Recently starting going down Pass Christian a good bit. Wife’s family bought a place down there and we have been going a good bit. I’m used to dealing with the MS and TN river so the whole conquering the coast is new country to me. We like going to Ship Island but we’re looking Into Cat since it’s a good bit closer and safer with weather. The charts show it’s a good bit shallower. Running a 24’ center console. Anyone ever go there and if so what side do you usually anchor on?
OT: Coast Dawgs Question
- Thread starter BigDawg@HillsofMS14
- Start date
The few times I’ve gone and got out on the beach, we anchored in Smugglers Cove on the south side of the island. Just don’t try and cut it close to land on the west side of the island you will run aground.
I agree with this, but his whole point was to stay closer to the Pass. Horn Island would be a haul...
ETA: OP - I suggest that you find Willie Davis. He is the Harbormaster in the Pass. He is a former Marine and cusses like one, but he is also helpful and knows the islands. You’d be better off asking him or one of the fishermen in the harbor.
ETA: OP - I suggest that you find Willie Davis. He is the Harbormaster in the Pass. He is a former Marine and cusses like one, but he is also helpful and knows the islands. You’d be better off asking him or one of the fishermen in the harbor.
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Haven't been there in a while, but for what it's worth, the east side has some nice beach, but it's not only shallow coming, but can trap you behind a sand bar if the tide is falling while you're in there. North has a mix of beach and mud, and I have been able to get in close, but it's slow going. Smuggler's cove is probably where you want to go if you want to be around other people, and you can come west and south of Cat to get there, you just have to stay a good bit west of what's visible, which shouldn't be a problem if you're coming from the Bay.
If the weather's not choppy though, I'd just scoot on to Ship. It's not that far.
ETA: slight difference between north and south.
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Almost the entire north side is shallow sans the cut where north bayou goes in to the camps. On the south side the most popular anchoring area is Smugglers cove which used to be a great place to fish before the pleasure boat armada showed up. The beach on the south west side is shallow grass beds. Just be mindful and go slow in unfamiliar areas you’ll be fine. I’m assuming you need about 2.5 feet to get out in your boat so check tide charts so you don’t get stranded if the tide moves out. If this is something you plan on doing regularly I highly recommend a Sea Tow membership. Also, a 24 ft cc is more than enough boat to do whatever you want in good weather. I’ll go 30+ miles out regularly in the 22ft bay boat.
I'm very familiar... will give some info shortly. There is a lot of shallow water but also numerous places to fit your needs.
If you're going to have a 24 foot center console, I'd just keep going to Ship. It's not that much farther really.
West Ship is easier to navigate than Cat, IMO. At Cat Island it's really easy to run aground if you aren't paying attention and a lot of tree stumps in some areas. Anchoring on the north side of West Ship is a breeze.
If you've got the time, I'd personally trailer to OS and head to the west tip of Horn. It's much prettier than either Ship or Cat. I'm planning on riding out to Horn on Saturday.
West Ship is easier to navigate than Cat, IMO. At Cat Island it's really easy to run aground if you aren't paying attention and a lot of tree stumps in some areas. Anchoring on the north side of West Ship is a breeze.
If you've got the time, I'd personally trailer to OS and head to the west tip of Horn. It's much prettier than either Ship or Cat. I'm planning on riding out to Horn on Saturday.
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Cat
While I agree there are some benefits to Ship or Horn vs. Cat, Cat Island is awesome as well and actually offers some things that make it better than any other MS island. For one, Cat Island is a much safer place to be if the weather gets bad because there are numerous places of safe harbor where Horn and Ship offer very little comparatively speaking.... the best being north bayou where you can enter with your boat and take shelter (if really bad, get under one of the houses on the canal). If you happen to be on the south side of the island and need safe harbor, South Bayou is totally protected.
You didn't say if you are simply looking for a family day on the island or looking to fish (or both) but at this point I'll assume a family day where you are looking for places that are easy to anchor and get access to the beach. Productive fishing can be had in the places I will name but if you are looking to get serious with fishing (and not so much a family day), there is a ton more info to learn in order to take full advantage of fishing Cat and my best advice there would be to hire a good charter and let them know you are looking to learn Cat Island.
First, see if this link works...
https://charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11372.shtml
It's a decent chart to learn about Cat. It is definitely not exact but for the most part, a good learning tool.
I've attached an image of Cat. Two of the best places to get close to the beach are North Point and Smugglers Cove because there is deep water access nearly all the way to the sand. If you are in a typical 24' center console with the motor tilted all the way up, I'm guessing your boat will draw less than 20", maybe as little as 12". either way, in each of these areas where the red arrows are, you will be able to get within feet of the beach by walking the boat in on medium to higher tides. Be careful on big tide range days where the tide is falling... you don't want the boat to become grounded. Just monitor it throughout the day and if needed, walk the boat to slightly deeper water and re-anchor if the tide is falling out.
might be obvious but pick the place to hang out based on the wind and forecasted wind If E, S or SW winds, North point is good. If anything from the north or SE to S, Smugglers is protected. A strong due west wind is the only problem but many people will pull up to the outside beach (east facing shore) in that instance but you have to be careful here if there are residual ground swells from the SE. If leaving from Pass Harbor: its 11.5 miles to North Point, 12.5 miles to Smugglers Cove (going around the west tip a safe distance for deep water) and 17.5 miles to West Ship Island.
While I agree there are some benefits to Ship or Horn vs. Cat, Cat Island is awesome as well and actually offers some things that make it better than any other MS island. For one, Cat Island is a much safer place to be if the weather gets bad because there are numerous places of safe harbor where Horn and Ship offer very little comparatively speaking.... the best being north bayou where you can enter with your boat and take shelter (if really bad, get under one of the houses on the canal). If you happen to be on the south side of the island and need safe harbor, South Bayou is totally protected.
You didn't say if you are simply looking for a family day on the island or looking to fish (or both) but at this point I'll assume a family day where you are looking for places that are easy to anchor and get access to the beach. Productive fishing can be had in the places I will name but if you are looking to get serious with fishing (and not so much a family day), there is a ton more info to learn in order to take full advantage of fishing Cat and my best advice there would be to hire a good charter and let them know you are looking to learn Cat Island.
First, see if this link works...
https://charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11372.shtml
It's a decent chart to learn about Cat. It is definitely not exact but for the most part, a good learning tool.
I've attached an image of Cat. Two of the best places to get close to the beach are North Point and Smugglers Cove because there is deep water access nearly all the way to the sand. If you are in a typical 24' center console with the motor tilted all the way up, I'm guessing your boat will draw less than 20", maybe as little as 12". either way, in each of these areas where the red arrows are, you will be able to get within feet of the beach by walking the boat in on medium to higher tides. Be careful on big tide range days where the tide is falling... you don't want the boat to become grounded. Just monitor it throughout the day and if needed, walk the boat to slightly deeper water and re-anchor if the tide is falling out.
might be obvious but pick the place to hang out based on the wind and forecasted wind If E, S or SW winds, North point is good. If anything from the north or SE to S, Smugglers is protected. A strong due west wind is the only problem but many people will pull up to the outside beach (east facing shore) in that instance but you have to be careful here if there are residual ground swells from the SE. If leaving from Pass Harbor: its 11.5 miles to North Point, 12.5 miles to Smugglers Cove (going around the west tip a safe distance for deep water) and 17.5 miles to West Ship Island.
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Thanks everyone. Friday doesn’t look to be for the faint of Heart but Saturday is looking better and better to hit it. Appreciate the INFO.