Looking for a plan "B"

Is there anything else on the Gulf Side?

I know around me (BocaGrande) all we have is Cayo Costa, and that is a PIA to really have a Seacraft get together, especially if you have some drive up only'.

???

Well..... Donv and I were chating this afternoon about breaking
out of the norm! IE: Tent camping....;)

The Homosassa Riverside Resort would be ideal for what we do....:cool:
The rates are not that bad and the place is neat and clean..
Boat ramp, the Monkey Bar, Scallops, Trout, Reds, & Flounder, etc..

Take a look and lets toss it around..;)

If the dates were right I would be in...

Ken and Chuck were there recently and said the place was really nice! I was looking at the web site and I noticed a few things, 1. you could get in your boat without having to wade to it, 2. the rooms looked much cleaner than my 10 x 10 tent and the beds were actually not on the ground, 3. the bathrooms were much nicer than my five gallon bucket, 4. the walls would be thick enough so I would not hear NoBones and Capt. Chuck snore and pass gas all night.

Just a few casual observations......

Looked at the chart. How deep is the channel getting to the outside? It looks like about 20 miles to 20 ft of water. I've got some numbers out in 20-60 ft that used to be real good. Haven't been there in 25 plus years, so no telling what its like now.

Can you spend the night on your boat at the dock, or is there somewhere to anchor out?

Tomorrow I will call the resort and see what they say about dockage
for Connor, Denny and Dave... assuming you guys will want to stay on your yachts at the dock! ;)

The water depth was real good through the marked channel that we had to run through about 4 miles once we broke out into the gulf.
From the resort to the mouth at the gulf was about 6.5 miles.
The only idle zones were right in front of the resort and at the mouth
which were very short.

There is a marina directly across the river with non ethanol @ $4.90 gal.
Also a private ramp at the resort with a public ramp at the entrance to
Riverside Resort.

I will see if we can get some kind of a group rate for late Oct, early Nov.

Also will check to see if there are any campgrounds close by for the die hards.

More later,

Mini Motel?
Nice work there Bones.

I like plan "B". I'm heading to Steinhatchee in a week for scallops and the place your talking about is an hour closer.

I am scheduled to work the last weekend in october but was looking to drop a vacation week on that date so keep us posted !!!

Hey Rusty, it's even closer to your home!!! Seeya

YEP !!! just spoke to the wife and pretty sure were in !!!!!!!! just got to get the oldest settled into her new apartment for school this year and start saving !!! Wife threw in that i had to buy her New mask snorkle and fins though ... lol

Earlier, like mid to early October, is better for me, probably easier to get reservations, too.

We can shop for you...a very small mask that stays on a face to start. Easy to clear. Nice shape for a great fit. Nice bottom purge snorkel. The long fins are fun but be careful in close quarters.
I still enjoy my old K Mart flippers.

I could anchor my 20' "yacht" off the beach if necessary, if there is one! Don't necessarily need to stay at a dock. Looks like there is a picnic area at nearby Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park where we could have our Pot Luck feast on Saturday, but not sure it's accessible from the water or if they could tolerate our type of wildlife! http://www.floridastateparks.org/lib...ap/hsw-map.jpg

Her old stuff is getting yellow... we are getting bsck into scuba after many years off... So she passed her Tusa to our daughter and her Tusa fins stipp work but have a split in the foot pocket that started almost when we got them 15 years ago.... She sounded alittle excited when she thought we were camping and then i told her it was a small hotle and she was still ok with it.... so we are in wether camping or hotel... or staying at her sisters place in Port Richey and driving up ... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! descissions descissions ....lol

Not much to update...:confused::rolleyes:

Called Homosassa Resort yesterday and spoke with Allison about our
intentions for a fall gathering..:)
She said that she would pass it on to the event coordinator. :eek:
Yikes, O'yeah he is president now, no time for us! ;)

Well must be way to busy for us! Told Allison that at very least
it would be about 10 rooms with more wanting dock space!

I will try again tomorrow....

Also looks like 3 campgrounds close by that I will contact
tomorrow as well, to see if they allow tent camping...
Something tells me NO!

Camp N Water

Turtle Creek

Nature Resort


More later....:D

Check the Best Western in Dunedin - reasonable and a great location - Susan and I just spent 4 days - Susan booked it online and got better priced so I'll have her check. You can see Calidesi and Honeymoon from the back porch so all the Anclote area is a short ride. Dockage would kinda be an issue for too many boats though as the slips are the municipal marina - but they love me anyway after just one stay

plus I have 500 grouper numbers there within 15 miles

Also the Place in New Port Richey on 19 that Carl and them stayed in, plenty of docks and again close to of Anclote - I'll try and find the afiliation they have now

Ft Desoto is almost impossible anymore for locals - its 6mos in advance

Homo has no beaches - and I don't think there is any boat access to the park, long shallow run anywhere. IMHO only redeeming quality is they let you scallop, but thats pretty late for them - shrinkage ya know.

My Vacation was approved yesterday for oct 30 thru nov 6.... so i will be off from oct 16 till nov 6th.... if we could schedule in that time fram i would be happy !!! :-)

The place in NPR is now a Ramada but there are a couple places in South St Pete that would be easier for Danny and Sarasota guys. I have a post up on FS for any other suggestions but one is right at the st pete side of the skyway - the Scream & Fly guys have used that.

There quite a number of small places along the ICW that I hope I get leads on.

