Shamrock Get Together in the BAHAMAS MON

[Boat Drinks]

8) I am planning on going to the bahamas this summer, and think it would be a great time to get all the local and even national shamrock owners together to fish, eat fish, drink with fish, and even swim with fish!!! I am putting this out for input into where? ie. Bimini 48 miles, Walkers Cay 125miles, Grand Bahama 78miles all distances from Port Everglades. I am willing to do all the leg work from Ft. Lauderdale and just need to know if anyone would be interested?

[Hutch]

Hey, during the summer we're enjoying the good weather up here in NY! No way you'd catch me in FL in the summer (no offense). Trying to work a deal though where we leave our boat behind a friends house in North Palm Beach over the winter. If you or anyone is up for the trip from Nov. through March, we'd be willing to go. I've made the trip four times by sail (Bimini and Lucaya), and it would be great to speed it up a bit. Also love to catch more than just stripers, blues and fluke. The idea of pulling a dolphin, wahoo, sail, etc. over the transom would make those boat payments a LOT easier to make. :P

Can't wait for spring!

Hutch

[Boat Drinks]

Hey, during the summer we're enjoying the good weather up here in NY! No way you'd catch me in FL in the summer (no offense). Trying to work a deal though where we leave our boat behind a friends house in North Palm Beach over the winter. If you or anyone is up for the trip from Nov. through March, we'd be willing to go. I've made the trip four times by sail (Bimini and Lucaya), and it would be great to speed it up a bit. Also love to catch more than just stripers, blues and fluke. The idea of pulling a dolphin, wahoo, sail, etc. over the transom would make those boat payments a LOT easier to make. :P

Can't wait for spring!

Hutch

Hutch,
No offence taken, but we are catching dolphin wahoo and sails this time of year down here, but in may and june it is the best time to catch tuna large dolphin, and the main reason I am going Blue Marlin. The weather is much calmer and you don't have to worry about being caught in the week long fronts that come down in the winter. However I am here if you want to come down and fish and get out of the cold weather. I am warning you though it has been cold down here, it got to about 60 last night 8)
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[Boat Drinks]

Hey, during the summer we're enjoying the good weather up here in NY! No way you'd catch me in FL in the summer (no offense). Trying to work a deal though where we leave our boat behind a friends house in North Palm Beach over the winter. If you or anyone is up for the trip from Nov. through March, we'd be willing to go. I've made the trip four times by sail (Bimini and Lucaya), and it would be great to speed it up a bit. Also love to catch more than just stripers, blues and fluke. The idea of pulling a dolphin, wahoo, sail, etc. over the transom would make those boat payments a LOT easier to make. :P

Can't wait for spring!

Hutch


Hutch,
No offence taken, but we are catching dolphin wahoo and sails this time of year down here, but in may and june it is the best time to catch tuna large dolphin, and the main reason I am going Blue Marlin. The weather is much calmer and you don't have to worry about being caught in the week long fronts that come down in the winter. However I am here if you want to come down and fish and get out of the cold weather. I am warning you though it has been cold down here, it got to about 60 last night 8)
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Well I guess I will go on my own.

[Capt Don]

BD, you give up too soon. I was contemplating going to Bimini for maybe a long weekend over the summer myself, but didn't want to cross alone. If my buddy buys his new 219, he may be interested also. What do you think about the July 4th weekend, say thurs to sun? I've already committed my vacation week in Islamorada the end of March, so long weekends are all I've left. Let me know. Don

[Boat Drinks]

BD, you give up too soon. I was contemplating going to Bimini for maybe a long weekend over the summer myself, but didn't want to cross alone. If my buddy buys his new 219, he may be interested also. What do you think about the July 4th weekend, say thurs to sun? I've already committed my vacation week in Islamorada the end of March, so long weekends are all I've left. Let me know. Don
Sounds good! E-Mail me and let me know which inlet you would like to leave from, I may go on to the Abacos after that and I am leaving from Hillsbourogh inlet, but if you are leaving from the south we can meet up on the way.
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[DBM]

I'm new to ocean running but you'd run 50 miles offshore in a 21'? I just bought a 20' cuddy and have barely played with it so i'm not thinking about it this year. Maybe next year though.

Let us know how it goes and if my I'm just ingnorant to ocean running. I don't know if I'd ever feel confortable even 20 miles offshore.

Fair seas,

DBM

[Capt Don]

DBM, I go 30 miles to fish :!: It's not too bad as Bimini is around 50 miles so your're really only 25 miles from land either direction, just keep telling yourself that as the land disappears over the horizon.
Seriously though, you have to pick your days and not be too committed to a schedule. As soon as you try to rush you end up with trouble especially when dealing with the gulfstream and weather. I mean really all you're rushing back for is work and normalcy anyway so I am really leinient on the return voyage.
I would only consider going with other boats and very early morning departures in order to beat the afternoon thunder storms in summer. Winter conditions are too frequently changing and rough, in my opinion, for a small boat but the summer can be very smooth going.
What better a boat to go in than a Shamrock, one of the best built and seaworthy crafts built today? :wink: Let us know if you're coming!
Don

[DBM]

Maybe next summer.

