Chocolate Bay

[MoneyMike]

New member here and was hoping someone would have an answer to my question. I was out in chocolate bay on new years day 2012 and in the middle of the channel just past the bridge i ran from 15' of water to 2', busted up my prop and cant figure out why it was so shallow. Just on the other side about 100 yds was 10 ft so it wasnt the tide. Anyone here about this same problem?

Thanks,

MoneyMike

[H.Maier]

Chocolate is a tricky bay to navigate. I used to know the cuts pretty well and how to get around. Lots of reefs and obstructions to deal with. Good thing is you have a deep channel to get out fairly quick to your spot. Stay between the buoys and markers and then be careful adventuring out from there.

[buoy37]

You got out of the channel or thinking outside the box, maybe a dredge pipe.

Were you north or south of the bridge?

[MoneyMike]

See I was in between the buoys headed to the first set of floating buoys. I was on the bay side of the bridge
Paul you may be right, probably would be good to have a guide but we have a house out there and that's where I was headed. I've been out to it about 10 times and stayed on the same course everytime, first time I have ran in the skinny water, that's what confused me. Thanks for the responses by the way

[Rollo]

Sometimes the channel markers get run over and dragged out of channel causing people to run aground , That part of the Bay gets tricky at times!

[H.Maier]

Are you sure you hit bottom ? There have been Manatees spotted recently in the Chocolate bay .

Not to mention otters, neutra rats, cows,alligators, and fish.

[corndog]

Bouy 37 was adrift then and is now aground in that area. That what is good about a GPS they help keep you in the channel when a marker goes astray. Good luck

[buoy37]

There have been Manatees spotted recently

Manatees in the winter???? I usually see in them in the summer across the bank from Lutes drinking beer and wearing bikinis .

[Baby Tran Cat]

Are you sure you hit bottom ? There have been Manatees spotted recently in the Chocolate bay .

Paul, you drinking today? Between this one and the brown mullet posts makes me wonder!

[txkngfish]

There is a big chunk of concrete somewhere in that area on the right side going out which at regular tide its hid. Got forced over more than I wanted and almost ran right on top of it. Missed it by a few yards as I saw it at last minute. Motor hit bottom and I trimmed it up fast. So got to watch along that channel gets tricky sometimes.

[SUPER SPOOK]

there was a missing bouy for a while,very tricky if you don't know your way.

[txkngfish]

Will do that next time. Will start carrying some for that reason. Happened so fast didn't have time to think. my gps caught the location, will see if can pull it up with coordinates

[H.Maier]

I saw a guy pull to the ramp one evening with an old ice box on the bow of his boat. To my amazement he stated he had a good day, 2 reds and a box to keep them in. I didn't ask him how he got it on his boat but he was by himself. Little hat- big gloves?

[castaway300]

All the houmor aside Moneymike...there is a well defined channel in chocolate. If you dont know were your going outside the channel your going to get in trouble.
goggle earth can be a great help...
Welcome to FWE
castaway300

[Gulfcoast13]

I saw the concrete you are talking about day before yesterday. It was were buoy 37 should be, but I did not have anything to mark it with. It did not look like it was moving, but I did not get to close. I should have towed it off, but I wasn't thinking. Watch that area, and if I get out there today or tomorrow I will try and move it.

Stay in the channel. It gets skinny on the right side running out to the bay quick and not to mention all the reefs on the left side. Get yourself a GPS and you will be fine.


Ohhh, and there are no fish in chocolate. Just reefs, sand bars, and apparently the floating concrete has started to migrate in.


Welcome to FWE!!