FL Aquasport Spring 2012 Gathering

[RickK]

Hi Happy Aquasporters,
It's that time again for our trek down south a ways.  This gathering will take place on May 5th somewhere in the Pine Island area.  The Explorer crowd (hard cores) will be going down on the 4th and staying the night somewhere in that area, having a great time fishing and partaking and preparing for the next day's festivities.  Then relaxing after the gathering for another night before heading back home on Sunday.  All members are welcome to stay on our boats with us - bring an air mattress and sleeping bag and you're set.  We all have full biminis to help keep everything dry.  Should have plenty of room on mine and Dave's boat.

Capt Matt, I'm all ears as to where we should hold the gathering - your stomping grounds.  If you could give me some landmarks that I can find on google earth then I'll grab some screen shots and get the invite more detailed.  I know we talked about it before but adding that info here will help.
Also, are there any reasonable hotels that you can recommend for the people that want to tow down and sleep in a soft bed?

The Explorer crowd will be putting in at Boca Grande and cruise down there - trucks and trailers will be safe in Eldred's.

The gathering usually starts around noonish with fishing before and after always an option.

[Aswaff400]

i planned on taking that weekend off and taking the boat down there but got limited vacation time thats already planned out for the year so ill be passing up on this go-around :(

but...... ill be taking the boat on a trip in july though

hey, atleast i was able to make it out to one of the mini-gatherings this year!

[Capt Matt]

Rick
If you plan on sleeping on the anchored boats Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa is a great option along with the narrow's on North Captiva. Both are sheltered anchorages and have close proximity to the beach.
The north cap spot is roughly a mile north of redfish pass and has a natural channel just south of Fosters point that runs all the way in to the island making for about a 5o yard walk to the beach.  
There is also Picnic Island to the south, its right between Sanibel and St James City although it can be a busy place on the weekends it clears out by sunset.
The Tarpon Lodge in Pineland is about the only hotel on Pine island with good boat access.
Let me know what other info you need?

Capt Matt

[SC170nFL]

Capt. Matt, does Cabbage Key offer accommodations as well as their cheeseburger in paradise? I haven't been there in 4 or 5 years.

[RickK]

The "hook" on the end of Punta Blanca Island is where we camped one night at the last gathering - a very nice sheltered cove    Stumbled onto it but glad I did.




Seems it's pretty close to where you're talking about Capt Matt.  May be a good place to camp and use as a launch point.

Here is a pic of North Captiva


Is Redfish Pass the pass at the bottom of Captiva?


Is it ok to camp in Foster Bay?  Is it ok to be on the beach?  Looks to be a nice place to hide unless the wind is from the South.

[Capt Matt]

That hook you camped in is all part of pelican bay and is where the old school house used to be. That whole bay is sheltered. The only draw back is its a long walk across to the gulf beach. pelican bay does have a few nice little sandy area's in there though you can use as a beach.  At the north entrance to pelican bay there is a nice sandy area.

Redfish pass is at the bottom of the one picture, its between Captiva and north Captiva, roughly a mile or so south of Fosters point. Even on a south wind the narrows is pretty sheltered as there is a huge shallow area to the south that blocks the waves. You are not aloud to camp on the beaches on either N-Cap or Cayo but sleeping on your boats and using the beach is not a issue. Fosters offers a good natural deep channel coming in from the intercoastal and you can slide all the way up to the very NW corner. Its only about 50 yards wide to the beach giving you a good breeze and hopefully insect free sleeping conditions.

Cabbage key does offer rooms in the main building along with rental cottages with there own docks. North Captiva island Club also offers amenities but not sure if they rent by the night or week. The best place to stay would be Jensens Twin palms marina on Captiva, they have cool old cottages and are just good old Florida boys I grew up that own and run it.

My suggestion would be Fosters bay on N-cap.

Capt matt

[RickK]

Thanks Capt Matt.
We camp on the boats.  The Narrows looks good too.

That bay sounds good to me. Let's plan on having the gathering in Foster's bay.  

Are there any markers to alert us that we're coming up on the turn into Foster's Bay?
Did you mention that it fills up fast? If so, we can get there early and grab some spots.

Do we need a plan B for weather?

If some members wanted to trailer down, where would you suggest putting in at? Pineland Marina?  I see Tarpon Lodge is about the same place. Any other cottages with ramps on Pine Island?

[RickK]

[Capt Matt]

Rick
On the south side of the channel going into fosters bay there is a PVC pipe, thats about it. If you want me to put a flag or a mark on it I will. The channel is easy to spot and shows on my garmin chart plotter. If you are going in during sunny conditions its easy to spot or just wait for another boat running in there and follow them.
Capt Matt

[RickK]

I'm running a Garmin too - so hopefully my maps are not too old - should be fine.

In your opinion, is there a better place to hold the gathering?
Also, back to the question for the people that might tow in - any small mom & pop cottages with ramp that you know of?

[RickK]

Here is our route


On a perfect day anyone can make the route we're taking but add 15 knot winds and a smaller boat may not want to try to cross the pass. Coming across the bay around Cayo Costa is like Tampa bay or worse.

[Capt Matt]

Fosters is the place
Pineland is going to be the closest crossing from Pine Island, but I would suggest the Monroe canal marina in St James City. Its where i keep my boat and they charge $10 to launch and park where as pineland is around $20.
Capt Matt

[Circle Hooked]

Sounds like a plan, can't wait.

[Circle Hooked]

Time for a bump  

[RickK]

I wonder if we can attract any members from the south of sanibel this time?  That's why we're holding it where we are....