Spec Chaser

I have been without a boat since our little tropical event in 05. I have another boat now and I am interested in fishing the south side of Cat Island. I would like to go around the west end of Cat after launching at Long Beach. Is there a shoal marker off of the west end? How far do any of you go west to avoid the shallow water? My boat draws about 2 ft. Thanks

doughnut

Well, its plenty deep(maybe 5 plus fathoms) about 15-20 yards of the beach. If you stay off a prudent distance you are fine. If you are running up the island, there is an area of foul (rocks) above Black Point that extends out from shore. Check out the chart.

__________________
"a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"

patrickg

Personally, I don't think that is great advice. It can be as shallow as 6" that distance from the beach. On the West end you are pretty safe running fast about 200+ yards from shore.

doughnut

Thats why I said "prudent distance" and "check out the chart", I need an attorney here on THT.

__________________
"a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"

patrickg

Or you need to chill out. Your post was misleading. I don't want somebody to trash their lower unit running 20 yards from shore since the waters around the island are knee deep for 150 yards in many areas.

pugnacious3333

That end makes me nervous, but I don't know it very well. What I did was idle around a bit to learn where the shallow stuff starts, that way you'll have the tracks on your gps. I like to make a wide swing out around the bird cage just to be safe.

I prefer to go around the east end, it is shorter, and that way you pass the north point, smugglers cove (good fishing there), the nice beaches on the east side, and the south tip.

Spec Chaser

Thanks for the advice. I prefer the east end too. I have bumped the bottom several times on the west end and just wondered if it had changed any with Katrina. Just waiting for a cold front and some calm weather.

doughnut

actually, I thought I had put one of these. in after "attorney" so, Im pretty chill. Good advice , but maybe im a moron, what would Katrina have to do with it?

__________________
"a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"

Spec Chaser

Doughnut, I see that you are located in San Diego, California. I was talking about launching from Long Beach, Mississippi.

doughnut

HeHeHe see I am a Moron!! To me, Cat Island is Catalina, and Launching at Long Beach means Long Beach, Los Angeles area!! LOL I was thinking you were talking about coming this direction and fishing.

I'm not even gonna delete my posts,

__________________
"a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"

JVSham

Well this is the GULF COAST forum, after all. When I saw where you were from, I thought you were talking about the west coast. There is nowhere around any of our barrier islands that is 5 fathoms, except maybe for the west end of Horn or Ship. I ran around the west end of Cat this summer, but had to stay at least 200 yards off the point to have over 4' of water. Katrina obviously moved a lot of sand from the island and spread it around on both north and south sides, not sure what it may have done to the west. And I had to run a good distance south of the east point to get to Smugglers Cove, about a quarter mile or more. Shallow for days out that way.

__________________
'09 Key West 186 CC
'09 Suzuki DF 140

patrickg

It isn't too different post Katrina. The East side and Southeast tip are very shallow and you do have to stay way away. The southwest side of the island isn't too bad. 200+ yards from shore and you are pretty good to go. I can't recall exactly how far the birdcage is from shore, but don't run very far inside of it. On another note, that's why I love my flats boat. Draft 10" of water while running!