Tom Long's 9 AM Jolley Bridge (Marco Island) - Tigertail Beach Paddle

Before clicking Attend on the RSVP, please read this entire description to the end.

It's a three-hour January morning paddle, starting at 9:00 AM, so try to arrive by 8:30 or soon after. We'll be paddling from the launch on the Marco side of the bridge, also the East side of the bridge (a left turn if you're driving onto Marco, just at the base of the bridge on the Marco side). Free parking. We'll paddle under the bridge and out the Big Marco River to inside TigerTail Beach. If the seas are reasonable, we'll portage across the beach and come back on the outside through the Gulf of Mexico. On our way back, if we're making good time, we can swing over to the Isles of Capri side of the Big Marco River and take a good look at that mangrove shoreline, then re-cross the river again and back to the launch.

BTW, that photo I provided, above, is of white pelicans on Tigertail Beach, New Year's Day of last year (2025). Maybe we'll get lucky and have a white pelican day, again, like then.

We'll be paddling approximately 8-9 miles. This is not an event for novice paddlers. It's what we call a Level II paddle. There can be large swells from the Gulf of Mexico and unwelcome waves from big boats. You'll need a sea kayak (and a skirt), or a sit-on-top that's at least 13 feet long, or a surf ski. Properly fitted, properly WORN PFDs REQUIRED REQURIED REQUIRED. Bring a bottle of water. You might not get thirsty on Jan. 17, but if you do become thirsty and don't have water, you'll be miserable. Bring bug spray, too, just in case. Bugs can be a problem at the launch, or in the mangroves on Tigertail.
Remember, whatever goes wrong is your fault, so if you choose to attend, you and you alone accept that responsibility, and all that goes with it. If you need to ask questions, call my cell.

Tom Long: 239.963.6162.