OK, boys and girls...
Just got off the phone with Jennifer at the resort! :)
The dates of Nov. 1 & 2 are wide open!
She agreed to the week day rates for the weekend above.
Also that scallop season will be over with and for the
guys that want to stay on there boats at the dock should not be
a problem! 25ft is there max on dockage...:cool:

Lets here it.....

More later

I'm on.

I have little interest in going all the way up there ( 125mi from Tampa), the river is nice once - going out of the channel anywhere is very risky. There is no place to go when you get out to the gulf, the spring is nice in the dead of summer after scalloping but not much else to do - JMHO

waiting for call from this place at the base of the skyway which would give us Ft Desoto and all of St Pete and Anna Maria - a trip to the clothing optional sand bar could be interesting
http://www.marinacoveresort.com/


looks about $105 per,lucky for us Ken they have a senior discount plan I'll ckeck on - and any group plan

let me know if there is any interest down there - k

http://www.ramada.com/hotels/florida...hotel-overview

We may be on to something here - I checked the Ramada in New Port Richey site and a rate of $119 for 2 nights at a $54 nightly. That is where the Moeslys stayed if you rode in and picked them up or dropped them off - no mention of dock charges either

That gives Anclote as a primary spot

can't believe that rate, hell I might start 3 day weekends over there the way the expedition uses gas, cheaper to stay

Motel room $65 a night!
Dockage with room $10 a night
Stay on the boat no charge... First come first served!!

The river view rooms with kitchen $135 a night...
They have a gathering room next to the pool at our
disposal...

not my party so where everyone decides to go is fine with me, it just started as a West Central

Nice rate there.
Have funnn on the otherside.
Jealous here,
GFS
Catch em up.

I am interested. The Magnuson Inn in St Pete is nice

I have a call in from today for a group thing so we'll see, might get a better turn out from down south there. I've never driven over there and checked it out, just see it from 275 going to the ramp but looks nice.

Not sure what strategy to take, a better discount will allow Sandy to come or verify he won't be coming under any circunstances - torn. LOL



I will say the Ramada @ Anclote for 54 a night looks pretty nice, I can't imagine getting much off of that rate though


Sandy we need you there it wouldn't be the same, we'll figure something out, you don't need a whole room and bring the boat all the way across - you always have a ride with me and I'll even let you drive some

i think i am confussed ... need some direction.. need to get the room reserved... i think.. i have a house available to me in port richey but would rather be where the group will be for our first apperance at a SeeaCraft gala ...

I can sleep in a ziplock

Gallon or quart? :eek:

Well, We need to try and narrow down what the majority would
like to do!

Being this is a west coaster function this east coaster will
bow to you and go with whatever works for the best attendance
possible!

We know
--------------

Rusty just calm down we haven't even got a site down yet
----------------


A friend of mine apparently owns a waterfront restaurant and wants to make sure we come by if in St Pete Bch - I will have that checked out soon

Sea Hags Bar & Grill

Speaking of Sea Hags.......

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/3...g-accused.html

"Stay thirsty my friend"!

OK just got off the phone with the Magnesen Place - for the group 89.90 plus tax

I had to leave a message for the dockmaster so we have that yet to deal with

---------------------------------------------
I will call the Ramada up in NPR just so we have all the bases covered and can make an informed decision

room + slip $84 - less a 20% discount if we bring Sandy = $68,

I told them he was famous, thank goodness they didn't ask what for

Sounds like a good deal at the Ramada, plus you'd have the option of staying there or camping at Anclote, which is a proven good spot for our gatherings! Anclote was my first but didn't bring the boat to that one. I'd probably anchor out there overnight weather permitting. I should be able to make it to either there or Homosassa. Might even consider towing as far as Terry's or Sarasota and running up with the guys from that area. Denny

I still have access to a ramp just up the street from the Ramada if its NPR . Also overnite parking at Anclote ramp for the campers. Still waiting to hear from you Dog on those numbers been about two years!

i am just excited in general... I have lots to do to the boat and trailer before the trip. Order my Sonic hub sound system for my lowrance unit yesterday !!!! i like my tunes while on the water... as well as the Padded carrying bag and rod holder adapter for my magma catalina grill !!!!!!!! It will be in use when i get home next wed !!!

http://www.plantationoncrystalriver....oad&platform=c

This is the nicest place around here. Homassasa is nice but I think Crystal River is about a notch above.it is all fresh water near the hotel so no need to flush :D. Their dock is a seawall with some big tires:eek:{black streaks}, just bring bumpers. Plenty of restaurant's. They have an excellent Tiki Bar and top notch Sunday Brunch. Reasonable rates as well. I have not checked availability but we have stayed there and like the place. The springs to snorkle are some of the best. There is also another hotel with dock's a stones throw away, Port Paradise; Yes the one Elvis stayed at!http://www.porthotelandmarina.com/ and http:http://www.crystalriverresort.com/ a nice dock as well right next door to Cracker's entertainment/restaurant Between the three of them I'm sure we will be covered.






.

Crystal River is nice. The Port Hotel and Marina is clean and very reasonable, but dated. I didn't know Elvis stayed there. Maybe he's still there... There's a decent restaurant next door, and it's close to the spring. And if we schedule the gathering before the end of scallop season, there's a bounty not far from the mouth of the river.

All that being said, it may be too far north for our southern brethren. It might be good to focus on locations around the Tampa Bay area since it's centrally located (more or less). As NoBones mentioned, I-4 makes it convenient to east coasters. I'm good with anything from Tampa north, but we need to settle on something soon if it's going to happen.
Dave

Five one quart bags, Three for my id, and two for the others to fight over all night long.

Anybody seen my id, I`m lost.

AKA, have tackle, will travel.