Carabelle to Panama City.. SHOALS?

[Rockinar]

About to head from Carabelle to Panama City in a couple days. Not sure how far out I need to go out to safely avoid the shoals around the St George and Cape San Blas area. There does not seem to be any talk about it but the Navionics chart a bit scary. Not sure if this pink area is just a missile test area or its shoals or both??

[stevec195]

Yup. It’s shoaly. You generally see the shrimpers anchor about 8-10 miles out. Honestly, if it were me and you have less than 50’ air draft it would be quicker to just go up the river at Apalachicola and stay on the inside to east bay. Apalachicola and White City bridges are 65’ but there’s a stumpy bridge just before you get to east bay. Even if you have a big stick it may more predictable weather wise to go inland to st joe then west.

[stevec195]

The restricted area is important to consider, but honestly no one plans ahead on that too much. I’ve tried to listen and read through the notices to mariners to not much effect. What IS reliable is that they will hale you on vhf if they’ve got a live exercise. Also, if you transit at night-I almost hit a splashed drone. A radar bubble helped in this case, but it also had a flashing light.

[Rockinar]

Originally Posted by stevec195

The restricted area is important to consider, but honestly no one plans ahead on that too much. I’ve tried to listen and read through the notices to mariners to not much effect. What IS reliable is that they will hale you on vhf if they’ve got a live exercise. Also, if you transit at night-I almost hit a splashed drone. A radar bubble helped in this case, but it also had a flashing light.

I ended up calling the Air Force and they gave me recorded number to call that tells of planned exercises which there was on my day.

I ended up taking the ICW due to weather. It was actually a pleasant and smooth river ride and glad I did. It was small craft advisory offshore anyways.