---

Hey everyone:

I am taking my wife and kids to Destin, Fl for a week long vacation in about a month. I love being on the water but can't sit on a beach for 5 days straight.

My wife has agreed to bring the whaler (Like I would leave it at home). Some friends are coming and they suggested we go to Cat Island? Is anyone familiar with this island?

My whaler is a 17ft. Montauk. Where I could run her in Destin? Is she capable of going to Cat Island?

Thanks for any info you have.

---

Nick Cat Island is in Mississippi approximately 12 mi. ese of the pass at Bay St. Louis. About 170 miles west along the Gulf Coast from Destin Fla. I google earthed and can find no islands outside Destin Fla. but there is a nice looking bay behind it. There was a lot of nice white sand beach coves in the area for picknicking back in the 60,s & 70,s but now that has pretty much been lost to development.
As for as the Whaler making the trip accross to Cat Island, sure with reasonable caution. I have not yet made the trip with my Whaler but my fishing partner has a 15 ft copy of a Whaler. A OMC Sundowner built like a whaler except with a sharp nose. We go to Isle of Pitre, Half Moon Island, & Ship Island from Bayou Caddy Waveland. the trip is at minimum of 14 miles. We cancel if winds reach 15 to 20 knts. We once were out and the weather prediction was wrong and reached 15 to 20 while out. the wind was at our backs, it was not a comfortable ride but we maintained a pace slighty faster than wave action and made it fine on in. Of course have at least a good compass you lose sight of land at 7 miles, a GPS and a compass is better. As soon as I am confident in my power plant I will not hesitate to make the trip. Bob

---

You may want to checkout St Joes peninsular. There was a state park at the end w/boats ramps that I recall from my last trip there in the mid-80s. It was quite hike to the end and there were no roads. The bay and the beach will be a great day tip if it is still as I remember. It'll keep the beach lovers happy too.
Check the area out with google earth.

---

Thanks for the info guys. I did some research after I posted last night. I'm thinking my friend may have meant to suggest Crab Island. He surely can't expect me to drive the 6 hours to Destin and then turn around and drive 170 miles back to Mississippi for a day trip to Cat Island.

I looked at some of the state parks and boat ramps online. Still, to anyone reading, let me know if you have any suggestions.

Tharsheblows, didn't you plan to make a test run last weekend? How did it go?

By the way: To anyone living in the Madisonville, LA area, there is a vintage car and motorcycle show on the waterfront next weekend. It could be a good day on the water. You can dock at the riverfront and go see the show. You can actually see it from the water if you don't want to fight any crowds--Just throwing it out there.

Thanks.

---

Hey nick Yes I made the trip and not without problems. The engine runs much smother and would idle at 900 rpm just like the mech. said it would. But when moving in gear it would still stall. My fishing buddy has the same motor only a much newer model 1990 and it idles at 1200. So at the dock I dug out the tool kit an adjusted the idle stop to 1200 rpm and now it does fine. But the SELOC manual says it should be at 700-750 rpm my freind is not mechanicaly inclined and would never try to adjust anything and says his has been set that way from the factory. It does not sound bad when enguaging gears but 1200 is a long way from 750. Incase anyone would like to comment it is a 1975 Jhonson 70 hp louper. Also at home on the flush hose the lowest idle was 2000 rpm I almost readjusted the stop screw but decided to wait to see what the read would be next time at the dock. I asked my fishing buddy, he and a few other boaters at work said they all show higher rpms at home on the flush.
I am just writing this after polishing the hull the Amite river does not look all that dirty but just 3 hours in it stained the hull. I dont want to water ski there! The rain every day has kept me from cleaning or covering it till today.
If you have children just down the beach hwy. from Destin is Panama City there was a area called the Miracle Strip it had a beach side amusement park and jet ski,Hobiecat rentals and parasailing. Kind of a tourist trap. Bob

---

Bob:

I wish I could give some advice on the motor, however, I don't know a great deal about engines. The best I do is changing the oil in my truck just to capture a shread of manhood. My framer is pretty ingormed on outboards. I'll try and print your post and and show him. Maybe he can offer some insight.

Nick

---

I'm going to be on St Joe's Bay for a week this Summer. Any fishing tips? Looks like decent snorkeling too - any wrecks or things of interest to check out?

---

I know the area quite well having lived there for a time. You will find the boating excellent in the bay and along the Emerald Coast (Destin to Panama City). However, be aware the bay is quite shallow in many places and the charts are not always accurate due to the shifting sands. This is especially true around the peninsula that runs straight (east of the bridge).

Have fun.

---

I live in Panama City, which is between Destin and St. Joe. as far as Destin is has the best offshore fishing in the state. You can troll for king mac, wahoo. Or bottom fish for snapper (June 1st) and grouper, etc.

St. Joe bay has excellent bay fishing for speckled trout, flounder, and tarpon. Starting in july take your snorkle gear and pick up scallops, St. joe is very well know for these. A word of caution for St. Joe bay, it is a fairly shallow bay so pay attention to the channel markers and the tide charts (as they have 2 tides per day) But you should not have any problems. If scallops are your target, go around "Blacks Island".

*We dont call this the emerald coast for nothing, enjoy the water!

---

very nice place. you will need to find the public ramps on the back bay. If you don't have a slip you will have to pick it up at night.
crab island and back bay are great for the kids. I would not bring them into the gulf too hairy in the pass. Be careful in the pass it gets rough when the the wind and tide are opposite.
I don't see alot of small boats on the outside.
Go to the Harberdocks for resaurant and AJs. You can pull your boat up to their dock and go in. They also bring in alot of fish there. You will love Desten.