Local Knowledge for Barrier Islands, Gulf of Mexico

[Ocean Girl]

We are in Gulfport Mississippi heading east. We are looking for an anchorage around Pascagoula longitude ( halfway between Gulfport and east daulphin Island) with north to west wind protection. We will stay at Pelican Bay, southeast daulphin Island on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Most anchorages do not give westerly protection( that I can find).
Thanks
Erika

[colemj]

Have you checked out Active Captain for anchoring info in that area?

Mark

[Ocean Girl]

Yes, have BlueCharts with Active Captain(love it!!). I think we will make for Horn Island. If we anchor on the north side middle, it will give us protection to about 285 ish deg. I was hoping to find something that would protect from a NNW but, Horn should be ok.
Thanks!

[FSMike]

Hi Ocean Girl -
When I brought the new to us boat from Port Aransas I went straight across the gulf, but I found a book that could be helpful:
Cruising the Gulf Coast from Skipper Bob Publications, the folks who produce the Skipper Bob's Anchorage publications.
If you can't find one they can be ordered from Home | Skipper Bob Cruising Guides.
Have a good trip.

[Ocean Girl]

Yes, we have xerox copies of skipper bobs to NOLA, and luckily our buddy boat has the whole book. Love Skipper Bobs, I think it's the best paper quick guide for this region.

I think it is a bit nerve racking to look at anchoring in places not maked on chart or active captain. Just picking a spot and saying "this looks good". Even so, I just don't see a lot of options for 5-6 foot draft.

We have Small craft warning today so staying extra day in Gulfport. Will have Northwest winds next couple days so still not sure about anchorages. Horn island or Petit Bois (?spell) will be our go to if nothing else is found. then will jump straight across Mobile bay for LuLu's.

Thanks for the advice!! Very much appreciated.
Erika

[billwalker88]

Ocean Girl,
We're actually right behind you ... holed up in Long Beach waiting out the wind, and we're planning on heading out for Dauphin Island tomorrow morning. I think the south side of Dauphin will be nice with the predicted wind from passage weather. Maybe we'll see you in crossing ...
Bill

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[Ocean Girl]

Yes, I love the look of pelican bay, has 360 wave protection. Are going to approach from the south gulf side or from the north down the mobile bay entrance?

[Ocean Girl]

Bill we are buddy boating with a Pearson 385, Palm latitude ( I think it is 385 or 380..?) there is a picture of her on our blog. We will try to make for pelican, but need a back up anchorage closer. With these short days we don't have much time.
Hopefully we will see you there!!
Erika

[jaybird1111]

The only protection you'll find inside the Mississippi Sound with this wind direction NW/W is either to anchor in the Biloxi Channel (or other mainland marina/anchorages) or go all the way to Aloe Bay, Dauphin Island. There is no west protection inside the islands. I'd suggest Aloe Bay, it's the channel and embayment on the west side of the DI bridge. The DI Race rafts up there for the after-party. Stay in the middle of the channel as you approach. Anchor in the middle of the embayment.

You can hide from NE behind Round Island but the west will get you. These north and west winds will beat the crap out of you if you try to anchor on the north side of any of the barrier islands, and the west GOM fetch will not be pleasant on the south sides.

It's not a short trip to Pelican spit. If I recall, you have to stand out well past it (past the lighthouse) if you travel from the Mobile Bay Ship Channel side, or else come out thru Pascagoula Ship Channel.

ActiveCaptain is a good resource.

Sorry...

[Coutret]

Ocean Girl,

We were trying to work our way west through that area last winter. The northers can be pretty brutal. I don't know if you are on a schedule or not, but, you might want to wait until later in the week when the wind and seas are forecasted to let up some. I would leave Gulfport early in the morning (about 4:00 am) and go straight to Homeport Marina. As I recall, it was about an 11 hour trip.

We looked at Dauphin Island, but decided to pass it up. It seemed that the only protected anchorage was the marina north of the ferry landing. The entrance was shallow and tricky and the marina didn't appear very interesting. There is a race to Dauphin Island and boats do anchor out. However, that is not during the winter when the weather can be very unsettled.

John C.
S/V Carpe Diem




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[billwalker88]

We're out today, sailing east ... hoping for more wind ... with the winds we have today and the calm seas, we'll probably come in from the south ...

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[Ocean Girl]

We made it to Daulphin Island, Pelican Bay( south side). We left at 6:30, took 10.5 hours. Very nice run, good weather. Came from the north through mobile inlet.

Thanks for all the advice.
Erika

[iSaint]

Great blog! Hope you enjoyed your pass through Mississippi. The Barrier Islands are a sight to visit when the weather is better.

[Ocean Girl]

Isaint, yes, we would love to cruise these islands in the future and in warmer weather. Very beautiful. Glad you like the blog :-).
Erika