Tom Long's Beginner-Friendly Trip to Mouth of Big Marco Riv & Sea Oat Island

Please read this entire description before clicking Attend to RSVP.

This trip is done at your own personal risk. By clicking Attend, you agree that you are completely responsible for any damage, injury, or death that you experience as a result of your participation on this outing.

We've never had anyone die, yet, but I stubbed my little toe, once.

Speaking of risk, we will reduce it by wearing approved life jackets. Properly fitted and properly worn. If you can't do that, you can't paddle with us. If you're renting a boat, the Fish House will supply the life jacket.

Okay, this is a bit complex. You may have noticed that I (Tom Long) have posted another trip that is running simultaneous to this one. That's all by design! If you are going to launch from the Fish House, RSVP on this trip to attend. But do NOT sign up for the other trip running at the same time, even though the groups will merge. Read on, please.

If you paddle at a beginner level and cannot keep up with other kayak paddlers for more than three or four miles, then you can join the group coming from another venue (who will be paddling a greater distance) when they arrive at the waterfront of the Capri Fish House, where you can rent a boat. If you already own a kayak, you can launch it at the Fish House for free, but their outdoor table setup is so crowded, that it's difficult to thread the needle to get to the waterfront while carrying a boat. However, it can be done. The rental kayaks are right next to the water. I'm not sure what they charge, but you'll probably be renting for the half-day price. Go online or call them to check prices. You'll need to arrive at the Fish House by 9:15 AM and do NOT leave your car in their parking lot while you go paddling. Park it across the street. If you are bringing a boat, you can unload it in their parking lot, and then move your vehicle across the street.

By 9:45 AM, the paddlers leaving from the Capri Paddlecraft Park will arrive at the Fish House to invite you to join them the rest of the way to their destination. We're paddling out of Johnson Bay, but it will be a day-of decision on which route to take. That will depend on the wind speed and direction. Regardless of the direction, we will paddle to the mangrove islands between the mouth of the Big Marco River and Sea Oat Island, which is, essentially the southern tip of Cannon Island. Cannon is directly across the Hurricane Pass channel from the south end of Keywadin Island, in case you want to check these locales on a map. We'll likely stop advancing at Sea Oat Island. We'll all get out of our boats on Sea Oat and enjoy the scenery for a while. You can snack or cool off with a swim, should you wish.

Eventually, we will begin paddling back, possibly in the path alternate to the one we took to get to Sea Oat. The scenery is beautiful out there, right at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Sea Oat often yields some good seashells, for you conch heads. On this paddle, you're likely to see lots of ospreys, along with wading and sea birds, fish jumping, leaping manatees (well, maybe), and usually we encounter dolphins.

Once back to the Fish House, some of the longer-distance group may continue back to their launch, or any number of them might just pull their boats up at the Fish House where we can all order lunch as we sit at the outdoor tables.

After lunch, the group that arrived there by water will depart, and that's it!

I can fully understand that you might need to discuss this to understand the complexity of this event. So, feel free to call or text me.

I look forward to seeing you out there!

Tom Long
Cell: 239.963.6162