Port St. Joe Marina is on the eastern shore of St. Joseph Bay on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, between Panama City and Apalachicola, Fl. Port St. Joe was just east of Michael’s landfall in Mexico Beach. See Before and After Photos.
Click Here To View the N Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Port St Joe
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Port St Joe
Panama City, on the eastern shore of St. Andres Bay northeast of Mexico Beach where Hurricane Michael made landfall, suffered devastating damage from Michael. Panama City Marina and St. Andrews Marina are both CRUISERS NET SPONSORS and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to all in the area who sustained losses. Diana Pieper, who sent this report, lost her house.
Panama City Marina GONE….destroyed.
St. Andrews Marina had a lot of damage.
We can’t even get in to our home with a u-haul to remove what furniture is salvageable because of the trees down. Our neighborhood was hit harder because of the old oak trees and pine trees that we are famous for.
My family and I are staying in hotels until we can find temporary housing of some kind. I wish we had the RV I sold after my husband died.
Again, thanks for your concern. The entire city is destroyed or damaged (actually the whole county). Both large hospitals have been closed indefinitely due to extreme damage. Our entire infrastructure is broken.
Recovery is in years and not months.
Diana Pieper
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Andrews Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrews Marina
Sending strength and prayers from Franklin County. We love those two marinas and their loss is heartbreaking.
Startling images of the hurricane devastation to Mexico Beach, FL a small beach community southeast of Panama City.
Mexico Beach FL before Michael
Mexico Beach FL after Michael
NOAA published images of Mexico Beach, Florida, southeast of Panama City.
Leon County is the site of Florida’s State Capitol and is in the direct path of Category 4 Hurricane Michael. See Leon County Daily Brief.
Remain Alert To Carbon Monoxide Dangers During Michael
Residents advised not to use generators, grills indoors
Tallahassee — As communities across the Big Bend region prepare for Hurricane Michael, the Florida Department of Health in Leon County urges residents to take precautions against carbon monoxide (CO) exposure.
CO is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas and is highly poisonous. Depending on the level of exposure, CO may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pains for those with heart disease, shortness of breath upon exertion, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death.
DOH-Leon recommends the following precautions to help prevent CO poisoning:
Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, garage, vehicle, tent or fireplace.
NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces and other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.
ALWAYS locate the unit outdoors on a dry surface, away from doors, windows, vents and air conditioning equipment that could allow CO to come indoors. Follow the instructions that come with your generator.
Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery backup in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms.
Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.
Remember that you cannot see or smell CO and portable generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly.
If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY…DO NOT DELAY.
If you have a poisoning emergency, call your nearest Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call 9-1-1 immediately.
For more information, please contact DOH-Leon at (305) 924-6839 or check out the Hurricane Information Fact Sheets posted at www.floridahealth.gov .
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850.606.5300 | cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov | www.LeonCountyFL.gov
301 S. Monroe St., Suite 502, Tallahassee, FL 32301
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Interactive link is at the bottom of this posting.
FWC will provide interactive Daily Sampling Map for red tide
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will provide an enhanced, interactive map updated daily of water samples to inform the public on the status of naturally-occurring red tide throughout the state.
The online Daily Sampling Map will be offered in addition to FWC’s current Wednesday and Friday updates on the status of Florida’s red tide blooms. This will provide the public with more immediate and accurate red tide data, as researchers process the many water samples from across the state.
“We are pushing out all we can, when we can, in the spirit of providing the most timely and beneficial information to the public and partners,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “We will continually expand efforts to assist during this difficult event.”
The FWC works with a large network of partners, including private organizations, local governments and citizen volunteers, to continue research and sampling efforts and has conducted meetings and phone calls to develop a course of action for affected areas. This strong collaboration is critical to response efforts in coastal communities throughout the state.
Additional information is at MyFWC.com/RedTide.
Click Here for Red Tide Map of Florida Gulf and Atlantic Coasts
Sadly, as Steve Ramsay bewails, what seemed unthinkable ten years ago is now a reality, not only in Florida, but along much of the east coast: free, public anchorages are becoming pay-for-use municipal mooring fields. (Enter “mooring” in the Search window above for a perspective on the battle that was waged against mooring fields in Florida several years back.) While welcomed by some who see the moorings as an alternative to ever rising dockage fees, those of us who boat on a budget and find the moorings restrictive, along with the prohibitive cost of boating in general, are in agreement with Steve, to the point that we can no longer afford to spend much, if any, time cruising. Steve is replying to A Disturbing Message about Anchoring.
