Anyone venture out to the islands last weekend? - The Hull Truth

Boongirl · 09-18-2007, 10:31 AM

Just wondering if I made the right decision NOT to go to Cat Island last Sunday - because of the various wind/wave height predictions. Did anyone do any island-hopping on Sunday? Were these predictions right? or should I have taken that chance? I don't go "offshore", but like to go to Smugglers on Cat.

My boat can handle 3-5 ft seas, but not my back!

gordo35 · 09-18-2007, 11:08 AM

I have a friend who was out around Ship Island in a 23 Contender. He said it was rough. I saw the forecast and stayed home.
I think you made the right call.

pugnacious33 · 09-18-2007, 02:33 PM

You made the right call. Looks like more of the same for the coming weekend. Hope it settles down soon, fishing is getting good.

Boongirl · 09-18-2007, 11:43 PM

Question: when the marine forecast says "protected waters".....does that mean the Bay of St. Louis and the rivers joining it? Or does this mean the Sound?
I've always wondered this. I probably wouldn't go out even if they say Protected Waters choppy. Or am I being too cautious for those inland waterways and missing out on some good fishnig?????

pugnacious33 · 09-19-2007, 06:52 AM

Boongirl, you ask a great question. One that i've posed to several experts. Unfortunately, none have given me a satisfactory answer. But from the information that i've gathered, protected waters DEFINITELY include the rivers and bays, but you probably should apply the sea state (2-4, 3-5 etc.) to the Sound, even though that is technically considered protected. If fishing the bays and rivers, I wouldn't worry too much about the wave height, just go and catch fish (though BSL can get pretty choppy if the wind is blowing directly into it). If traveling to the islands, you should consider the wind direction before making the call, especially if the wave heights are forecast over 3 or 4 feet. Plus, now is the time to start fishing inland anyway...as the temps go down, more fish will move into the deeper waters of the bays and rivers.

Lngshrman · 09-19-2007, 11:18 PM

In Bay St Louis you are usually in pretty good shape when the winds are north east and east. Once you start getting the south winds it gets pretty rough around the bridges but you can always hide up inside the rivers. Just launch at the wolf river launch and go out as far as you feel comfortable. Fishing has been pretty good around the railroad bridge.

Conundrum · 09-20-2007, 08:08 PM

I was at the east end of Horn on Sunday and it was PERFECT, if anything a little more breeze would have helped because we were over run by black flies. The water was georgous, the sky was clear, if it hadn't been for the flies it would have been one of those one or two days a year that are post card type days. North winds are strange. I've been at the islands more than once when the NWS said I shouldn't due to north winds and had a wonderful day. With north winds I trust sticking my head out the door to see what it's like more than I trust the NWS.

HOWEVER - I will not be at the islands this Saturday!!!

BiloxiGuy · 09-20-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Conundrum - 9/21/2007 2:08 AM
I was at the east end of Horn on Sunday and it was PERFECT

We probably should have done the same. Instead we headed to the north side of Ship Is. on Sunday and anchored near the dock. Only boat there, but still had a great time and well worth going, just had to deal with the north wind pushing little waves onshore which made it a little more difficult to sit in a couple feet of water and drink beer, but we managed

. Heading out was not all that bad at all, ran right at 39 mph. In those particular seas that day, anything slower and the ride wasn't as comfortable. I guess you can't complain about that...

vwfam2000 · 09-21-2007, 10:58 AM

Agree, it was still worth it.

Conundrum · 09-21-2007, 01:28 PM

I guess the seas were different with just that little bit of difference in longitude. Coming out of Goula it was all most flat. There were pontoon boats on Sand Island and more 20 footers than you could shake a stick at. Like I said, North winds are weird.

Boongirl · 09-23-2007, 11:35 PM

Hey thanks for the replies - wow, some very different opions and experiences! I guess it's all in how you perceive it. A few waves to some, may seem like rough seas to another.
And as Conundrum said, longitude made a difference - and those strange North winds.
I guess the place to be was at Horn that weekend.
hmmmm, but you would never really know the "place" unless you actually ventured out there!