This year I need to get used to my new girl(i.e. shamrock).

Let me know how you guys did.

Fair seas,

DBM

[DBM]

Don

What size Shamie are you running?

DBM

[Capt Don]

220 cuddy, 2002 model year.

[Boat Drinks]

I'm new to ocean running but you'd run 50 miles offshore in a 21'? I just bought a 20' cuddy and have barely played with it so i'm not thinking about it this year. Maybe next year though.

Let us know how it goes and if my I'm just ingnorant to ocean running. I don't know if I'd ever feel confortable even 20 miles offshore.

Fair seas,

DBM
What Capt. Don said I have made the run over 50 times in boats from 22' to 65' and most are uneventful. Planning and seaworthyness is important and laying out a flot plan so if you don't report people will know. I also carry an EPIRB just in case.
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[Capt Don]

Don't forget, float plans only work when left with people who care, i.e. your ex wife or life insurance beneficiary are probably not the best choices! I've heard stories about just such instances. :roll:
I think it would be great to see a dozen or so Shammies headed to Bimini for a weekend. I can't believe more people aren't interested. Don

[Prior Engagement]

Guys - Sounds like an adventure, but I will be stuck here in VA running day trips to the boat to chase whatever is biting and changing diapers! :cry: :shock: :)

[Boat Drinks]

July 4th is going to be a bear to get rooms and dockage in Bimini, so far I have found a hotel on south bimini for the fourth weekend 89$ per night for two people and 10$ per night per person over two up to 4. Dockage $.75 per foot. South Bimini is across the channel from all the nightlife in Bimini. Mabey we should look at another weekend.

[Anonymous]

I would be interested, Sounds like fun. I have a 24/6 walkaround and on Ramrod Key. Would need to either come up the keys and dock prior to trip or have a place for a trailer while we were across.
Bill
wbaugh@aol.com

[Anonymous]

Just like to know what the distance is from Key Largo to Bimini Thanks. :?:

[Boat Drinks]

Just like to know what the distance is from Key Largo to Bimini Thanks. :?:
62 NM Key Largo to Bimini, however if you trailer up to Miami it would only be 43 NM.

[Capt Don]

BD, Well my buddy ended up buying a brand new (and recently discontinued :( )220 cuddy. That means I may end up with a partner to run back across the stream with when we go. We're trying to put some details together over here, but it looks like we will end up going with you. Don

[Boat Drinks]

BD, Well my buddy ended up buying a brand new (and recently discontinued :( )220 cuddy. That means I may end up with a partner to run back across the stream with when we go. We're trying to put some details together over here, but it looks like we will end up going with you. Don

Thats great! Let me know when you are going and I will look into dockage and rooms. Like I said above the weekend of the fourth or any holiday weekend is a nightmare in bimini but if you want to do a thurs. through Sun. trip i am in.

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[Hav'nfun]

I would love to cruise to the Bahamas. This year I've already committed to two weeks in Baja in June and 10 days in July. I will commit to a May or June Cruise in '04. Want to schedule next year now?

Any one want to do a cruise in the Sea of Cortez? Great fishing and diving but primitive camping/on board accomodations.

DPM made a comment similar to others I've seen on East coast boards. I'm not familiar with off-shore conditions on the East coast. I've seen posts on several boards about not going more than a few miles out in 20-24' boats. On the West coast we routinely go out 40 to 80 miles to fish. Seems I've heard the Pacific tosses up more and larger waves than the East coast.

When stationed in Virginia the waters there were more like a large lake than an ocean. What's the deal going off-shore? Please don't flame me, I'm not making "my ocean is nastier than yours" comments, truly want to know what conditions are like as I plan to cross to the Bahama's and also want to cruise to the Dry Tortuga's. Just want to be safe.

On the West coast we just keep a weather eye, listen to the WX, and as long as its not blowing gale force or better, head out. Isn't that why Shamrocks were made? To handle the rough stuff.

Thanks in advance for the info.

[R Boat II]

I don't know why a lot of people over here are so opposed to going more than a couple miles out. I feel as long as you keep your boat in good running order, have made the proper preperations, and keep an eye on the weather you'll be ok. Over here, the weather can change pretty quick, but I don't think it gets too bad (nothin these shammys can't handle). Now, I'm usually one of the guys that doesn't go out far to fish, but the only reason for that is we usually go out in the morning and are back by lunch and go to work (and it's my dad's boat, so he's the boss). I wouldn't have hesitated to go to the bahama's in the 20' my dad had, provided we we're going with another boat or two. :) Wish I could go with you guys to the Bahamas. I've been trying to convince my dad for years, just never the time. Maybe I can talk him into next year. :mrgreen:

[Boat Drinks]

I previously lived in San diego, and agree the sea in the pacific can be larger than here in the south east. However the one difference is there can be a large thunderstorm that can rise up from nowhere and produce winds in the 30 to 40 knt range and create what I call a washing machine effect. tide or current going one way wind the other and just when you think you know where the next one is coming from it comes from the other side. Don't get me wrong this is a rare occurence but it does happen even on the calmest days of summer. However I agree with what R boat said if your prepared you will be alright.
"It is the Bermuda Triangle" 8)
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