New to the site
Just wanted to say Hello to everyone, I am new to the site. I live in Tampa and the majority of my fishing is in the bay and off the west coast of Tampa. I have a 23' CC and I'm in the beginning phase of information gathering about doing the crossing over to Bimini in the spring (after the north winds die down). Besides reading 100's of sites and posts, I have one other boater (34' Cruiser), but he has not made the trip either. I also have a third boater that has made it. But you know how that goes, if he has to drop out at the last minute, you have lost your guide. So, I will continue to do my research and try to build my convoy. When I have the window that I would like to cross (plus or minus a few days on each end due to weather), I will post on the "Find a Crossing Buddy" page. In the mean time, any addition advice for a small boater would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Replies
There are lots of very experinced boaters and Bimini guys here and most will gladly help you. But do yourself a big favor and do as much research ahead of time, then ask any remaining questions. Be sure to use the SEARCH function and that right there will answer a huge portion of your questions, because they've ALL been answered here over the years. Use Google for more info as well.
Here's a great place to start educating yourself!!
http://www.amazon.com/Bimini-Bahamas-Vantage-Boating-Cruising/dp/0972958916
I'd strongly suggest that you plan you trip no earlier that mid-May to make sure that no late season cold fronts mees up your plans. Mid-June until about mid-August would be the best times to cross over....... especially since you'd have to trailer over from Tampa first..... Enjoy the "anticipation" of your trip!!
http://onetoughkitty.com
Here's where you might want to stay. Super nice people, great rooms, ice, fish cleaning tables, etc. From Sea Crest, you're an easy walk up/down the road to places that you will want to visit!
http://www.seacrestbimini.com/
Since my family sold our bigger boat(38 Egg Harbor)...i'm going to be taking my 25 Mako over more often. Let me know when your ready, you could always drive over and go with us one of these times, we go over pretty often, even in the winter. Me and my dad just went over this past monday and tuesday and wahoo fished, the weather was perfect!
There can be monsters, believe me. A few notables are a front that moved thru 6 hours earlier than forecast. That produced 50 knt gusts that ripped my Bimini off!
Another time had a sub surface a few hundred yards in front of me. That scared the crap out of me. Being buzzed by a black hawk while running I didn't see coming gets ur blood going.
Limping back on one motor after a spun prop as a tstorms formed over us was a real joy.(yes I had a spare but I wasn't going in 3000 of water at dusk to change it!)
I would be willing to guess that your second, third, fourth trips, etc over to Bimini or to West End, etc will still be 98% as much fun as the first one! Wait until you hit the wall coming up from 2,000' to just a hundred feet and then see the gorgeus waters passing under your hull and it will get your motor running ever time!
Oh, and there will be the first time that you actually see land! That most likely will be 8-9 miles out but that's still a blast! 40 miles out into the gulf and then coming back in, you's see "land" but most likely tall hotels, condos, etc..... but with Bimini, you'll be seeing an island! A lot more fun!
Where are you planning to depart from? Marina, boat ramp, city? The guys here can steer you towards some good places for that as you'll want secure parking for the trailer, etc.
I had a big brave firefighter come home from the Abacos with me once and he was petrified to be out of sight of land. :willynilly That is not an unusual situation. I just kept pointing to my big chartplotter and tell him, "See, there's Florida right there"!
Dave, you're doing a great thing by starting to plan early. We have seen some guys pop up here with, "Hey, I'm thinking about running to the Bahamas for the first time next weekend, what do I need to do"?
You'll want to educate yourself on how to clear Customs and Immigration both over there as well as over here when you get back and the best thing you can do is get a "local boater's option" card for when you come back here. With that (its like a small credit card) all you'll need to do is make one phone call when you dock up and you'll be done.