Ft. Desoto Ramp East or west?

[Jahkneefive]

Just curious which way I should head out if I'm heading to Egmont. Going east looks a little longer, but should be smoother I'm guessing since its "intercoastal". I have a little 22ft stingray so anything over a 2-3ft chop makes the journey miserable. On that note is egmont really any better than shell beach/water clarity wise? I'm a beer tanner (drink beer and sit on the beach) so my main concerns are awlays nice sand, good water, and decent anchor area (wave wise as well as crowd wise).

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Ft. Desoto Ramp East or west?

Just curious which way I should head out if I'm heading to Egmont. Going east looks a little longer, but should be smoother I'm guessing since its "intercoastal". I have a little 22ft stingray so anything over a 2-3ft chop makes the journey miserable. On that note is egmont really any better than shell beach/water clarity wise? I'm a beer tanner (drink beer and sit on the beach) so my main concerns are awlays nice sand, good water, and decent anchor area (wave wise as well as crowd wise).

I assume you are launching @ FD ramp? West out Bounces Pass is the shortest, that pass changes all the time so beware of shallow water and your chart/GPS will not be accurate to where the channel is today. The run along Skyway (east) is longer but easier because channel is well marked and static. Not really "smoother depending on wind direction. Another FYI is Shell Key is quite nice but they are heavily enforcing the no alcohol anywhere on the key, not even on the boat and they are writing big $$ tickets. No way you would get away with this this weekend.

 

[dave11]

Re: Ft. Desoto Ramp East or west?

I launch at Ft Desoto quite a bit. It never ceases to amaze me that often it is smoother out on the Gulf than the ICW. If you go out Bunces Pass, stay to the right and go out quite aways to make sure you don't run over that big sand bar. There is a lot of shallow water around there, so keep good watch.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Ft. Desoto Ramp East or west?

The best place to launch, go to 275 Exit 16, the park there., I believe it is Maximo Park? The ramps are not fully paved, but deep water canals. STAY IN THE CHANNEL!! The water gets less than two feet deep out of the channels, but stay in the channel, head east past Ft Desoto park, turn south (all the water there is at least 20 feet deep when you're 100 feet of shore), and you run right into Egmont.