Boat ramp in Ft. Myers, Fla

[dogschool]

We are trailering my convincor to Ft. Myers for spring break and I was hoping to get some info on a nice public boat ramp to launch from, can
any of the Floridian 'mates offer me some direction?

Also, I have never launched into salt water - we are fresh water boaters
and this will be a first - any tips are appreciated!

Happy New Year! (am starving for a boat ride!)

 

[kct11]

have fun! hold on tight...your boat will be faster on the salt.

 

[83PREDICTOR]

Just soak everything down with WD-40 and bring your flush muffs. Saltwater is not acid like most fresh water guys think.

As far as ramp locations you should post this thread over on S&F. Good luck

 

[hmbuilt]

Hey Dog........ my name is Kurt. I have boated and fished in the Fort Myers area sense 1992. Learned some lessons the hard way there.

I trailer my boat there twice a year from North Georgia. Spent 18 days there on the water last June and July fishing and spear fishing. Mostly inshore.

OK..... tips for your first time there.......... man I could write a book but I will hit some of the highlights......... First.... GPS is great to have there. Especially if you plan to run on the inside anywhere. The gulf waters are a breeze unless there are high winds or thunder boomers around. Check the forcasts for conditions and realize that storms can come up fast and lightning is of course always a boating hazzard.

The inshore-nearshore areas are very tricky with shallows, oyster bars, shoaling, piles, and more and more non courtious boaters. However the west coast of Florida blows away the East coast for really good and frindly people.

If you want to see what I mean....... take a look at the area on google earth. Use the tool that lets you see the landscape from a elevated horizontal view and it will look like the view out of a low flying plane. Super cool. Check out the Pine Island Sound area. Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, San Carlos Pass, Fort Myers Beach and such. These images were taken at dead low tide so you can see a lot of what is underwater when the tide is up. The tides do not fluctuate much more than 3 feet between high and low.

Learning the tides is as eazy as looking up a good tide chart site on line and plugging in the area and the dates you want tides for and presto....... you have a tide chart. Also, most GPS units have tide chart data available.

You will usually only need that kind of info if you are running in areas that have hazzards and you are outside the intercoastal markers or other channel markers. If you are running fast in waters you do not know in this area......... you are going to go aground or leave your prop on an oyster bar. I have seen it happen a hundred times.

If you go to Fort Myers beach by boat... a great place is the Loni Ki hotel....... lots of fun there. Unlike a lake though..... you must anchor up bow out and stern to shore. I always have 2 anchors and one must have enough ass to hold the boat in decent size waves. Put out enough anchor line to keep the bow from pulling the anchor out of the sand as the bow rises in the waves. Even in calm water, leaving the boat pulled up onshore and taking a walk can be a disaster if the tide drops while you are checking out the Shela's.

You asked about ramps........ the best I know of is where Summerlin Road becomes the Sanibel Causway at Punta Rassa. Just before the toll plaza a right turn takes you to a great ramp. It is in the middle of everything. Right in San Carlos Pass. 10 minutes to Ft. Myers Beach and Esterno Bay...... 5 min to Sanibel ..... 15 min to Captiva.... 5 minutes to the Caloussahatche River and 5 min to open Gulf waters.

Man....... let me tell you........ I have been all over Florida and when I found this place I fell in love with it. There is so much to do and so many kinds of water and fishing and great folks. I have a hundred stories. Like I said..... I could write a book.

Some of my best friends there own a marina on Captiva. Others are professional Guides. If you have the itch to go inside and check things out I can give you more details on where to go and eat by boat and see some cool things. My friends have gas at their place also. Jensens Twin Palm Marina....... 941-472-5800 Mention "Kurt"

Conditions in salt water change hour by hour. Every time you visit something is diffrernt. Passes become rivers in and out twice a day........ The gulf waters are moving..... somewhere all the time.... great sea life there....... birds everywhere.

The only thing about paridise is everyone is moving there and it isn't the same sleepy Florida I once knew. Still...... I can find secluded getaways there any time I have ever been there......

Hope this helps a little......... Kurt

PS..... get a chart!

 

[hmbuilt]

Dog... I forgot something......... when you tie up at a dock....... remember that the tide changes 3 feet. If you tie up at high tide and do not take that into consideration, you boat will be hanging up by the cleats. It is kinda funny as long as it is the other guys boat up in the air!!!!

Also... be careful to tie up so that your boat does not go under a dock rail because when the tide comes in..... your boat is caught underneith and that can sink a boat or cause damage.

Kurt

 

[dogschool]

Great stuff, hmbuilt, I really appreciate that indepth information!
It will go to good use!!! Very helpful!!!

 

[dogschool]

I will check out Jensens Twin Palm marina and tell them Kurt sent me!
Thanks again.

 

[zstevens]

i was tellin my wife bout your trip dog great idea i think ive got cabin fever i'm sick of no sun just light outside ! my next move is gonna be either back out west or straight south !

 

[dogschool]

kurt, check your pm