Like so much of our culture today, it is a case of the “HAVEs” versus the “HAVE NOTs.” We hear you Steve!
I moved here from New England and as a boater since age 2, I am very disappointed with the availability of moorings here (Tampa area). Boating is such a healthy outdoor activity for the whole family. Go to New England, you will see boats on moorings as far as the eye can see, and they only have a 4 month season. I had planned on buying a 24 ft. sloop, but I am afraid I will have to abandon the idea altogether. Personally, at $400 per month for a mooring, I am forced to leave my favorite past time to a high end class of people who will continue to enjoy sailing as much as I did. I have been priced out. It seems like boating here is discouraged rather that encouraged and fully advocated for.
It seams to me that the big marinas are really controlling the cost of docking more so than ever, in St. Petersburg the safe harbor group will get control of the city docks soon, that means they have a monopoly controlling all the docks and moorings in St. Petersburg.
As for anchoring I don’t have any problems with this except that Most anchorage’s have bad boat that are in kept and in danger of abandonment also there is a problem with pumping out this is a federal regulation that is always over looked
Anchorage for transit moorings and dingy docks is a good idea for everyone at a minimum price if not totally free.
You are absolutely correct,Steve. I traveled in a trawler from North Carolina to Louisiana for many years and enjoyed the many towns and anchorages along the way. Not nearly as many anchorages as there used to be. And many more restrictions on the ones that are left. Florida, especially , seems to discourage boating. Especially transient boating. I got tired of the hassle and high cost of marinas, moorings, and dockage and got out of boating. It’s not affordable for the average pocketbook anymore. It’s just one more thing that belongs to the people with a lot of money. The middle class will soon be no more.
My opinion,
Jerry
Especially with the current red tide threat to manatees in the Gulf, reported sightings are even more important. How to report sightings is listed below.
See a manatee? Report it.
WEARTV.com
Sighting reports help monitor manatee health in the northern Gulf of Mexico
AL.com (blog)
Manatee sightings can be reported to the DISL/MSN team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone 1-866-493-5803, email manatee@disl.org, or through an online sighting form found at manatee.disl.org.
Manatees migrating from Florida to Gulf Coast
KPRC Click2Houston
DERELICT VESSEL REMOVAL GRANT 2018-2019 OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is announcing the first opportunity to apply for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants for the 2018/2019 budget year. The application period for the Bulk Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program will begin on September 3, 2018, at 8:00 AM (EST), and end on October 17, 2018, at 5:00 PM (EST). Applications received after October 17, 2018, will not be eligible for consideration in round one. All removal applications must be complete and authorized for removal in the Statewide Derelict Vessel Database as well as demonstrate proof that due process was provided for each vessel’s owner. At a minimum, this would include an opportunity for the vessel owner to challenge the derelict vessel determination, either in criminal court or in an administrative hearing. Vessel cases not demonstrating that these opportunities have been offered to the owners of the vessels will not be considered for state funding assistance. A Letter of Authorization to remove and dispose of the vessel, issued by a law enforcement agency must be included in the application. Should funding be available for a second or subsequent round of applications, new announcements will be made. The grant guidelines and application form may be downloaded at: http://www.MyFWC.com/DVGrant.
You may also receive the guidelines and application by contacting Phil Horning at (850) 617-9540 or email DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
Applications that meet the requirements for the Rapid Removal Grant Program may be submitted at any time after the opportunity announcement start date, but no later than November 23,2019, at 5:00pm (EST) (based on available funding). Rapid removal cases must meet requirements of published guidelines as well as due process requirements. Total funding allocated for derelict vessel removal for fiscal year 2018-2019 was $1,000,000. Applications may be mailed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Boating and Waterways Section, Derelict Vessel Grant Program Administrator, at 620 S. Meridian Street – Room 235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or emailed to DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
For further information, please contact:
Phil Horning, Derelict Vessel Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, (850) 617-9540 or email Phil.Horning@MyFWC.com
With the release of the 2017 Boating Accident Statistical Report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages boaters to focus on simple, effective steps that make boating safer.
2017 boating accident statistics provide an opportunity for boating safety reminders
This dredging operation is west of the Pensacola Beach Bridge, Pensacola, FL.
