Spring '10 Gathering

[woody]

Timing is critical . I just hope that the yammy is back together and chugging along real good by then . Would be great to put some faces on all you guys here on AS forum .

[RickK]

Timing is critical . I just hope that the yammy is back together and chugging along real good by then . Would be great to put some faces on all you guys here on AS forum .

Still have almost a month.  Dave MIGHT be done by then  

[Circle Hooked]

Woody did they give you any kind of idea when your motor would be done

[snapper whipper]

Some spring '10 gathering questions from a east coast AS guy who is not that familiar with Sarasota and longboat pass,OK first how much of the ICW is manatee zone from say john Ringling bridge SR789 to longboat pass and also south to the siesta key area?I see that ramp at 10th street on google earth and it looks user friendly is it?Are there any fish in Sarasota bay?Me and the wife would love to make this a mini vacation and would like to find a nice hotel with a slip near longboat pass but so far the only thing is the Hyatt near 10st ramp.Hope to make it would be fun.Mike :fish:

[woody]

Hey C H . I talked to Vaughn today (first name basis now ) at Powerheadkit and he gave me a date to pick up  the powerhead in Tampa . Said it would be ready on the 23rd (this Thurs) . That's the good news . In the meantime I've been working on the steering . The pivot (?) shaft was pulled from the mid section , new bushings , o rings and bolts ordered ,
. Now waiting on them to arrive . Wrenched off a few bolts and had to take the mid section to a machine shop to remove and retap 3 bolts . So the bad news is that one thing leads to another . What seemed like a " simple " rebuild just keeps on growing . I should have a "new " 1995  90 hp Yammer when the smoke clears . $$$$$$$  . Hopefully everything will bolt back together in time for the roundup .It would be a good time to put some break-in hours on the motor.

[Circle Hooked]

Some spring '10 gathering questions from a east coast AS guy who is not that familiar with Sarasota and longboat pass,OK first how much of the ICW is manatee zone from say john Ringling bridge SR789 to longboat pass and also south to the siesta key area?I see that ramp at 10th street on google earth and it looks user friendly is it?Are there any fish in Sarasota bay?Me and the wife would love to make this a mini vacation and would like to find a nice hotel with a slip near longboat pass but so far the only thing is the Hyatt near 10st ramp.Hope to make it would be fun.Mike :fish:

Mike the only slow zone would be right next to Longboat Pass,and when you get to it you can see Beercan island,so just a short run,less than 1/4 mile,as far as hotels the Hyatt would be the closest by far,and fishing can be good around here, i can give you some fishing spots or even show you,i wouldn't mind at all.

Woody Thurs sounds like good news and theirs always something extra to do,every time you think something is gonna be easy,thats when the surprises happen,but hopefully no more of them for you,i think you've had enough,good luck with everything.

[RickK]

Some spring '10 gathering questions from a east coast AS guy who is not that familiar with Sarasota and longboat pass,OK first how much of the ICW is manatee zone from say john Ringling bridge SR789 to longboat pass and also south to the siesta key area?

From Ringling north it is a 25mph zone all the way with 6-8 ft depths for most of the area.  When you get to longbar, where the channel runs east & west, and farther north you need to pay attention to the channel.  Going South you'll hit an idle zone about a mile south of the Siesta Bridge (the North Siesta Key bridge) and it runs all the way to Stickney Point bridge (the south siesta key bridge) - about 20 minutes.

I see that ramp at 10th street on google earth and it looks user friendly is it?

 There is definitely a cycle to 10st, first off - the ramps are good, there is an early morning rush and then those people come back in around noonish and another rush happens around then.

Are there any fish in Sarasota bay?Me and the wife would love to make this a mini vacation and would like to find a nice hotel with a slip near longboat pass but so far the only thing is the Hyatt near 10st ramp.Hope to make it would be fun.Mike :fish:

You might google waterfront rentals on siesta key.  Or like I said, the Holiday Inn just south of Stickney Point on 41 might be a good place - no slips but boat friendly.

[snapper whipper]

Thanks for all the info on the area,Rick I did google rentals on siesta key and most are weekly rentals $$ but one "fisherman's cove"does have slips but the Hyatt looks good for a nite or two.I have chart 11425 so I should find everything OK.Now about those fish?Most will be released accept mangrove snapper and trout which will be filleted and released

[Skoot]

Rick, do know anything about the Kingfish Boat ramp in Holmes Bch off Manatee Ave?  I was thinking about putting in there, looks like a nice cruise down to beer can (~4.5 mi.).

[RickK]

Nope - never used it but it looks decent via GoogleEarth.  It's a nice little cruise down the ICW from there.  If it gets nasty you can always tow to the ramp right beside the Longboat Bridge.

There's another ramp in Anna Maria named "63rd Street Memorial Park" - at the end of Marina Way.  Do you have Google Earth?  There is a plugin that shows every public boat ramp in the state.  I have it if you don't have it.

[cwater]

Kingfish ramp is fine but it fills up quickly because of the lack of parking.  Also when the wind blows the ramp gets lots of grass on it and it can be hard to pull the boat out without 4-wheel drive

[cwater]

There is also a very small ramp next to Mar-Vista.  Not much parking though.

[RickK]

The King-fisher ramp info said it has 50 parking spaces - maybe you'll get 30 when the idiots start parking sideways and such  
Good info on a North wind blowing grass in.

[FLChris]

What time are we going to meet up at Beer Can Island on May 15?

[RickK]

If we camp in that area we'll be there at dawn  
If not we'll be there fairly early anyway.  Usually we try to do a little fishing early.  The majority of people show up around noon or later and it goes until whenever - usually 6ish.  That's about the time we usually drop anchor for the campout.  8)