. So stay away if it is storming. We attempted to leave the Glen just before a storm in my 21ftr and got a ways out and it kicked up. Waves were coming from every which way, breaking over the bow, then the port, then starbord. It is nuts. VERY dangerous.

 

[jesus94p]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

This get-together sounds great. I would really like to go. I just read its a 25 mile boat ride from Lake monroe, looks like I'm going to be launching at High Points Marina. Great Plans guys

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Its about 35 minutes from the Deland(44 bridge). I think its about 45 minutes from Deland to Lake Monroe. So figure about an hour and a half worst case.

 

[jesus94p]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

that wouldn't be too long of a drive since i live 10min from lake monroe and i've been wanting to go father than blue springs. I guess I will drive up there instead of launching at lake monroe since the boat is a gas guzzler lol

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Yes, Lake George can be bad, but most of us are good captains, and get out in time. if the lake is bad, we can fish the St Johns and south, Lake Dexter.

one of the roughest days i spent in my life was at the mouth of one of the springs. if was too rough to get out, so we anchored on a spot in the spring run, and caught fish as fast as we could all day. i'm sure we were way over the limit that day.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

This get-together sounds great. I would really like to go. I just read its a 25 mile boat ride from Lake monroe, looks like I'm going to be launching at High Points Marina. Great Plans guys

Not 25 miles from lake Monroe 25 miles from High points marina. Probably more like 35 from lake Monroe.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Quick correction: It's Highbanks Marina. I'm only pointing this out because some out-of-towners might have to GPS it and I don't want them getting lost.

The ride from Highbanks to Astor is about 2 hours in a 30-35 MPH boat. Mine's a bit bigger so I go slower. I also come from Lk. Monroe so it takes me around 5 hours if I slow cruise it...but that's half the fun.

You can launch at:

*I-4 & US17 (East side). Nice park, nice ramps. Closes at sunset though.
*I-4 & US17 (West side). Decent ramp. No time limits.
*Highbanks Marina. Decent single ramp. Restaurant. Bar. Small store. Parking's OK, but there's no security except the golf cart guy at the marina.
*Hontoon Marina (St. Johns river & Lk. Beresford). Small ramp. Decent parking. Campground.
*Whitehair Bridge (SR44 & the river). Great ramps, but a little steep. Tons of parking. 30-45 minute ride to Astor.
*Astor Bridge. 2 seperate launch sites with parking. Restaurant. Ship store. Good parking. 5 minute ride.

There are a few other small launch spots that the locals know, but I wouldn't leave a vehicle overnight there.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Quick correction: It's Highbanks Marina. I'm only pointing this out because some out-of-towners might have to GPS it and I don't want them getting lost.

Good call that was my mistake. Good burgers at that marina, think I had cheeseburgers on my mind when I called it high points.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Florida ????wants to out something together October

Good call that was my mistake. Good burgers at that marina, think I had cheeseburgers on my mind when I called it high points.

And for those of you thinking of putting in in Deland on 44 at the St Johns River, the public baotramps are at Ed Stone Park. The Marina behind there is where I store my boat, and is now called St John's Marina, but used to be called Boatshow Marina. If any of you remember the marina that burnt down back many years ago, that was the one. The Restaurant is Bonnie's, but bring cash and a lot of it. They arent cheap and do not take cards. I am not really fond of the food, but you can form your own opinions. It is a nice location and great outdoor seating, and cold beer. Just the other side of the bridge is Shady Oaks restaurant. It looks like a trailer sitting on the side of the river, but the food is great.