FL – GIWW – SANTA ROSA SOUND – Dredge Operation
Continuing until further notice, the Dredge KELLY L will be conducting dredging operations to remove shoaling in an area between GIWW, mile 179.0, EHL and GIWW, mile 180.0, EHL. Dredge material will be disposed into an upland disposal area located just south of the channel utilizing floating and submerged pipelines. All vessels will be lighted in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard Safety Regulations. The Dredge KELLY L will be monitoring VHF-FM Channel 13 or 16. Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting the area. Chart 11378 11383 LNM 18/18
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Dredging
In FWC’s first application period for derelict vessel removal grants, $488, 550.00 was available and only $184,935.00 was requested. This leaves $303,615.00 still available for derelict vessel removal grants. Therefore this 2nd opportunity announcement is being advertised.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is announcing the opportunity to apply for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants. The application period for the Bulk Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program will begin on Monday March 26, 2018 at 8:00 AM (EST), and end on Wednesday May 9, 2018 at 5:00 PM (EST). Applications received after Wednesday May 9, 2018, will not be eligible for consideration. All removal applications must demonstrate proof that due process was provided for each vessel’s owner. At a minimum, this would include an opportunity for the vessel owner to challenge the derelict vessel determination, either in criminal court or in an administrative hearing. Vessel cases not demonstrating that these opportunities have been offered to the owners of the vessels will not be considered for state funding assistance. The grant guidelines and application form may be downloaded at: http://www.MyFWC.com/DVGrant.
You may also receive the guidelines and application by contacting Phil Horning at (850) 617-9540 or email DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
Applications that meet the requirements for the Rapid Removal Grant Program may be submitted at any time after the opportunity announcement start date, but no later than November 31, 2018 at 5:00pm (EST) (based on available funding). Rapid removal cases must also meet due process requirements. Total funding allocated for derelict vessel removal for fiscal year 2017/18 is $488,550. Applications may be mailed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Boating and Waterways Section, Derelict Vessel Grant Program Administrator, at 620 S. Meridian Street – Room 235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or emailed to DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
For further information, please contact:
Phil Horning, Derelict Vessel Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, (850) 617-9540 or email Phil.Horning@MyFWC.com
Be on the lookout for manatees! 2017 was the third highest mortality rate for manatees and tied with the all-time record for watercraft deaths.
More Than 6000 Manatees Counted In Florida
The survey serves as a loose population count. It’s conducted during Florida’s coldest days as manatees gather for warmth near deep canals, natural springs and power plants.
READ MORE from Amy Green, WUSF News
Here’s a free update from Navionics for boaters who assist in re-charting the Keys. Fun and Profit all in one offer!
Wanted: Your Help With Post-Irma Chart Updates from Florida Sportsman Editor
Our thanks to AGCLA member, Terry Godhold, for these words of praise for longtime CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Panama City Marina, located on the eastern shore of St. Andrews Bay.
I rarely, if ever, recommend a marina however, this is different. Yesterday, on the way to Panama City, I blew a oil hose. We had to call Sea Tow to tow us 17 miles where we successfully secured the Magic. The marina was given a “heads up” that we were being towed in. Rick, the harbor master, met us, helped us tie, gave us mechanics recommendation and all in all, was more helpful than almost any other marina we have visited.
Terry Godbold
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is announcing the opportunity to apply for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants. The application period for the Bulk Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program will begin on January 8, 2018 at 8:00 AM (EST), and end on February 21, 2018 at 5:00 PM (EST).
Applications received after February 21, 2018, will not be eligible for consideration in round one, but may be considered for a potential subsequent round, if funding remains available. All removal applications must demonstrate proof that due process was provided for each vessel’s owner. At a minimum, this would include an opportunity for the vessel owner to challenge the derelict vessel determination, either in criminal court or in an administrative hearing. Vessel cases not demonstrating that these opportunities have been offered to the owners of the vessels will not be considered for state funding assistance. Should funding be available for a second or subsequent rounds of applications, new announcements will be made. The grant guidelines and application form may be downloaded at: http://www.MyFWC.com/DVGrant.
You may also receive the guidelines and application by contacting Phil Horning at (850) 617-9540 or email DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
Applications that meet the requirements for the Rapid Removal Grant Program may be submitted at any time after the opportunity announcement start date, but no later than November 31, 2018 at 5:00pm (EST) (based on available funding). Rapid removal cases must also meet due process requirements. Total funding allocated for derelict vessel removal for fiscal year 2017/18 is $488,550. Applications may be mailed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Boating and Waterways Section, Derelict Vessel Grant Program Administrator, at 620 S. Meridian Street – Room 235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or emailed to DVGrant@MyFWC.com.
For further information, please contact:
Phil Horning, Derelict Vessel Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, (850) 617-9540 or email Phil.Horning@MyFWC.com
USCG Crews continue to mitigate pollution threats from vessels displaced by Hurricane Irma
Florida manatees on the move, public stewardship on the water makes a difference.
People who remember in November to watch out for manatees as they begin migrating to warmer waters are making a difference in the species’ survival.
Florida is home to more than 6,600 manatees. With the arrival of Manatee Awareness Month, people again are slowing down and looking out for these large aquatic mammals in waterways throughout the state.
Many seasonal manatee protection zones go into effect Nov. 15. Though some signs identifying manatee zones may have been damaged by Hurricane Irma, information on manatee zone locations is also available online. If you see damaged waterway signs, report them at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Waterway Management,” “Waterway Markers” and then “Damaged/Missing Waterway Markers.”
Earlier this year, the Florida manatee was reclassified from endangered to a threatened status, under the federal Endangered Species Act, in a decision announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While this is a notable step, there is still work to be done to ensure continued progress toward recovery of our official state marine mammal.
“People’s efforts to help Florida manatees are working. Let’s celebrate the fact that conservation actions are making a difference and manatees are no longer endangered by thanking all the individuals and organizations that contributed to this milestone,” said Carol Knox, who leads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Imperiled Species Management Section.
“It’s important though to remain vigilant,” Knox said. “Let’s keep up the efforts that are helping with manatee recovery.”
How can people keep making a difference for manatees?
Watch for these large aquatic mammals as they search for warmer waters to help them survive winter’s cold, which they generally find in freshwater springs and the outflow of power plants.
Wear polarized sunglasses to spot them moving, grazing and resting in the water. Keep a lookout for the circular “footprints” they leave on the surface of the water.
Slow down when boating and follow posted manatee zones.
Observe manatees from a distance to limit disturbance.
Report injured, entangled, orphaned or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cellphone or text Tip@MyFWC.com.
Continue to support the manatee decal and license plate, and tell everyone how the decal and license plate support the FWC’s manatee conservation efforts.
Want to see a manatee? Go to MyFWC.com/Manatee and click on the link in the “Where Can I See Manatees?” box.
This is one of those housekeeping postings that you will be glad to read. The pumpout system at Panama City Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has been inoperable since July, but is now repaired. Residents, transients and staff are relieved (pun intended) !
Our Pumpout is now working!!! Yahoo.
Diana Pieper
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
Our thanks to Danny Munson for recommending this app, https://www.wakewatch.com/.
Don’t you wish everyone would use and respect those safety limits!
There is an app called WakeWatch that maps out all of the no wake zones in FL. It also tells what type of zone – i.e. slow speed minimum wake, no wake, speed limits, etc. with the associated time restrictions. It also has all of the bridge heights and opening schedules.
Stick on a decal to show support for Florida’s manatees, sea turtles
There are more manatees and sea turtles in Florida than in any other state. More than 6,000 manatees swim in its coastal waters, rivers and freshwater springs, and thousands of sea turtles nest and hatch on its Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches.
It’s easy to show support for these iconic Florida species by sticking on a decal.
Every July the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) introduces new manatee and sea turtle decals available with a $5 donation.
The colorful, waterproof decals are designed to look great on a vehicle’s bumper or the side of a boat. Get them when registering or re-registering a vehicle or boat at local tax collectors’ offices across the state.
“Florida is home to more manatees and sea turtles than anywhere else in the U.S.,” said Carol Knox, who leads the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section. “Public support has been critical in helping us conserve these imperiled species. So please ‘stick on a decal’ and show support for our manatees and sea turtles.” 
Decals generate funding for research, rescue and management efforts that help Florida’s manatees and sea turtles survive. For instance, when someone calls the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report an injured, entangled or sick manatee or sea turtle, FWC staff responds with efforts to rescue and rehabilitate the animal.
The decals also address important conservation issues:
Learn about other ways to help conserve manatees and sea turtles at MyFWC.com/Manatee andMyFWC.com/SeaTurtle, where you also can click on “Decals” to order new or past editions of decals. Go to BuyaPlate.com to purchase a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” license plate that supports those species.
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